Opinion ID: 2000084
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Nature of Supplemental Compensation Benefit

Text: In this consolidated appeal, we are called upon to review all of the prior rulings of the Superior Court. First, the Superior Court has decided that the supplemental compensation payments under Section 5933 are not vested rights and may be altered if that is the clear intent of the legislature, but that the 1981 amendment was prospective only. See State v. Kopec, Del.Super., C.A. No. 82C-JA-42 and 82C-JA-54, Walsh, V.C. (July 25, 1984) at 12. We agree and affirm that holding. Second, the Superior Court has determined that the present version of Section 5933 contains precisely the type of clear legislative intent to terminate a statutorily secured employment benefit that the Court had in mind in the earlier Kopec decision. State v. Lillard, Del.Super., 521 A.2d 1110, 1114 (1986). Not only do we affirm that holding, but all of the parties to this appeal agree with that proposition. Therefore, all employees who were entitled to supplemental compensation prior to July 1, 1981 ceased to have any right to that benefit on September 1, 1985. See 29 Del.C. § 5933(b). Finally, the Superior Court decided that the right to receive the supplemental benefit continued following the termination of employment and until September 1, 1985. We reverse that holding.