Rhode Island 2023 Regular Session

Rhode Island Senate Bill S0086 Compare Versions

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55 2023 -- S 0086
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77 LC001139
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99 S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
1010 IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1111 JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
1212 ____________
1313
1414 A N A C T
1515 RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TEACHERS' RETIREMENT
1616 Introduced By: Senators Ciccone, DiPalma, F. Lombardi, Britto, and Felag
1717 Date Introduced: February 01, 2023
1818 Referred To: Senate Finance
1919
2020
2121 It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
2222 SECTION 1. Section 16-16-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-16 entitled "Teachers’ 1
2323 Retirement [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby 2
2424 amended to read as follows: 3
2525 16-16-12. Procedure for service retirement. 4
2626 Retirement of a member on a service retirement allowance shall be made by the retirement 5
2727 board as follows: 6
2828 (a)(i) Any member may retire upon his or her written application to the retirement board 7
2929 as of the first day of the calendar month in which the application was filed, provided the member 8
3030 was separated from service prior to filing the application, and further provided however, that if 9
3131 separation from service occurs during the month in which the application is filed, the effective date 10
3232 shall be the first day following the separation from service, and provided further that the member 11
3333 on retirement date has attained the age of sixty (60) years and has completed at least ten (10) years 12
3434 of contributory service on or before July 1, 2005, or regardless of age has completed twenty-eight 13
3535 (28) years of total service and has completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service on or 14
3636 before July 1, 2005, and who retire before October 1, 2009, or are eligible to retire as of September 15
3737 30, 2009. 16
3838 (ii) For teachers who become eligible to retire on or after October 1, 2009, and prior to July 17
3939 1, 2012, benefits are available to teachers who have attained the age of sixty-two (62) and 18
4040 completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service. For teachers in service as of October 1, 19
4141
4242
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4444 2009, who were not eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009, but became eligible to retire prior 1
4545 to July 1, 2012, the minimum retirement age of sixty-two (62) will be adjusted downward in 2
4646 proportion to the amount of service the member has earned as of September 30, 2009. The 3
4747 proportional formula shall work as follows: 4
4848 (A) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in 5
4949 effect on September 30, 2009, which shall then be subtracted from the minimum retirement age of 6
5050 sixty-two (62). 7
5151 (B) The formula shall then take the teacher’s total service credit as of September 30, 2009, 8
5252 as the numerator and the years of service credit determined under (A) as the denominator. 9
5353 (C) The fraction determined in (B) shall then be multiplied by the age difference in (1) to 10
5454 apply a reduction in years from age sixty-two (62). 11
5555 (b)(i) Any member, who has not completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service 12
5656 on or before July 1, 2005, may retire upon his or her written application to the retirement board as 13
5757 of the first day of the calendar month in which the application was filed; provided, the member was 14
5858 separated from service prior thereto; and further provided, however, that if separation from service 15
5959 occurs during the month in which application is filed, the effective date shall be the first day 16
6060 following that separation from service; provided, the member on his or her retirement date had 17
6161 attained the age of fifty-nine (59) and had completed at least twenty-nine (29) years of total service; 18
6262 or provided, that the member on his or her retirement date had attained the age of sixty-five (65) 19
6363 and had completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service; or provided, that the member on 20
6464 his or her retirement date had attained the age of fifty-five (55) and had completed twenty (20) 21
6565 years of total service and provided, that the retirement allowance, as determined according to the 22
6666 formula in § 16-16-13 is reduced actuarially for each month that the age of the member is less than 23
6767 sixty-five (65) years and who retire before October 1, 2009, or are eligible to retire as of September 24
6868 30, 2009. 25
6969 (ii) For teachers who become eligible to retire on or after October 1, 2009, and prior to July 26
7070 1, 2012, benefits are available to teachers who have attained the age of sixty-two (62) and have 27
7171 completed at least twenty-nine (29) years of total service or have attained the age of sixty-five (65) 28
7272 and completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service. For teachers in service as of October 29
7373 1, 2009, who were not eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009, but become eligible to retire prior 30
7474 to July 1, 2012, who have a minimum retirement age of sixty-two (62), the retirement age will be 31
7575 adjusted downward in proportion to the amount of service the member has earned as of September 32
7676 30, 2009. The proportional formula shall work as follows: 33
7777 (A) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in 34
7878
7979
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8181 effect on September 30, 2009, which shall then be subtracted from the minimum retirement age of 1
8282 sixty-two (62). 2
8383 (B) The formula shall then take the teacher’s total service credit as of September 30, 2009, 3
8484 as the numerator and the years of service credit determined under (A) as the denominator. 4
8585 (C) The fraction determined in (B) shall then be multiplied by the age difference 5
8686 determined in (A) to apply a reduction in years from age sixty-two (62). 6
8787 (c) Effective July 1, 2012, the following shall apply to all teachers not eligible to retire 7
8888 prior to July 1, 2012: 8
8989 (i) A teacher with contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, shall be eligible to retire 9
9090 upon the completion of at least five (5) years of contributory service and attainment of the teacher’s 10
9191 Social Security retirement age. 11
9292 (ii) For teachers with five (5) or more years of contributory service as of June 30, 2012, 12
9393 with contributory service on and after July 1, 2012, who have a retirement age of Social Security 13
9494 Retirement Age, the retirement age will be adjusted downward in proportion to the amount of 14
9595 service the teacher has earned as of June 30, 2012, but in no event shall a teacher’s retirement age 15
9696 under this subparagraph (ii) be prior to the attainment of age fifty-nine (59) or prior to the teacher’s 16
9797 retirement age determined under the laws in effect on June 30, 2012. The proportional formula shall 17
9898 work as follows: 18
9999 (1) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in 19
100100 effect on June 30, 2012, which shall then be subtracted from Social Security retirement age; 20
101101 (2) The formula shall then take the teacher’s total service credit as of June 30, 2012, as the 21
102102 numerator and the projected service at retirement age in effect on June 30, 2012, as the 22
103103 denominator; 23
104104 (3) The fraction determined in (2) shall then be multiplied by the age difference determined 24
105105 in (1) to apply a reduction in years from Social Security retirement age. 25
106106 (iii) Effective July 1, 2015, a teacher who has completed twenty (20) or more years of total 26
107107 service and who has attained an age within five (5) years of the eligible retirement age under 27
108108 subdivisions (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above or subsection (d) below, may elect to retire provided that the 28
109109 retirement allowance shall be reduced actuarially for each month that the age of the teacher is less 29
110110 than the eligible retirement age under subdivisions (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above or subsection (d) below in 30
111111 accordance with the following table: 31
112112 Year Preceding Retirement Cumulative Annual Reduction Cumulative Monthly 32
113113 Reduction 33
114114 For Year 1 9% .75% 34
115115
116116
117117 LC001139 - Page 4 of 15
118118 For Year 2 8% .667% 1
119119 For Year 3 7% .583% 2
120120 For Year 4 7% .583% 3
121121 For Year 5 7% .583% 4
122122 (iv) Notwithstanding any other provisions of section § 16-16-12(c), a teacher who has 5
123123 completed ten (10) or more years of contributory service as of June 30, 2012, may elect to retire at 6
124124 his or her eligible retirement date as determined under subsections (a) and (b) above provided that 7
125125 a teacher making an election under this paragraph shall receive the teacher’s retirement benefit 8
126126 determined and calculated based on the teacher’s service and average compensation as of June 30, 9
127127 2012. This provision shall be interpreted and administered in a manner to protect a teacher’s 10
128128 accrued benefit on June 30, 2012. 11
129129 (d)(i) Notwithstanding any other provisions of subsection (c) above, effective July 1, 2015, 12
130130 teachers in active service shall be eligible to retire upon the earlier of: 13
131131 (A) The attainment of at least age sixty-five (65) and the completion of at least thirty (30) 14
132132 years of total service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-four (64) and the completion of at least 15
133133 thirty-one (31) years of total service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-three (63) and the 16
134134 completion of at least thirty-two (32) years of total service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-17
135135 two (62) and the completion of at least thirty-three (33) years of total service; or 18
136136 (B) The teacher’s retirement eligibility date under subsections (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above. 19
137137 (ii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of subsection (c) or subsection (d)(i) of this 20
138138 section, effective July 1, 2023, teachers in active service shall be eligible to retire upon the earlier 21
139139 of: 22
140140 (A) The attainment of at least age sixty (60) and the completion of at least thirty (30) years 23
141141 of total service; or 24
142142 (B) The teacher's retirement eligibility date under subsections (c)(i) or (c)(ii) of this section. 25
143143 (e) Except as specifically provided in §§ 36-10-9.1, 36-10-12 through 36-10-15, and 45-26
144144 21-19 through 45-21-22, no member shall be eligible for pension benefits under this chapter unless 27
145145 (i) The member shall have been a contributing member of the employees’ retirement 28
146146 system for at least ten (10) years; or 29
147147 (ii) For teachers in active contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, the teacher shall 30
148148 have been a contributing member of the employees’ retirement system for at least five (5) years. 31
149149 (2) Provided, however, a person who has ten (10) years service credit shall be vested; 32
150150 provided that for teachers in active contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, a teacher who has 33
151151 five (5) years of contributory service shall be vested. 34
152152
153153
154154 LC001139 - Page 5 of 15
155155 (3) Furthermore, any past service credits purchased in accordance with § 36-9-38 shall be 1
156156 counted towards vesting. 2
157157 (4) Any person who becomes a member of the employees’ retirement system pursuant to 3
158158 § 45-21-8 shall be considered a contributing member for the purpose of chapter 21 of title 45 and 4
159159 this chapter. 5
160160 (5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no more than five (5) years of service 6
161161 credit may be purchased by a member of the system. The five (5) year limit shall not apply to any 7
162162 purchases made prior to January 1, 1995. A member who has purchased more than five (5) years 8
163163 of service credit before January 1, 1995, shall be permitted to apply the purchases towards the 9
164164 member’s service retirement. However, no further purchase will be permitted. 10
165165 (6) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective July 1, 2012, except for purchases 11
166166 under §§ 16-16-7.1, 36-5-3, 36-9-31, 36-10-10.4, and 45-21-53: 12
167167 (i) For service purchases for time periods prior to a teacher’s initial date of hire, the 13
168168 purchase must be made within three (3) years of the teacher’s initial date of hire; and 14
169169 (ii) For service purchases for time periods for official periods of leave as authorized by 15
170170 law, the purchase must be made within three (3) years of the time the official leave was concluded 16
171171 by the teacher. Notwithstanding paragraphs (i) and (ii) above, service purchases from time periods 17
172172 prior to June 30, 2012, may be made on or prior to June 30, 2015. 18
173173 (f) No member of the teachers’ retirement system shall be permitted to purchase service 19
174174 credits for casual or seasonal employment, for employment as a temporary or emergency employee, 20
175175 a page in the general assembly, or for employment at any state college or university while the 21
176176 employee is a student or graduate of the college or university. 22
177177 (g) Except as specifically provided in §§ 16-16-6.2 and 16-16-6.4, a member shall not 23
178178 receive service credit in this retirement system for any year or portion of a year which counts as 24
179179 service credit in any other retirement system in which the member is vested or from which the 25
180180 member is receiving a pension and/or any annual payment for life. This subsection shall not apply 26
181181 to any payments received pursuant to the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 301 et seq. 27
182182 (h) A member who seeks to purchase or receive service credit in this retirement system 28
183183 shall have the affirmative duty to disclose to the retirement board whether or not he or she is a 29
184184 vested member in any other retirement system and/or is receiving a pension, retirement allowance, 30
185185 or any annual payment for life. The retirement board shall have the right to investigate as to whether 31
186186 or not the member has utilized the same time of service for credit in any other retirement system. 32
187187 The member has an affirmative duty to cooperate with the retirement board including, by way of 33
188188 illustration and not by way of limitation, the duty to furnish or have furnished to the retirement 34
189189
190190
191191 LC001139 - Page 6 of 15
192192 board any relevant information that is protected by any privacy act. 1
193193 (i) A member who fails to cooperate with the retirement board shall not have the time of 2
194194 service credit counted toward total service credit until the time the member cooperates with the 3
195195 retirement board and until the time the retirement board determines the validity of the service credit. 4
196196 (j) A member who knowingly makes a false statement to the retirement board regarding 5
197197 service time or credit shall not be entitled to a retirement allowance and is entitled only to the return 6
198198 of his or her contributions without interest. 7
199199 SECTION 2. Section 36-10-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-10 entitled "Retirement 8
200200 System — Contributions and Benefits" is hereby amended to read as follows: 9
201201 36-10-9. Retirement on service allowance — In general. 10
202202 Retirement of a member on a service retirement allowance shall be made by the retirement 11
203203 board as follows: 12
204204 (1)(a)(i) Any member may retire upon his or her written application to the retirement board 13
205205 as of the first day of the calendar month in which the application was filed; provided, the member 14
206206 was separated from service prior thereto; and further provided, however, that if separation from 15
207207 service occurs during the month in which application is filed, the effective date shall be the first 16
208208 day following that separation from service; and provided further that the member on his or her 17
209209 retirement date attained the age of sixty (60) and completed at least ten (10) years of contributory 18
210210 service on or before July 1, 2005, or who, regardless of age, has completed twenty-eight (28) years 19
211211 of total service and has completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service on or before July 20
212212 1, 2005, and who retire before October 1, 2009, or are eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009. 21
213213 (ii) For members who become eligible to retire on or after October 1, 2009, and prior to 22
214214 July 1, 2012, benefits are available to members who have attained the age of sixty-two (62) and 23
215215 completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service. For members in service as of October 1, 24
216216 2009, who were not eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009, but become eligible to retire prior 25
217217 to July 1, 2012, the minimum retirement age of sixty-two (62) will be adjusted downward in 26
218218 proportion to the amount of service the member has earned as of September 30, 2009. The 27
219219 proportional formula shall work as follows: 28
220220 (1) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in 29
221221 effect on September 30, 2009, which shall then be subtracted from the minimum retirement age of 30
222222 sixty-two (62). 31
223223 (2) The formula shall then take the member’s total service credit as of September 30, 2009, 32
224224 as the numerator and the years of service credit determined under (1) as the denominator. 33
225225 (3) The fraction determined in (2) shall then be multiplied by the age difference determined 34
226226
227227
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229229 in (1) to apply a reduction in years from age sixty-two (62). 1
230230 (b)(i) Any member, who has not completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service 2
231231 on or before July 1, 2005, may retire upon his or her written application to the retirement board as 3
232232 of the first day of the calendar month in which the application was filed; provided, the member was 4
233233 separated from service prior thereto; and further provided, however, that if separation from service 5
234234 occurs during the month in which application is filed, the effective date shall be the first day 6
235235 following that separation from service; provided, the member or his or her retirement date had 7
236236 attained the age of fifty-nine (59) and had completed at least twenty-nine (29) years of total service 8
237237 or provided that the member on his or her retirement date had attained the age of sixty-five (65) 9
238238 and had completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service; or provided, that the member on 10
239239 his or her retirement date had attained the age of fifty-five (55) and had completed twenty (20) 11
240240 years of total service provided, that the retirement allowance, as determined according to the 12
241241 formula in § 36-10-10 is reduced actuarially for each month that the age of the member is less than 13
242242 sixty-five (65) years, and who retire before October 1, 2009, or are eligible to retire as of September 14
243243 30, 2009. 15
244244 (ii) For members who become eligible to retire on or after October 1, 2009 and prior to 16
245245 July 1, 2012, benefits are available to members who have attained the age of sixty-two (62) and 17
246246 completed at least twenty-nine (29) years of total service or have attained the age of sixty-five (65) 18
247247 and completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service. For members in service as of October 19
248248 1, 2009, who were not eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009, but become eligible to retire prior 20
249249 to July 1, 2012, who have a minimum retirement age of sixty-two (62), the retirement age will be 21
250250 adjusted downward in proportion to the amount of service the member has earned as of September 22
251251 30, 2009. The proportional formula shall work as follows: 23
252252 (1) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in 24
253253 effect on September 30, 2009, which shall then be subtracted from the minimum retirement age of 25
254254 sixty-two (62). 26
255255 (2) The formula shall then take the member’s total service credit as of September 30, 2009, 27
256256 as the numerator and the years of service credit determined under (1) as the denominator. 28
257257 (3) The fraction determined in (2) above shall then be multiplied by the age difference 29
258258 determined in (1) to apply a reduction in years from age sixty-two (62). 30
259259 (c) Effective July 1, 2012, the following shall apply to all members not eligible to retire 31
260260 prior to July 1, 2012: 32
261261 (i) A member with contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, shall be eligible to retire 33
262262 upon the completion of at least five (5) years of contributory service and attainment of the member’s 34
263263
264264
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266266 Social Security retirement age. 1
267267 (ii) For members with five (5) or more years of contributory service as of June 30, 2012, 2
268268 with contributory service on and after July 1, 2012, who have a retirement age of Social Security 3
269269 Retirement Age, the retirement age will be adjusted downward in proportion to the amount of 4
270270 service the member has earned as of June 30, 2012, but in no event shall a member’s retirement 5
271271 age under this subparagraph (ii) be prior to the attainment of age fifty-nine (59) or prior to the 6
272272 member’s retirement age determined under the laws in effect on June 30, 2012. The proportional 7
273273 formula shall work as follows: 8
274274 (1) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in 9
275275 effect on June 30, 2012, which shall then be subtracted from Social Security retirement age; 10
276276 (2) The formula shall then take the member’s total service credit as of June 30, 2012, as 11
277277 the numerator and the projected service at retirement age in effect on June 30, 2012, as the 12
278278 denominator; 13
279279 (3) The fraction determined in (2) shall then be multiplied by the age difference determined 14
280280 in (1) to apply a reduction in years from Social Security retirement age. 15
281281 (iii) Effective July 1, 2015, a member who has completed twenty (20) or more years of 16
282282 total service and who has attained an age within five (5) years of the eligible retirement age under 17
283283 subparagraphs (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above or subsection (d) below, may elect to retire provided that the 18
284284 retirement allowance shall be reduced actuarially for each month that the age of the member is less 19
285285 than the eligible retirement age under subparagraphs (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above or subsection (d) below 20
286286 in accordance with the following table: 21
287287 Year Preceding Retirement Cumulative Annual Reduction Cumulative Monthly 22
288288 Reduction 23
289289 For Year 1 9% .75% 24
290290 For Year 2 8% .667% 25
291291 For Year 3 7% .583% 26
292292 For Year 4 7% .583% 27
293293 For Year 5 7% .583% 28
294294 (iv) Notwithstanding any other provisions of section 36-10-9(c), a member who has 29
295295 completed ten (10) or more years of contributory service as of June 30, 2012, may elect to retire at 30
296296 his or her eligible retirement date as determined under paragraphs (1)(a) and (1)(b) above provided 31
297297 that a member making an election under this paragraph shall receive the member’s retirement 32
298298 benefit determined and calculated based on the member’s service and average compensation as of 33
299299 June 30, 2012. This provision shall be interpreted and administered in a manner to protect a 34
300300
301301
302302 LC001139 - Page 9 of 15
303303 member’s accrued benefit on June 30, 2012. 1
304304 (d)(i) Notwithstanding any other provisions of subsection (c) above, effective July 1, 2015, 2
305305 members in active service shall be eligible to retire upon the earlier of: (A) The attainment of at 3
306306 least age sixty-five (65) and the completion of at least thirty (30) years of total service, or the 4
307307 attainment of at least age sixty-four (64) and the completion of at least thirty-one (31) years of total 5
308308 service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-three (63) and the completion of at least thirty-two 6
309309 (32) years of total service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-two (62) and the completion of at 7
310310 least thirty-three (33) years of total service; or (B) The member’s retirement eligibility date under 8
311311 subsections (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above. 9
312312 (ii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of subsection (c) or subsection (d)(i) of this 10
313313 section, effective July 1, 2023, members in active service shall be eligible to retire upon the earlier 11
314314 of: 12
315315 (A) The attainment of at least age sixty (60) and the completion of at least thirty (30) years 13
316316 of total service; or 14
317317 (B) The member's retirement eligibility date under subsections (c)(i) or (c)(ii) of this 15
318318 section. 16
319319 (2) Any faculty employee at a public institution of higher education under the jurisdiction 17
320320 of the council on postsecondary education shall not be involuntarily retired upon attaining the age 18
321321 of seventy (70) years. 19
322322 (3)(i) Except as specifically provided in § 36-10-9.1, §§ 36-10-12 — 36-10-15, and §§ 45-20
323323 21-19 — 45-21-22, (I) On or prior to June 30, 2012 no member shall be eligible for pension benefits 21
324324 under this chapter unless the member shall have been a contributing member of the employee’s 22
325325 retirement system for at least ten (10) years, or (II) For members in active contributory service on 23
326326 or after July 1, 2012, the member shall have been a contributing member of the retirement system 24
327327 for at least five (5) years. 25
328328 (ii) Provided, however, a person who has ten (10) years service credit on or before June 16, 26
329329 1991, shall be vested. 27
330330 (iii) Furthermore, any past service credits purchased in accordance with § 36-9-38 shall be 28
331331 counted towards vesting. 29
332332 (iv) Any person who becomes a member of the employees’ retirement system pursuant to 30
333333 § 45-21-4 shall be considered a contributing member for the purpose of chapter 21 of title 45 and 31
334334 this chapter. 32
335335 (v) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no more than five (5) years of service 33
336336 credit may be purchased by a member of the system. The five (5) year limit shall not apply to any 34
337337
338338
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340340 purchases made prior to January 1, 1995. A member who has purchased more than five (5) years 1
341341 of service credits before January 1, 1995, shall be permitted to apply those purchases towards the 2
342342 member’s service retirement. However, no further purchase will be permitted. Repayment in 3
343343 accordance with applicable law and regulation of any contribution previously withdrawn from the 4
344344 system shall not be deemed a purchase of service credit. 5
345345 (vi) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective July 1, 2012, except for 6
346346 purchases under §§ 16-16-7.1, 36-5-3, 36-9-31, 36-10-10.4, and 45-21-53, (A) For service 7
347347 purchases for time periods prior to a member’s initial date of hire, the purchase must be made 8
348348 within three (3) years of the member’s initial date of hire, (B) For service purchases for time periods 9
349349 for official periods of leave as authorized by law, the purchase must be made within three (3) years 10
350350 of the time the official leave was concluded by the member. Notwithstanding the preceding 11
351351 sentence, service purchases from time periods prior to June 30, 2012, may be made on or prior to 12
352352 June 30, 2015. 13
353353 (4) No member of the employees’ retirement system shall be permitted to purchase service 14
354354 credits for casual, seasonal, or temporary employment, or emergency appointment, for employment 15
355355 as a page in the general assembly, or for employment at any state college or university while the 16
356356 employee is a student or graduate assistant of the college or university. 17
357357 (5) Except as specifically provided in §§ 16-16-6.2 and 16-16-6.4, a member shall not 18
358358 receive service credit in this retirement system for any year or portion of it, which counts as service 19
359359 credit in any other retirement system in which the member is vested or from which the member is 20
360360 receiving a pension and/or any annual payment for life. This subsection shall not apply to any 21
361361 payments received pursuant to the federal Social Security Act or to payments from a military 22
362362 pension earned prior to participation in state or municipal employment, or to military service credits 23
363363 earned prior to participation in state or municipal employment. 24
364364 (6) A member who seeks to purchase or receive service credit in this retirement system 25
365365 shall have the affirmative duty to disclose to the retirement board whether or not he or she is a 26
366366 vested member in any other retirement system and/or is receiving a pension, retirement allowance, 27
367367 or any annual payment for life. The retirement board shall have the right to investigate as to whether 28
368368 or not the member has utilized the same time of service for credit in any other retirement system. 29
369369 The member has an affirmative duty to cooperate with the retirement board including, by way of 30
370370 illustration and not by way of limitations the duty to furnish or have furnished to the retirement 31
371371 board any relevant information which is protected by any privacy act. 32
372372 (7) A member who fails to cooperate with the retirement board shall not have the time of 33
373373 service counted toward total service credit until such time as the member cooperates with the 34
374374
375375
376376 LC001139 - Page 11 of 15
377377 retirement board and until such time as the retirement board determines the validity of the service 1
378378 credit. 2
379379 (8) A member who knowingly makes a false statement to the retirement board regarding 3
380380 service time or credit shall not be entitled to a retirement allowance and is entitled only to the return 4
381381 of his or her contributions without interest. 5
382382 SECTION 3. Section 45-21-16 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-21 entitled "Retirement 6
383383 of Municipal Employees" is hereby amended to read as follows: 7
384384 45-21-16. Retirement on service allowance. 8
385385 Retirement of a member on a service retirement allowance shall be made by the retirement 9
386386 board as follows: 10
387387 (1)(i) Any member who is eligible to retire on or before June 30, 2012, may retire upon the 11
388388 member’s written application to the retirement board as of the first day of the calendar month in 12
389389 which the application was filed, provided the member was separated from service prior to the 13
390390 application, and provided, further, that if separation from service occurs during the month in which 14
391391 application is filed, the effective date is the first day following the separation from service, provided 15
392392 that the member at the time so specified for the member’s retirement has attained the applicable 16
393393 minimum retirement age and has completed at least ten (10) years of total service or who, regardless 17
394394 of age, completed thirty (30) years of total service, and notwithstanding that during the period of 18
395395 notification the member has separated from service. The minimum ages for service retirement 19
396396 (except for employees completing thirty (30) years of service) is fifty-eight (58) years. 20
397397 (ii) Effective July 1, 2012, the following shall apply to all members not eligible to retire 21
398398 prior to July 1, 2012: 22
399399 (A) A member with contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, shall be eligible to retire 23
400400 upon the completion of at least five (5) years of contributory service and attainment of the member’s 24
401401 Social Security retirement age. 25
402402 (B) For members with five (5) or more years of contributory service as of June 30, 2012, 26
403403 with contributory service on and after July 1, 2012, who have a retirement age of Social Security 27
404404 retirement age, the retirement age will be adjusted downward in proportion to the amount of service 28
405405 the member has earned as of June 30, 2012, but in no event shall a member’s retirement age under 29
406406 this subparagraph (B) be prior to the attainment of age fifty-nine (59) or prior to the member’s 30
407407 retirement age determined under the laws in effect on June 30, 2012. The proportional formula shall 31
408408 work as follows: 32
409409 (1) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in 33
410410 effect on June 30, 2012, which shall then be subtracted from Social Security retirement age; 34
411411
412412
413413 LC001139 - Page 12 of 15
414414 (2) The formula shall then take the member’s total service credit as of June 30, 2012, as 1
415415 the numerator and the projected service at retirement age in effect on June 30, 2012, as the 2
416416 denominator; 3
417417 (3) The fraction determined in (2) shall then be multiplied by the age difference determined 4
418418 in (1) to apply a reduction in years from Social Security retirement age. 5
419419 (C) Effective July 1, 2015, a member who has completed twenty (20) or more years of total 6
420420 service and who has attained an age within five (5) years of the eligible retirement age under 7
421421 subparagraphs (ii)(A) or (ii)(B) above or subsection (iii) below, may elect to retire provided that 8
422422 the retirement allowance shall be reduced actuarially for each month that the age of the member is 9
423423 less than the eligible retirement age under subparagraphs (ii)(A) or (ii)(B) above or subsection (iii) 10
424424 below in accordance with the following table: 11
425425 Year Preceding Retirement Cumulative Annual Reduction Cumulative Monthly 12
426426 Reduction 13
427427 For Year 1 9% .75% 14
428428 For Year 2 8% .667% 15
429429 For Year 3 7% .583% 16
430430 For Year 4 7% .583% 17
431431 For Year 5 7% .583% 18
432432 (D)(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of § 42-21-16(1)(ii), a member who has 19
433433 completed ten (10) or more years of contributory service as of June 30, 2012, may elect to retire at 20
434434 his or her eligible retirement date as determined under paragraph (i) above provided that a member 21
435435 making an election under this paragraph shall receive the member’s retirement benefit determined 22
436436 and calculated based on the member’s service and average compensation as of June 30, 2012. This 23
437437 provision shall be interpreted and administered in a manner to protect a member’s accrued benefit 24
438438 on June 30, 2012. 25
439439 (iii)(A) Notwithstanding any other provisions of subsection (ii) above, effective July 1, 26
440440 2015, members in active service shall be eligible to retire upon the earlier of: (I) The attainment of 27
441441 at least age sixty-five (65) and the completion of at least thirty (30) years of total service, or the 28
442442 attainment of at least age sixty-four (64) and the completion of at least thirty-one (31) years of total 29
443443 service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-three (63) and the completion of at least thirty-two 30
444444 (32) years of total service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-two (62) and the completion of at 31
445445 least thirty-three (33) years of total service; or (II) The member’s retirement eligibility date under 32
446446 subsections (ii)(A) or (ii)(B) above. 33
447447 (B) Notwithstanding any other provisions of subsection (ii) or subsection (iii)(A) of this 34
448448
449449
450450 LC001139 - Page 13 of 15
451451 section, effective July 1, 2023, members in active service shall be eligible to retire upon the earlier 1
452452 of: 2
453453 (I) The attainment of at least age sixty (60) and the completion of at least thirty (30) years 3
454454 of total service; or 4
455455 (II) The member's retirement eligibility date under subsections (ii)(A) or (ii)(B) of this 5
456456 section. 6
457457 (2) Except as specifically provided in §§ 45-21-19 — 45-21-22, no member is eligible for 7
458458 pension benefits under this chapter unless: 8
459459 (I) On or prior to June 30, 2012, the member has been a contributing member of the 9
460460 employees’ retirement system for at least ten (10) years; or 10
461461 (II) For members in active contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, the member shall 11
462462 have been a contributing member of the employees’ retirement system for at least five (5) years. 12
463463 (i) Provided, however, a person who has ten (10) years service credit on or before June 16, 13
464464 1991, is vested. 14
465465 (ii) Furthermore, any past service credits purchased in accordance with § 45-21-62 are 15
466466 counted towards vesting. 16
467467 (iii) Any person who becomes a member of the employees’ retirement system pursuant to 17
468468 § 45-21-4 shall be considered a contributing member for the purpose of this chapter. 18
469469 (iv) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no more than five (5) years of service 19
470470 credit may be purchased by a member of the System. The five (5)-year limit does not apply to any 20
471471 purchases made prior to the effective date of this provision. A member who has purchased more 21
472472 than five (5) years of service credit maximum, before January 1, 1995, shall be permitted to apply 22
473473 the purchases towards the member’s service retirement. However, no further purchase will be 23
474474 permitted. Repayment, in accordance with applicable law and regulation, of any contribution 24
475475 previously withdrawn from the System is not deemed a purchase of service credit. 25
476476 (v) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective July 1, 2012, except for purchases 26
477477 under §§ 16-16-7.1, 36-5-3, 36-9-31, 36-10-10.4, and 45-21-53: 27
478478 (I) For service purchases for time periods prior to a member’s initial date of hire; the 28
479479 purchase must be made within three (3) years of the member’s initial date of hire; and 29
480480 (II) For service purchases for time periods for official periods of leave as authorized by 30
481481 law, the purchase must be made within three (3) years of the time the official leave was concluded 31
482482 by the member. 32
483483 Notwithstanding (I) and (II) above, service purchases from time periods prior to June 30, 33
484484 2012, may be made on or prior to June 30, 2015. 34
485485
486486
487487 LC001139 - Page 14 of 15
488488 (3) No member of the municipal employees’ retirement system is permitted to purchase 1
489489 service credits for casual, temporary, emergency or seasonal employment, for employment as a 2
490490 page in the general assembly, or for employment at any state college or university while the 3
491491 employee is a student or graduate assistant of the college or university. 4
492492 (4) A member does not receive service credit in this retirement system for any year or 5
493493 portion of a year, which counts as service credit in any other retirement system in which the member 6
494494 is vested or from which the member is receiving a pension and/or any annual payment for life. This 7
495495 subsection does not apply to any payments received pursuant to the federal Social Security Act or 8
496496 to payments from a military pension earned prior to participation in state or municipal employment, 9
497497 or to military service credits earned prior to participation in state or municipal employment. 10
498498 (5) A member who seeks to purchase or receive service credit in this retirement system has 11
499499 the affirmative duty to disclose to the retirement board whether or not he or she is a vested member 12
500500 in any other retirement system and/or is receiving a pension retirement allowance or any annual 13
501501 payment for life. The retirement board has the right to investigate whether or not the member has 14
502502 utilized the same time of service for credit in any other retirement system. The member has an 15
503503 affirmative duty to cooperate with the retirement board including, by way of illustration and not by 16
504504 way of limitation, the duty to furnish or have furnished to the retirement board any relevant 17
505505 information which is protected by any privacy act. 18
506506 (6) A member who fails to cooperate with the retirement board shall not have the time of 19
507507 service counted toward total service credit until a time that the member cooperates with the 20
508508 retirement board and until a time that the retirement board determines the validity of the service 21
509509 credit. 22
510510 (7) A member who knowingly makes a false statement to the retirement board regarding 23
511511 service time or credit is not entitled to a retirement allowance and is entitled only to the return of 24
512512 his or her contributions without interest. 25
513513 SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage. 26
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515515 LC001139
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517517
518518
519519 LC001139 - Page 15 of 15
520520 EXPLANATION
521521 BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
522522 OF
523523 A N A C T
524524 RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TEACHERS' RETIREMENT
525525 ***
526526 This act would allow school teachers, state and municipal employees, to be eligible to 1
527527 retire, effective July 1, 2023, upon the earlier of: (1) Attaining at least the age of sixty (60) and the 2
528528 completion of at least thirty (30) years of total service; (2) The completion of at least five (5) years 3
529529 of contributory service and attainment of social security retirement age, and five (5) or more years 4
530530 contributory service, who have a relevant age of social security retirement age, with the age being 5
531531 adjusted downward in proportion to the service the teacher has earned as of June 30, 2012. 6
532532 This act would take effect upon passage. 7
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534534 LC001139
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536536