2022 -- H 8246

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LC005940

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2022

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- DISTRICT COURT

     

     Introduced By: Representative Katherine S. Kazarian

     Date Introduced: May 12, 2022

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Section 8-8-8.1 and 8-8-16.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 8-8 entitled

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"District Court" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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     8-8-8.1. Administrator/clerk -- Magistrate.

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     (a) Administrator/clerk. There shall be a district court administrator/clerk who shall be

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appointed by the chief judge in his or her capacity as administrative head of the court, and who

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shall hold office at the pleasure of the administrative judge. The administrator/clerk shall perform

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such duties and attend to such matters as may be assigned to the administrator/clerk by the

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administrative judge, other than those duties assigned to the chief clerk in § 8-8-19. Said duties

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may be assigned by the chief judge.

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     (b) Magistrate. Any person holding the position of district court administrator/clerk who is

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a member of the bar of Rhode Island may be appointed district court magistrate by the chief judge

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in his or her capacity as administrative head of the court, subject to the advice and consent of the

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senate. The district court magistrate shall hold said office for a term of ten (10) years and until a

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successor is appointed and qualified; and the magistrate shall retain whatever right he or she may

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have to the position of district court administrator/clerk pursuant to this section. Nothing herein

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shall be construed to prohibit the appointment of the magistrate for more than one term, subject to

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the advice and consent of the senate. Any person holding office of district court magistrate on July

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1, 1999 may continue in full authority in said position until such time as an appointment is made

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and the nominee qualified pursuant to this subsection.

 

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     (c) The district court magistrate shall have the power to hear and determine such matters

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as may be assigned to the district court magistrate by the chief judge all to the same effect as if

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done by a judge of the district court, including but not limited to:

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     (1) Matters relating to the determination of, monitoring, collection, and payment of

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restitution and court ordered fines, fees, and costs or the ordering of community service in lieu of

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or in addition to the payment of restitution, fines, fees, and costs, consistent with other provisions

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of the general laws;

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     (2) Arraignments and pretrial motions in misdemeanor, petty misdemeanor, violation, and

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ordinance cases and initial appearances and probable cause hearings in felony cases;

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     (3) Bail hearings pursuant to R.I. Const., Art. I, Sec. IX and all other bail matters pursuant

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to chapter 13 of title 12 and the rules of criminal procedure, including but not limited to motions to

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modify bail, bail revocation hearings, bail forfeiture hearings, and bail source hearings;

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     (4) All matters relating to fugitives from justice pursuant to chapter 9 of title 12;

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     (5) Probation revocation hearings;

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     (6) All matters relating to small claims and consumer claims pursuant to chapter 16 of title

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10, including any pretrial motions including motions relating to the special service of process, the

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entry of defaults and default judgments, the trial of such cases and the entry of judgment after such

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trials, and all matters relating to the enforcement of such judgments, including but not limited to

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the ordering of installment payments and trustee process; and

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     (7) Complaints for judicial review of the decision of an administrative agency pursuant to

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chapter 35 of title 42 by making proposed findings of fact and recommendations for the disposition

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of the complaints to a judge of the court. Any party may object to any portion of the magistrate's

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proposed findings and recommendations within ten (10) days after receipt of a copy thereof. That

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party shall file with the clerk of the sixth division of the district court and serve on all parties written

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objections which shall specifically identify the portions of the proposed findings and

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recommendations to which objection is made and the basis for the objection. A judge shall make a

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de novo determination of those portions to which objection is made and may accept, reject, or

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modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made by the magistrate. Absent a

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timely objection filed in accordance with this subdivision, the proposed prevailing party shall, upon

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expiration of the ten (10) days following the service of the magistrate's proposed findings and

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recommendations, submit a proposed order for signature of the judge to whom the case has been

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assigned.

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     (d) The magistrate may be authorized:

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     (1) To regulate all proceedings before him or her;

 

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     (2) To do all acts necessary or proper for the efficient performance of his or her duties;

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     (3) To require the production before him or her of books, papers, vouchers, documents,

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and writings;

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     (4) To rule upon the admissibility of evidence;

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     (5) To issue subpoenas for the appearance of witnesses, to put witnesses on oath, to

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examine them, and to call parties to the proceeding and examine them upon oath;

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     (6) To adjudicate a person in contempt and to order him or her fined or to order him or her

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imprisoned for not more than seventy-two (72) hours, pending review by a judge of the court, for

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failure to appear in response to a summons or for refusal to answer questions or produce evidence

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or for behavior disrupting a proceeding or other contempt of his or her authority;

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     (7) To adjudicate a person in contempt and to order him or her fined or to order him or her

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imprisoned for not more than seventy-two (72) hours, pending review by a judge of the court, for

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failure to comply with a pending order to provide payment or to perform any other act;

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     (8) To issue a capias and/or body attachment for the failure of a party or witness to appear

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after having been properly served or given notice by the court and, should the court not be in

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session, the person apprehended may be detained at the adult correctional institution, if an adult, or

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at the Rhode Island training school for youth, if a child, until the next session of the court;

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     (9) To issue writs of habeas corpus to bring before him or her or a judge of the court any

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person in jail or in prison to be examined as a witness in a suit or proceeding, civil or criminal,

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pending before the court, or whose presence is necessary as a party or otherwise necessary so that

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the ends of justice may be attained, and for no other purpose; and

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     (10) To issue warrants of arrest and search warrants to the same extent as an associate judge

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of the court.

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     (e) Except as otherwise indicated, a party aggrieved by an order entered by the district court

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magistrate shall be entitled to a review of the order, whether by appeal or otherwise, by a judge of

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the court. The court shall, by rules of procedure, establish procedures for review of contempt and

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adjudications of the magistrate.

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     (f) The magistrate shall be:

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     (1) Governed by the commission on judicial tenure and discipline, chapter 16 of this title,

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in the same manner as justices and judges;

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     (2) Subject to all provisions of the canons of judicial ethics;

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     (3) Subject to all criminal laws relative to judges by virtue of §§ 11-7-1 and 11-7-2.

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     (g) Any district court magistrate who has been engaged for a period of twenty (20) years

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and has reached the age of sixty (60) years, may upon retirement, at his or her own request and at

 

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the direction of the chief justice of the supreme court, subject to the retiree's physical and mental

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competence, be assigned to perform such services as a magistrate of the district court as the chief

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judge of the district court shall prescribe. When so assigned and performing such service, the

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district court clerk/magistrate shall have all the powers and authority of a magistrate of the district

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court but otherwise shall have no powers nor be authorized to perform any judicial duties. Such a

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retired district court magistrate shall not be counted in the number of magistrates provided by law

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for the district court.

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     (g)(h) The provisions of this section shall be afforded liberal construction.

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     8-8-16.2. District court clerk/magistrate.

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     (a) Any person who is a member of the bar of Rhode Island may be appointed district court

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clerk/magistrate by the chief judge in his or her capacity as administrative head of the court, subject

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to the advice and consent of the senate. The district court clerk/magistrate shall hold that office for

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a term of ten (10) years and until a successor is appointed and qualified. Nothing herein shall be

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construed to prohibit the assignment of the district court clerk/magistrate to more than one such

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term, subject to the advice and consent of the senate. The district court clerk/magistrate shall have

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the power to hear and determine any matters that may be assigned to the district court

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clerk/magistrate by the chief judge all to the same effect as if done by a judge of the district court,

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including, but not limited to, matters relating to the determination of, monitoring, collection and

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payment of restitution and court ordered fines, fees and costs or the ordering of community service

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in lieu of or in addition to the payment of restitution, fines, fees and costs, consistent with other

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provisions of the general laws.

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     (b) The clerk/magistrate may be authorized:

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     (1) To regulate all proceedings before him or her;

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     (2) To do all acts necessary or proper for the efficient performance of his or her duties;

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     (3) To require the production before him or her of books, papers, vouchers, documents and

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writings;

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     (4) To rule upon the admissibility of evidence;

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     (5) To issue subpoenas for the appearance of witnesses, to put witnesses on oath, to

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examine them and to call parties to the proceeding and examine them upon oath;

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     (6) To adjudicate a person in contempt and to order him or her fined or to order him or her

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imprisoned for not more than seventy-two (72) hours, for failure to appear in response to a

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summons or for refusal to answer questions or produce evidence or for behavior disrupting a

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proceeding or other contempt of his or her authority; provided; however, that no such imprisonment

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shall occur prior to review by a judge of the court.

 

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     (7) To adjudicate a person in contempt and to order him or her fined or to order him or her

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imprisoned for not more than seventy-two (72) hours, for failure to comply with a pending order to

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provide payment or to perform any other act; provided, however, that no such imprisonment shall

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occur prior to review by a judge of the court.

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     (8) To issue a capias and/or body attachment for the failure of a party or witness to appear

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after having been properly served or given notice by the court and, should the court not be in

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session, the person apprehended may be detained at the adult correctional institutions, if an adult,

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or at the Rhode Island training school for youth, if a child, until the next session of the court;

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     (9) To issue writs of habeas corpus to bring before him or her or a judge of the court any

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person in jail or in prison to be examined as a witness in a suit or proceeding, civil or criminal,

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pending before the court, or whose presence is necessary as a party or otherwise necessary so that

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the ends of justice may be attained, and for no other purpose; and

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     (10) To issue warrants of arrest and search warrants to the same extent as an associate judge

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of the court.

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     (c) Except as otherwise indicated, a party aggrieved by an order entered by the district court

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clerk/magistrate shall be entitled to a review of the order, whether by appeal or otherwise, by a

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judge of the court. The court shall, by rules of procedure, establish procedures for review of

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contempt and adjudications of the clerk/magistrate.

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     (d) The district court clerk/magistrate shall:

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     (1) Be governed by the commission on judicial tenure and discipline, pursuant to chapter

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16 of this title, in the same manner as justices and judges;

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     (2) Be subject to all provisions of the canons of judicial ethics;

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     (3) Be subject to all criminal laws relative to judges by virtue of §§ 11-7-1 and 11-7-2.

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     (4) Receive any salary that may be established by the state court administrator pursuant to

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§ 8-15-4. The provisions of this section shall be afforded liberal construction.

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     (e) Any district court clerk/magistrate who has been engaged for a period of twenty (20)

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years and has reached the age of sixty (60) years, may upon retirement, at his or her own request

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and at the direction of the chief justice of the supreme court, subject to the retiree's physical and

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mental competence, be assigned to perform such services as a magistrate of the district court as the

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chief judge of the district court shall prescribe. When so assigned and performing such service, the

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district court clerk/magistrate shall have all the powers and authority of a magistrate of the district

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court but otherwise shall have no powers nor be authorized to perform any judicial duties. Such a

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retired district court clerk/magistrate shall not be counted in the number of magistrates provided by

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law for the district court.

 

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     SECTION 2. Section 36-10-36 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-10 entitled "Retirement

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System - Contributions and Benefits" is hereby amended to read as follows:

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     36-10-36. Post-retirement employment.

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     (a) On and after July 7, 1994, no member who has retired under the provisions of titles 16,

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36, or 45 may be employed or reemployed by any state agency or department unless any and all

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retirement benefits to which he or she may be entitled by virtue of the provisions of titles 16, 36,

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or 45 are suspended for the duration of any employment or reemployment. No additional service

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credits shall be granted for any post-retirement employment or reemployment and no deductions

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shall be taken from an individual's salary for retirement contribution. Notice of any such post-

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retirement employment or reemployment shall be sent monthly to the retirement board by the

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employing agency or department and by the retired member.

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     (b) Any member who has retired under the provisions of titles 16, 36, or 45 may be

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employed or reemployed by any municipality within the state that has accepted the provisions of

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chapter 21 of title 45 and participates in the municipal employees' retirement system for a period

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of not more than seventy-five (75) working days or one hundred fifty (150) half days with half-day

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pay in any one calendar year without any forfeiture or reduction of any retirement benefits and

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allowances the member is receiving, or may receive, as a retired member. Pension payments shall

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be suspended whenever this period is exceeded. No additional contributions shall be taken, and no

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additional service credits shall be granted, for this service. Notice of this employment or

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reemployment shall be sent monthly to the retirement board by the employer and by the retired

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member.

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     (c) Any member who has retired under the provisions of title 16, 36, or 45 may be employed

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or reemployed by any municipality within the state that has not accepted the provisions of chapter

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21 of title 45 and that does not participate in the municipal employees' retirement system.

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     (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section:

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     (1) Any retired member of the system shall be permitted to serve as an elected mayor, the

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town administrator, the city administrator, the town manager, the city manager, the chief

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administrative officer, or the chief executive officer of any city or town, city or town council

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member, school committee member, or unpaid member of any part-time state board or commission

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or member of any part-time municipal board or commission, and shall continue to be eligible for,

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and receive, the retirement allowance for service other than that as a mayor, administrator, council

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member, school committee member, or member of any state board or commission or member of

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any part-time municipal board or commission; provided, however, that no additional service credits

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shall be granted for any service under this subsection;

 

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     (2) Any retired member, who retired from service at any state college, university, state

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school, or who retired from service as a teacher under the provisions of title 16, or who retired from

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service under title 36 or title 45, may be employed or reemployed, on a part-time basis, by any state

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college, university, or state school for the purpose of providing classroom instruction, academic

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advising of students, and/or coaching. Compensation shall be provided at a level not to exceed the

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salary provided to other faculty members employed under a collective bargaining agreement at the

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institution. In no event shall "part-time" mean gross pay of more than eighteen thousand dollars

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($18,000) in any one calendar year. Any retired member who provides such instruction or service

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shall do so without forfeiture or reduction of any retirement benefit or allowance; provided,

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however, that no additional service credits shall be granted for any service under this subsection;

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     (3) Any retired member who retired from service as a teacher under the provisions of title

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16, or as a state employee who, while an active state employee, was certified to teach driver

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education by the department of elementary and secondary education or by the board of governors

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for higher education, may be employed or reemployed, on a part-time basis, by the department of

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elementary and secondary education or by the board of governors of higher education for the

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purpose of providing classroom instruction in driver education courses in accordance with § 31-

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10-19 and/or motorcycle driver education courses in accordance with § 31-10.1-1.1. In no event

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shall "part-time" mean gross pay of more than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) in any one

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calendar year. Any retired teacher who provides that instruction shall do so without forfeiture or

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reduction of any retirement benefit or allowance the retired teacher is receiving as a retired teacher;

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provided, however, that no additional service credits shall be granted for any service under this

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subsection;

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     (4) Any retired member who retired from service as a registered nurse may be employed

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or reemployed, on a per-diem basis, for the purpose of providing professional nursing care and/or

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services at a state-operated facility in Rhode Island, including employment as a faculty member of

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a nursing program at a state-operated college or university. In no event shall "part-time" mean gross

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pay of more than a period of seventy-five (75) working days or one hundred fifty (150) half days

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with half pay in any one calendar year. Any retired nurse who provides such care and/or services

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shall do so without forfeiture or reduction of any retirement benefit or allowance the retired nurse

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is receiving as a retired nurse; provided, however, that no additional service credits shall be granted

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for any service under this subsection. Pension payments shall be suspended whenever this period

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is exceeded. No additional contributions shall be taken and no additional service credits shall be

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granted for this service. Notice of this employment or reemployment shall be sent monthly to the

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retirement board by the employer and by the retired member;

 

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     (5) Any retired member who, at the time of passage of this section, serves as a general

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magistrate within the family court and thereafter retires from judicial service, may be employed or

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reemployed by the family court to perform such services as a general magistrate of the family court

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as the chief judge of the family court shall prescribe without any forfeiture or reduction of any

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retirement benefits and allowances that he or she is receiving or may receive. For any such services

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or assignments performed after retirement, the general magistrate shall receive no compensation

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whatsoever, either monetary or in kind. No additional contributions shall be taken and no additional

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service credits shall be granted for this service; and

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     (6) Any retired district court clerk/magistrate or magistrate of the district court who shall

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subsequently be assigned to perform service in accordance with §§ 8-8-8.1 or 8-8-16.2(e), may be

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employed or reemployed by the district court to perform such services as a magistrate as the chief

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judge of the district court shall prescribe without any forfeiture or reduction of any retirement

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benefits and allowance that he or she is receiving or may receive. For any such services or

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assignment performed after retirement, the district court clerk/magistrate or magistrate shall

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receive, in addition to his or her retirement pension, the difference in pay and fringe benefits

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between his or her retirement pension, and that of a sitting magistrate of the district court with

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comparable state service time. No additional contributions shall be taken and no additional service

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credits shall be granted for this service; and

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     (6)(7) Any retired member of the system shall be permitted to serve as a municipal

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employee without any forfeiture or reduction of any retirement benefits and allowances that he or

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she is receiving or may receive; provided, that said member shall be appointed by and serves at the

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pleasure of the highest elected chief executive officer, as defined in § 45-9-2, in any city or town

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subject to the provisions of chapter 9 of title 45 entitled "Budget Commissions" relating to the

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appointment of a fiscal overseer, budget commission, receiver, and/or financial advisor. Provided

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further, that no additional service credits shall be granted for any service under this subsection.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE -- DISTRICT COURT

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     This act would permit a retired district court clerk/magistrate or a magistrate of the district

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court who has reached age sixty (60) and has served for more than twenty (20) years to be recalled

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for service and to be compensated for such service.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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