JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - Gov. Sean Parnell has introduced legislation he says would ensure families of fallen soldiers receive full survivor benefits as they apply to state retirement plans.
Parnell spokeswoman Sharon Leighow says if a state employee who was in the military was deployed and killed in the line of duty, the length of time that person was deployed would count toward the vestment schedule for certain benefits.
She said survivor benefits would be extended to same-sex partners.
The bill also would amend preference eligibility laws. Parnell, in his transmittal letter, says those laws currently limit special loan, housing and employment preference to veterans of foreign wars up to the Vietnam war.
He says his bill would extend those preferences to veterans of more recent conflicts and include provisions should future conflicts arise.
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