Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H5407 Compare Versions

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55 2025 -- H 5407
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77 LC001106
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99 S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
1010 IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1111 JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
1212 ____________
1313
1414 A N A C T
1515 RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TEACHERS', MUNICIPAL AND STATE EMPLOYEES
1616 EARLY RETIREMENT PEN ALTY
1717 Introduced By: Representatives Bennett, Shanley, Hull, Diaz, Perez, Slater, Casimiro,
1818 Potter, Baginski, and Messier
1919 Date Introduced: February 07, 2025
2020 Referred To: House Finance
2121
2222
2323 It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
2424 SECTION 1. Section 16-16-12 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-16 entitled "Teachers’ 1
2525 Retirement [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby 2
2626 amended to read as follows: 3
2727 16-16-12. Procedure for service retirement. 4
2828 Retirement of a member on a service retirement allowance shall be made by the retirement 5
2929 board as follows: 6
3030 (a)(i) Any member may retire upon his or her written application to the retirement board 7
3131 as of the first day of the calendar month in which the application was filed, provided the member 8
3232 was separated from service prior to filing the application, and further provided however, that if 9
3333 separation from service occurs during the month in which the application is filed, the effective date 10
3434 shall be the first day following the separation from service, and provided further that the member 11
3535 on retirement date has attained the age of sixty (60) years and has completed at least ten (10) years 12
3636 of contributory service on or before July 1, 2005, or regardless of age has completed twenty-eight 13
3737 (28) years of total service and has completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service on or 14
3838 before July 1, 2005, and who retire before October 1, 2009, or are eligible to retire as of September 15
3939 30, 2009. 16
4040 (ii) For teachers who become eligible to retire on or after October 1, 2009, and prior to July 17
4141 1, 2012, benefits are available to teachers who have attained the age of sixty-two (62) and 18
4242
4343
4444 LC001106 - Page 2 of 15
4545 completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service. For teachers in service as of October 1, 1
4646 2009, who were not eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009, but became eligible to retire prior 2
4747 to July 1, 2012, the minimum retirement age of sixty-two (62) will be adjusted downward in 3
4848 proportion to the amount of service the member has earned as of September 30, 2009. The 4
4949 proportional formula shall work as follows: 5
5050 (A) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in 6
5151 effect on September 30, 2009, which shall then be subtracted from the minimum retirement age of 7
5252 sixty-two (62). 8
5353 (B) The formula shall then take the teacher’s total service credit as of September 30, 2009, 9
5454 as the numerator and the years of service credit determined under (A) as the denominator. 10
5555 (C) The fraction determined in (B) shall then be multiplied by the age difference in (1) to 11
5656 apply a reduction in years from age sixty-two (62). 12
5757 (b)(i) Any member, who has not completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service 13
5858 on or before July 1, 2005, may retire upon his or her written application to the retirement board as 14
5959 of the first day of the calendar month in which the application was filed; provided, the member was 15
6060 separated from service prior thereto; and further provided, however, that if separation from service 16
6161 occurs during the month in which application is filed, the effective date shall be the first day 17
6262 following that separation from service; provided, the member on his or her retirement date had 18
6363 attained the age of fifty-nine (59) and had completed at least twenty-nine (29) years of total service; 19
6464 or provided, that the member on his or her retirement date had attained the age of sixty-five (65) 20
6565 and had completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service; or provided, that the member on 21
6666 his or her retirement date had attained the age of fifty-five (55) and had completed twenty (20) 22
6767 years of total service and provided, that the retirement allowance, as determined according to the 23
6868 formula in § 16-16-13 is reduced actuarially for each month that the age of the member is less than 24
6969 sixty-five (65) years and who retire before October 1, 2009, or are eligible to retire as of September 25
7070 30, 2009. 26
7171 (ii) For teachers who become eligible to retire on or after October 1, 2009, and prior to July 27
7272 1, 2012, benefits are available to teachers who have attained the age of sixty-two (62) and have 28
7373 completed at least twenty-nine (29) years of total service or have attained the age of sixty-five (65) 29
7474 and completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service. For teachers in service as of October 30
7575 1, 2009, who were not eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009, but become eligible to retire prior 31
7676 to July 1, 2012, who have a minimum retirement age of sixty-two (62), the retirement age will be 32
7777 adjusted downward in proportion to the amount of service the member has earned as of September 33
7878 30, 2009. The proportional formula shall work as follows: 34
7979
8080
8181 LC001106 - Page 3 of 15
8282 (A) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in 1
8383 effect on September 30, 2009, which shall then be subtracted from the minimum retirement age of 2
8484 sixty-two (62). 3
8585 (B) The formula shall then take the teacher’s total service credit as of September 30, 2009, 4
8686 as the numerator and the years of service credit determined under (A) as the denominator. 5
8787 (C) The fraction determined in (B) shall then be multiplied by the age difference 6
8888 determined in (A) to apply a reduction in years from age sixty-two (62). 7
8989 (c) Effective July 1, 2012, the following shall apply to all teachers not eligible to retire 8
9090 prior to July 1, 2012: 9
9191 (i) A teacher with contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, shall be eligible to retire 10
9292 upon the completion of at least five (5) years of contributory service and attainment of the teacher’s 11
9393 Social Security retirement age. 12
9494 (ii) For teachers with five (5) or more years of contributory service as of June 30, 2012, 13
9595 with contributory service on and after July 1, 2012, who have a retirement age of Social Security 14
9696 Retirement Age, the retirement age will be adjusted downward in proportion to the amount of 15
9797 service the teacher has earned as of June 30, 2012, but in no event shall a teacher’s retirement age 16
9898 under this subparagraph (ii) be prior to the attainment of age fifty-nine (59) or prior to the teacher’s 17
9999 retirement age determined under the laws in effect on June 30, 2012. The proportional formula shall 18
100100 work as follows: 19
101101 (1) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in 20
102102 effect on June 30, 2012, which shall then be subtracted from Social Security retirement age; 21
103103 (2) The formula shall then take the teacher’s total service credit as of June 30, 2012, as the 22
104104 numerator and the projected service at retirement age in effect on June 30, 2012, as the 23
105105 denominator; 24
106106 (3) The fraction determined in (2) shall then be multiplied by the age difference determined 25
107107 in (1) to apply a reduction in years from Social Security retirement age. 26
108108 (iii) Effective July 1, 2015, a teacher who has completed twenty (20) or more years of total 27
109109 service and who has attained an age within five (5) years of the eligible retirement age under 28
110110 subdivisions (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above or subsection (d) below, may elect to retire provided that the 29
111111 retirement allowance shall be reduced actuarially for each month that the age of the teacher is less 30
112112 than the eligible retirement age under subdivisions (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above or subsection (d) below in 31
113113 accordance with the following table: 32
114114 Year Preceding Retirement Cumulative Annual Reduction Cumulative Monthly 33
115115 Reduction 34
116116
117117
118118 LC001106 - Page 4 of 15
119119 For Year 1 9% 3% .75% .25% 1
120120 For Year 2 8% 3% .667% .25% 2
121121 For Year 3 7% 3% .583% .25% 3
122122 For Year 4 7% 3% .583% .25% 4
123123 For Year 5 7% 3% .583% .25% 5
124124 (iv) Notwithstanding any other provisions of section § 16-16-12(c), a teacher who has 6
125125 completed ten (10) or more years of contributory service as of June 30, 2012, may elect to retire at 7
126126 his or her eligible retirement date as determined under subsections (a) and (b) above provided that 8
127127 a teacher making an election under this paragraph shall receive the teacher’s retirement benefit 9
128128 determined and calculated based on the teacher’s service and average compensation as of June 30, 10
129129 2012. This provision shall be interpreted and administered in a manner to protect a teacher’s 11
130130 accrued benefit on June 30, 2012. 12
131131 (d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of subsection (c) above, effective July 1, 2015, 13
132132 teachers in active service shall be eligible to retire upon the earlier of: 14
133133 (A) The attainment of at least age sixty-five (65) and the completion of at least thirty (30) 15
134134 years of total service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-four (64) and the completion of at least 16
135135 thirty-one (31) years of total service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-three (63) and the 17
136136 completion of at least thirty-two (32) years of total service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-18
137137 two (62) and the completion of at least thirty-three (33) years of total service; or 19
138138 (B) The teacher’s retirement eligibility date under subsections (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above. 20
139139 (e) Except as specifically provided in §§ 36-10-9.1, 36-10-12 through 36-10-15, and 45-21
140140 21-19 through 45-21-22, no member shall be eligible for pension benefits under this chapter unless 22
141141 (i) The member shall have been a contributing member of the employees’ retirement 23
142142 system for at least ten (10) years; or 24
143143 (ii) For teachers in active contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, the teacher shall 25
144144 have been a contributing member of the employees’ retirement system for at least five (5) years. 26
145145 (2) Provided, however, a person who has ten (10) years service credit shall be vested; 27
146146 provided that for teachers in active contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, a teacher who has 28
147147 five (5) years of contributory service shall be vested. 29
148148 (3) Furthermore, any past service credits purchased in accordance with § 36-9-38 shall be 30
149149 counted towards vesting. 31
150150 (4) Any person who becomes a member of the employees’ retirement system pursuant to 32
151151 § 45-21-8 shall be considered a contributing member for the purpose of chapter 21 of title 45 and 33
152152 this chapter. 34
153153
154154
155155 LC001106 - Page 5 of 15
156156 (5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no more than five (5) years of service 1
157157 credit may be purchased by a member of the system. The five (5) year limit shall not apply to any 2
158158 purchases made prior to January 1, 1995. A member who has purchased more than five (5) years 3
159159 of service credit before January 1, 1995, shall be permitted to apply the purchases towards the 4
160160 member’s service retirement. However, no further purchase will be permitted. 5
161161 (6) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective July 1, 2012, except for purchases 6
162162 under §§ 16-16-7.1, 36-5-3, 36-9-31, 36-10-10.4, and 45-21-53: 7
163163 (i) For service purchases for time periods prior to a teacher’s initial date of hire, the 8
164164 purchase must be made within three (3) years of the teacher’s initial date of hire; and 9
165165 (ii) For service purchases for time periods for official periods of leave as authorized by 10
166166 law, the purchase must be made within three (3) years of the time the official leave was concluded 11
167167 by the teacher. Notwithstanding paragraphs (i) and (ii) above, service purchases from time periods 12
168168 prior to June 30, 2012, may be made on or prior to June 30, 2015. 13
169169 (f) No member of the teachers’ retirement system shall be permitted to purchase service 14
170170 credits for casual or seasonal employment, for employment as a temporary or emergency employee, 15
171171 a page in the general assembly, or for employment at any state college or university while the 16
172172 employee is a student or graduate of the college or university. 17
173173 (g) Except as specifically provided in §§ 16-16-6.2 and 16-16-6.4, a member shall not 18
174174 receive service credit in this retirement system for any year or portion of a year which counts as 19
175175 service credit in any other retirement system in which the member is vested or from which the 20
176176 member is receiving a pension and/or any annual payment for life. This subsection shall not apply 21
177177 to any payments received pursuant to the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 301 et seq. 22
178178 (h) A member who seeks to purchase or receive service credit in this retirement system 23
179179 shall have the affirmative duty to disclose to the retirement board whether or not he or she is a 24
180180 vested member in any other retirement system and/or is receiving a pension, retirement allowance, 25
181181 or any annual payment for life. The retirement board shall have the right to investigate as to whether 26
182182 or not the member has utilized the same time of service for credit in any other retirement system. 27
183183 The member has an affirmative duty to cooperate with the retirement board including, by way of 28
184184 illustration and not by way of limitation, the duty to furnish or have furnished to the retirement 29
185185 board any relevant information that is protected by any privacy act. 30
186186 (i) A member who fails to cooperate with the retirement board shall not have the time of 31
187187 service credit counted toward total service credit until the time the member cooperates with the 32
188188 retirement board and until the time the retirement board determines the validity of the service credit. 33
189189 (j) A member who knowingly makes a false statement to the retirement board regarding 34
190190
191191
192192 LC001106 - Page 6 of 15
193193 service time or credit shall not be entitled to a retirement allowance and is entitled only to the return 1
194194 of his or her contributions without interest. 2
195195 SECTION 2. Section 36-10-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-10 entitled "Retirement 3
196196 System — Contributions and Benefits" is hereby amended to read as follows: 4
197197 36-10-9. Retirement on service allowance — In general. 5
198198 Retirement of a member on a service retirement allowance shall be made by the retirement 6
199199 board as follows: 7
200200 (1)(a)(i) Any member may retire upon his or her written application to the retirement board 8
201201 as of the first day of the calendar month in which the application was filed; provided, the member 9
202202 was separated from service prior thereto; and further provided, however, that if separation from 10
203203 service occurs during the month in which application is filed, the effective date shall be the first 11
204204 day following that separation from service; and provided further that the member on his or her 12
205205 retirement date attained the age of sixty (60) and completed at least ten (10) years of contributory 13
206206 service on or before July 1, 2005, or who, regardless of age, has completed twenty-eight (28) years 14
207207 of total service and has completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service on or before July 15
208208 1, 2005, and who retire before October 1, 2009, or are eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009. 16
209209 (ii) For members who become eligible to retire on or after October 1, 2009, and prior to 17
210210 July 1, 2012, benefits are available to members who have attained the age of sixty-two (62) and 18
211211 completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service. For members in service as of October 1, 19
212212 2009, who were not eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009, but become eligible to retire prior 20
213213 to July 1, 2012, the minimum retirement age of sixty-two (62) will be adjusted downward in 21
214214 proportion to the amount of service the member has earned as of September 30, 2009. The 22
215215 proportional formula shall work as follows: 23
216216 (1) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in 24
217217 effect on September 30, 2009, which shall then be subtracted from the minimum retirement age of 25
218218 sixty-two (62). 26
219219 (2) The formula shall then take the member’s total service credit as of September 30, 2009, 27
220220 as the numerator and the years of service credit determined under (1) as the denominator. 28
221221 (3) The fraction determined in (2) shall then be multiplied by the age difference determined 29
222222 in (1) to apply a reduction in years from age sixty-two (62). 30
223223 (b)(i) Any member, who has not completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service 31
224224 on or before July 1, 2005, may retire upon his or her written application to the retirement board as 32
225225 of the first day of the calendar month in which the application was filed; provided, the member was 33
226226 separated from service prior thereto; and further provided, however, that if separation from service 34
227227
228228
229229 LC001106 - Page 7 of 15
230230 occurs during the month in which application is filed, the effective date shall be the first day 1
231231 following that separation from service; provided, the member or his or her retirement date had 2
232232 attained the age of fifty-nine (59) and had completed at least twenty-nine (29) years of total service 3
233233 or provided that the member on his or her retirement date had attained the age of sixty-five (65) 4
234234 and had completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service; or provided, that the member on 5
235235 his or her retirement date had attained the age of fifty-five (55) and had completed twenty (20) 6
236236 years of total service provided, that the retirement allowance, as determined according to the 7
237237 formula in § 36-10-10 is reduced actuarially for each month that the age of the member is less than 8
238238 sixty-five (65) years, and who retire before October 1, 2009, or are eligible to retire as of September 9
239239 30, 2009. 10
240240 (ii) For members who become eligible to retire on or after October 1, 2009 and prior to 11
241241 July 1, 2012, benefits are available to members who have attained the age of sixty-two (62) and 12
242242 completed at least twenty-nine (29) years of total service or have attained the age of sixty-five (65) 13
243243 and completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service. For members in service as of October 14
244244 1, 2009, who were not eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009, but become eligible to retire prior 15
245245 to July 1, 2012, who have a minimum retirement age of sixty-two (62), the retirement age will be 16
246246 adjusted downward in proportion to the amount of service the member has earned as of September 17
247247 30, 2009. The proportional formula shall work as follows: 18
248248 (1) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in 19
249249 effect on September 30, 2009, which shall then be subtracted from the minimum retirement age of 20
250250 sixty-two (62). 21
251251 (2) The formula shall then take the member’s total service credit as of September 30, 2009, 22
252252 as the numerator and the years of service credit determined under (1) as the denominator. 23
253253 (3) The fraction determined in (2) above shall then be multiplied by the age difference 24
254254 determined in (1) to apply a reduction in years from age sixty-two (62). 25
255255 (c) Effective July 1, 2012, the following shall apply to all members not eligible to retire 26
256256 prior to July 1, 2012: 27
257257 (i) A member with contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, shall be eligible to retire 28
258258 upon the completion of at least five (5) years of contributory service and attainment of the member’s 29
259259 Social Security retirement age. 30
260260 (ii) For members with five (5) or more years of contributory service as of June 30, 2012, 31
261261 with contributory service on and after July 1, 2012, who have a retirement age of Social Security 32
262262 Retirement Age, the retirement age will be adjusted downward in proportion to the amount of 33
263263 service the member has earned as of June 30, 2012, but in no event shall a member’s retirement 34
264264
265265
266266 LC001106 - Page 8 of 15
267267 age under this subparagraph (ii) be prior to the attainment of age fifty-nine (59) or prior to the 1
268268 member’s retirement age determined under the laws in effect on June 30, 2012. The proportional 2
269269 formula shall work as follows: 3
270270 (1) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in 4
271271 effect on June 30, 2012, which shall then be subtracted from Social Security retirement age; 5
272272 (2) The formula shall then take the member’s total service credit as of June 30, 2012, as 6
273273 the numerator and the projected service at retirement age in effect on June 30, 2012, as the 7
274274 denominator; 8
275275 (3) The fraction determined in (2) shall then be multiplied by the age difference determined 9
276276 in (1) to apply a reduction in years from Social Security retirement age. 10
277277 (iii) Effective July 1, 2015, a member who has completed twenty (20) or more years of 11
278278 total service and who has attained an age within five (5) years of the eligible retirement age under 12
279279 subparagraphs (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above or subsection (d) below, may elect to retire provided that the 13
280280 retirement allowance shall be reduced actuarially for each month that the age of the member is less 14
281281 than the eligible retirement age under subparagraphs (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above or subsection (d) below 15
282282 in accordance with the following table: 16
283283 Year Preceding Retirement Cumulative Annual Reduction Cumulative Monthly 17
284284 Reduction 18
285285 For Year 1 9% 3% .75% .25% 19
286286 For Year 2 8% 3% .667% .25% 20
287287 For Year 3 7% 3% .583% .25% 21
288288 For Year 4 7% 3% .583% .25% 22
289289 For Year 5 7% 3% .583% .25% 23
290290 (iv) Notwithstanding any other provisions of section 36-10-9(c), a member who has 24
291291 completed ten (10) or more years of contributory service as of June 30, 2012, may elect to retire at 25
292292 his or her eligible retirement date as determined under paragraphs (1)(a) and (1)(b) above provided 26
293293 that a member making an election under this paragraph shall receive the member’s retirement 27
294294 benefit determined and calculated based on the member’s service and average compensation as of 28
295295 June 30, 2012. This provision shall be interpreted and administered in a manner to protect a 29
296296 member’s accrued benefit on June 30, 2012. 30
297297 (d) Notwithstanding any other provisions of subsection (c) above, effective July 1, 2015, 31
298298 members in active service shall be eligible to retire upon the earlier of: (A) The attainment of at 32
299299 least age sixty-five (65) and the completion of at least thirty (30) years of total service, or the 33
300300 attainment of at least age sixty-four (64) and the completion of at least thirty-one (31) years of total 34
301301
302302
303303 LC001106 - Page 9 of 15
304304 service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-three (63) and the completion of at least thirty-two 1
305305 (32) years of total service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-two (62) and the completion of at 2
306306 least thirty-three (33) years of total service; or (B) The member’s retirement eligibility date under 3
307307 subsections (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above. 4
308308 (2) Any faculty employee at a public institution of higher education under the jurisdiction 5
309309 of the council on postsecondary education shall not be involuntarily retired upon attaining the age 6
310310 of seventy (70) years. 7
311311 (3)(i) Except as specifically provided in § 36-10-9.1, §§ 36-10-12 — 36-10-15, and §§ 45-8
312312 21-19 — 45-21-22, (I) On or prior to June 30, 2012 no member shall be eligible for pension benefits 9
313313 under this chapter unless the member shall have been a contributing member of the employee’s 10
314314 retirement system for at least ten (10) years, or (II) For members in active contributory service on 11
315315 or after July 1, 2012, the member shall have been a contributing member of the retirement system 12
316316 for at least five (5) years. 13
317317 (ii) Provided, however, a person who has ten (10) years service credit on or before June 16, 14
318318 1991, shall be vested. 15
319319 (iii) Furthermore, any past service credits purchased in accordance with § 36-9-38 shall be 16
320320 counted towards vesting. 17
321321 (iv) Any person who becomes a member of the employees’ retirement system pursuant to 18
322322 § 45-21-4 shall be considered a contributing member for the purpose of chapter 21 of title 45 and 19
323323 this chapter. 20
324324 (v) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no more than five (5) years of service 21
325325 credit may be purchased by a member of the system. The five (5) year limit shall not apply to any 22
326326 purchases made prior to January 1, 1995. A member who has purchased more than five (5) years 23
327327 of service credits before January 1, 1995, shall be permitted to apply those purchases towards the 24
328328 member’s service retirement. However, no further purchase will be permitted. Repayment in 25
329329 accordance with applicable law and regulation of any contribution previously withdrawn from the 26
330330 system shall not be deemed a purchase of service credit. 27
331331 (vi) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective July 1, 2012, except for 28
332332 purchases under §§ 16-16-7.1, 36-5-3, 36-9-31, 36-10-10.4, and 45-21-53, (A) For service 29
333333 purchases for time periods prior to a member’s initial date of hire, the purchase must be made 30
334334 within three (3) years of the member’s initial date of hire, (B) For service purchases for time periods 31
335335 for official periods of leave as authorized by law, the purchase must be made within three (3) years 32
336336 of the time the official leave was concluded by the member. Notwithstanding the preceding 33
337337 sentence, service purchases from time periods prior to June 30, 2012, may be made on or prior to 34
338338
339339
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341341 June 30, 2015. 1
342342 (4) No member of the employees’ retirement system shall be permitted to purchase service 2
343343 credits for casual, seasonal, or temporary employment, or emergency appointment, for employment 3
344344 as a page in the general assembly, or for employment at any state college or university while the 4
345345 employee is a student or graduate assistant of the college or university. 5
346346 (5) Except as specifically provided in §§ 16-16-6.2 and 16-16-6.4, a member shall not 6
347347 receive service credit in this retirement system for any year or portion of it, which counts as service 7
348348 credit in any other retirement system in which the member is vested or from which the member is 8
349349 receiving a pension and/or any annual payment for life. This subsection shall not apply to any 9
350350 payments received pursuant to the federal Social Security Act or to payments from a military 10
351351 pension earned prior to participation in state or municipal employment, or to military service credits 11
352352 earned prior to participation in state or municipal employment. 12
353353 (6) A member who seeks to purchase or receive service credit in this retirement system 13
354354 shall have the affirmative duty to disclose to the retirement board whether or not he or she is a 14
355355 vested member in any other retirement system and/or is receiving a pension, retirement allowance, 15
356356 or any annual payment for life. The retirement board shall have the right to investigate as to whether 16
357357 or not the member has utilized the same time of service for credit in any other retirement system. 17
358358 The member has an affirmative duty to cooperate with the retirement board including, by way of 18
359359 illustration and not by way of limitations the duty to furnish or have furnished to the retirement 19
360360 board any relevant information which is protected by any privacy act. 20
361361 (7) A member who fails to cooperate with the retirement board shall not have the time of 21
362362 service counted toward total service credit until such time as the member cooperates with the 22
363363 retirement board and until such time as the retirement board determines the validity of the service 23
364364 credit. 24
365365 (8) A member who knowingly makes a false statement to the retirement board regarding 25
366366 service time or credit shall not be entitled to a retirement allowance and is entitled only to the return 26
367367 of his or her contributions without interest. 27
368368 SECTION 3. Section 45-21-16 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-21 entitled "Retirement 28
369369 of Municipal Employees" is hereby amended to read as follows: 29
370370 45-21-16. Retirement on service allowance. 30
371371 Retirement of a member on a service retirement allowance shall be made by the retirement 31
372372 board as follows: 32
373373 (1)(i) Any member who is eligible to retire on or before June 30, 2012, may retire upon the 33
374374 member’s written application to the retirement board as of the first day of the calendar month in 34
375375
376376
377377 LC001106 - Page 11 of 15
378378 which the application was filed, provided the member was separated from service prior to the 1
379379 application, and provided, further, that if separation from service occurs during the month in which 2
380380 application is filed, the effective date is the first day following the separation from service, provided 3
381381 that the member at the time so specified for the member’s retirement has attained the applicable 4
382382 minimum retirement age and has completed at least ten (10) years of total service or who, regardless 5
383383 of age, completed thirty (30) years of total service, and notwithstanding that during the period of 6
384384 notification the member has separated from service. The minimum ages for service retirement 7
385385 (except for employees completing thirty (30) years of service) is fifty-eight (58) years. 8
386386 (ii) Effective July 1, 2012, the following shall apply to all members not eligible to retire 9
387387 prior to July 1, 2012: 10
388388 (A) A member with contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, shall be eligible to retire 11
389389 upon the completion of at least five (5) years of contributory service and attainment of the member’s 12
390390 Social Security retirement age. 13
391391 (B) For members with five (5) or more years of contributory service as of June 30, 2012, 14
392392 with contributory service on and after July 1, 2012, who have a retirement age of Social Security 15
393393 retirement age, the retirement age will be adjusted downward in proportion to the amount of service 16
394394 the member has earned as of June 30, 2012, but in no event shall a member’s retirement age under 17
395395 this subparagraph (B) be prior to the attainment of age fifty-nine (59) or prior to the member’s 18
396396 retirement age determined under the laws in effect on June 30, 2012. The proportional formula shall 19
397397 work as follows: 20
398398 (1) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in 21
399399 effect on June 30, 2012, which shall then be subtracted from Social Security retirement age; 22
400400 (2) The formula shall then take the member’s total service credit as of June 30, 2012, as 23
401401 the numerator and the projected service at retirement age in effect on June 30, 2012, as the 24
402402 denominator; 25
403403 (3) The fraction determined in (2) shall then be multiplied by the age difference determined 26
404404 in (1) to apply a reduction in years from Social Security retirement age. 27
405405 (C) Effective July 1, 2015, a member who has completed twenty (20) or more years of total 28
406406 service and who has attained an age within five (5) years of the eligible retirement age under 29
407407 subparagraphs (ii)(A) or (ii)(B) above or subsection (iii) below, may elect to retire provided that 30
408408 the retirement allowance shall be reduced actuarially for each month that the age of the member is 31
409409 less than the eligible retirement age under subparagraphs (ii)(A) or (ii)(B) above or subsection (iii) 32
410410 below in accordance with the following table: 33
411411 Year Preceding Retirement Cumulative Annual Reduction Cumulative Monthly 34
412412
413413
414414 LC001106 - Page 12 of 15
415415 Reduction 1
416416 For Year 1 9% 3% .75% .25% 2
417417 For Year 2 8% 3% .667% .25% 3
418418 For Year 3 7% 3% .583% .25% 4
419419 For Year 4 7% 3% .583% .25% 5
420420 For Year 5 7% 3% .583% .25% 6
421421 (D)(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of § 42-21-16(1)(ii), a member who has 7
422422 completed ten (10) or more years of contributory service as of June 30, 2012, may elect to retire at 8
423423 his or her eligible retirement date as determined under paragraph (i) above provided that a member 9
424424 making an election under this paragraph shall receive the member’s retirement benefit determined 10
425425 and calculated based on the member’s service and average compensation as of June 30, 2012. This 11
426426 provision shall be interpreted and administered in a manner to protect a member’s accrued benefit 12
427427 on June 30, 2012. 13
428428 (iii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of subsection (ii) above, effective July 1, 2015, 14
429429 members in active service shall be eligible to retire upon the earlier of: (I) The attainment of at 15
430430 least age sixty-five (65) and the completion of at least thirty (30) years of total service, or the 16
431431 attainment of at least age sixty-four (64) and the completion of at least thirty-one (31) years of total 17
432432 service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-three (63) and the completion of at least thirty-two 18
433433 (32) years of total service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-two (62) and the completion of at 19
434434 least thirty-three (33) years of total service; or (II) The member’s retirement eligibility date under 20
435435 subsections (ii)(A) or (ii)(B) above. 21
436436 (2) Except as specifically provided in §§ 45-21-19 — 45-21-22, no member is eligible for 22
437437 pension benefits under this chapter unless: 23
438438 (I) On or prior to June 30, 2012, the member has been a contributing member of the 24
439439 employees’ retirement system for at least ten (10) years; or 25
440440 (II) For members in active contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, the member shall 26
441441 have been a contributing member of the employees’ retirement system for at least five (5) years. 27
442442 (i) Provided, however, a person who has ten (10) years service credit on or before June 16, 28
443443 1991, is vested. 29
444444 (ii) Furthermore, any past service credits purchased in accordance with § 45-21-62 are 30
445445 counted towards vesting. 31
446446 (iii) Any person who becomes a member of the employees’ retirement system pursuant to 32
447447 § 45-21-4 shall be considered a contributing member for the purpose of this chapter. 33
448448 (iv) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no more than five (5) years of service 34
449449
450450
451451 LC001106 - Page 13 of 15
452452 credit may be purchased by a member of the System. The five (5)-year limit does not apply to any 1
453453 purchases made prior to the effective date of this provision. A member who has purchased more 2
454454 than five (5) years of service credit maximum, before January 1, 1995, shall be permitted to apply 3
455455 the purchases towards the member’s service retirement. However, no further purchase will be 4
456456 permitted. Repayment, in accordance with applicable law and regulation, of any contribution 5
457457 previously withdrawn from the System is not deemed a purchase of service credit. 6
458458 (v) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective July 1, 2012, except for purchases 7
459459 under §§ 16-16-7.1, 36-5-3, 36-9-31, 36-10-10.4, and 45-21-53: 8
460460 (I) For service purchases for time periods prior to a member’s initial date of hire; the 9
461461 purchase must be made within three (3) years of the member’s initial date of hire; and 10
462462 (II) For service purchases for time periods for official periods of leave as authorized by 11
463463 law, the purchase must be made within three (3) years of the time the official leave was concluded 12
464464 by the member. 13
465465 Notwithstanding (I) and (II) above, service purchases from time periods prior to June 30, 14
466466 2012, may be made on or prior to June 30, 2015. 15
467467 (3) No member of the municipal employees’ retirement system is permitted to purchase 16
468468 service credits for casual, temporary, emergency or seasonal employment, for employment as a 17
469469 page in the general assembly, or for employment at any state college or university while the 18
470470 employee is a student or graduate assistant of the college or university. 19
471471 (4) A member does not receive service credit in this retirement system for any year or 20
472472 portion of a year, which counts as service credit in any other retirement system in which the member 21
473473 is vested or from which the member is receiving a pension and/or any annual payment for life. This 22
474474 subsection does not apply to any payments received pursuant to the federal Social Security Act or 23
475475 to payments from a military pension earned prior to participation in state or municipal employment, 24
476476 or to military service credits earned prior to participation in state or municipal employment. 25
477477 (5) A member who seeks to purchase or receive service credit in this retirement system has 26
478478 the affirmative duty to disclose to the retirement board whether or not he or she is a vested member 27
479479 in any other retirement system and/or is receiving a pension retirement allowance or any annual 28
480480 payment for life. The retirement board has the right to investigate whether or not the member has 29
481481 utilized the same time of service for credit in any other retirement system. The member has an 30
482482 affirmative duty to cooperate with the retirement board including, by way of illustration and not by 31
483483 way of limitation, the duty to furnish or have furnished to the retirement board any relevant 32
484484 information which is protected by any privacy act. 33
485485 (6) A member who fails to cooperate with the retirement board shall not have the time of 34
486486
487487
488488 LC001106 - Page 14 of 15
489489 service counted toward total service credit until a time that the member cooperates with the 1
490490 retirement board and until a time that the retirement board determines the validity of the service 2
491491 credit. 3
492492 (7) A member who knowingly makes a false statement to the retirement board regarding 4
493493 service time or credit is not entitled to a retirement allowance and is entitled only to the return of 5
494494 his or her contributions without interest. 6
495495 SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage. 7
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499499
500500
501501 LC001106 - Page 15 of 15
502502 EXPLANATION
503503 BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
504504 OF
505505 A N A C T
506506 RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TEACHERS', MUNICIPAL AND STATE EMPLOYEES
507507 EARLY RETIREMENT PENALTY
508508 ***
509509 This act would reduce the current varying percentages for early retirement penalty for 1
510510 teachers, municipal and state employees to a cumulative annual reduction of three percent (3%) 2
511511 and monthly reduction of twenty-five hundredths percent (.25%). 3
512512 This act would take effect upon passage. 4
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