Rhode Island 2023 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H6017 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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5	5	2023 -- H 6017
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7	7	LC002154
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9	9	S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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13	13
14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- RETIREMENT SYSTEM--
16	16	MEMBERSHIP AND SERVI CE CREDITS
17	17	Introduced By: Representatives Finkelman, Baginski, Solomon, J. Brien, Cardillo,
18	18	Phillips, Azzinaro, Noret, Dawson, and O'Brien
19	19	Date Introduced: March 01, 2023
20	20	Referred To: House Finance
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23	23	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
24	24	SECTION 1. Section 36-9-31 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-9 entitled "Retirement 1
25	25	System — Membership and Service Credits" is hereby amended to read as follows: 2
26	26	36-9-31. Armed service credit. 3
27	27	(a) Any active member of the retirement system, who served on active duty in the armed 4
28	28	service of the United States or in the Merchant Marine service of the United States as defined in 5
29	29	P.L. 1946, ch. 1721, § 2 may purchase credit for that service up to a maximum of four (4) years 6
30	30	provided that he or she has received an honorable discharge. Provided further that any employee 7
31	31	on an official leave of absence for illness or injury shall be eligible to purchase military credits as 8
32	32	defined herein while on the leave of absence. 9
33	33	(b) For members of the retirement system, who served in the national guard or reserves, 10
34	34	who qualify as a veteran, may purchase creditable service at a ratio of five (5) years of guard or 11
35	35	reserve service to one year of creditable service up to a maximum of four (4) years; provided that, 12
36	36	they have received an honorable discharge. Provided further, that any employee on an official leave 13
37	37	of absence for illness or injury shall be eligible to purchase military credits as defined herein while 14
38	38	on the leave of absence. 15
39	39	(c) The cost to purchase these credits shall be ten percent (10%) of the member’s first year’s 16
40	40	earnings as a state employee as defined in chapter 9 of this title, multiplied by the number of years 17
41	41	and fraction thereof of the armed service or Merchant Marine service up to a maximum of four (4) 18
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45	45	years. 1
46	46	(c)(d) There will be no interest charge provided the member makes that purchase during 2
47	47	his or her first five (5) years of membership in the retirement system, but will be charged regular 3
48	48	interest to date of purchase from date of enrollment into membership if purchased after completing 4
49	49	five (5) years of membership; provided, however, any member who was in the retirement system 5
50	50	prior to July 1, 1980, would not be charged interest whenever he or she purchases the armed 6
51	51	services credit. 7
52	52	(e) Effective July 1, 2023, any members who are employed as state police officers, deputy 8
53	53	sheriffs, capitol police officers, environmental police officers, firefighters, crew chiefs, assistant 9
54	54	chiefs, fire investigators, fire safety inspectors, fire safety training officers, explosives and 10
55	55	flammable liquids technicians, and campus police officers employed by the State of Rhode Island 11
56	56	and executive military staff, or any municipal police officer employed by any municipality, shall 12
57	57	be exempt from the provisions of subsections (c) and (d) of this section relating to the cost to 13
58	58	purchase credit for military service and any interest charges. 14
59	59	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 15
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66	66	EXPLANATION
67	67	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
68	68	OF
69	69	A N A C T
70	70	RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- RETIREMENT SYSTEM--
71	71	MEMBERSHIP AND SERVI CE CREDITS
72	72	***
73	73	This act would allow members of retirement systems who served in the national guard or 1
74	74	reserves and also qualify as veterans to purchase retirement services credits. Additionally, this act 2
75	75	would exempt active members of the retirement system employed as a state public safety 3
76	76	professional and/or a municipal police officer from the cost to purchase credit for military service 4
77	77	and interest charges. 5
78	78	This act would take effect upon passage. 6
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