| Chapter 266 |
| 2026 -- S 3252 Enacted 06/26/2026 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN |
Introduced By: Senators Acosta, Burke, and DiPalma |
| Date Introduced: May 05, 2026 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Section 45-21.4-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-21.4 entitled "Relating |
| to Central Falls Pension Plan" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
| 45-21.4-2. Alternative acceptance by the city of Central Falls of optional retirement |
| for police and firefighters. |
| (a) The provisions of this section shall apply only to locally administered plans within the |
| city of Central Falls hereinafter referred collectively as the “Central Falls plan.” |
| (b) On or after July 16, 2019, Central Falls may accept the provisions of this chapter, by |
| resolution or an ordinance of its governing body, stating the group or groups of employees to be |
| included as provided in § 45-21-4; provided that, any and all labor organizations representing active |
| employees of the municipality to be included have assented to such participation of their respective |
| memberships through a collective bargaining agreement and ratification of the decision by a |
| majority vote of those members of any such labor organization present and voting. A copy of the |
| resolution or ordinance and proof of assent from the applicable labor organization shall be |
| immediately forwarded to the retirement board for review. A vote of the retirement board to accept |
| the entry of the group or groups of employees into the system shall be required. |
| (c) Effective August 31, 2019, the Central Falls plan shall be closed to new members. |
| (d)(1) Prior to July 1, 2026, Members members of the Central Falls plan in active service |
| as of August 31, 2019, shall continue to be subject to the applicable retirement ages and restrictions, |
| and accrue benefits on total service at the rates of the Central Falls plan pursuant to the collective |
| bargaining agreements in effect on August 31, 2019, between Central Falls and the labor |
| organizations representing members of the Central Falls plan. |
| (2) On and after July 1, 2026, members of the Central Falls plan in active service as of |
| August 31, 2019, shall be subject to the pension plan provisions set forth in the respective collective |
| bargaining agreements in effect on July 1, 2026, between Central Falls and the labor organizations |
| representing members of the Central Falls plan. |
| (e) Disability determinations shall be made by the retirement board, subject to the |
| procedures and standards of §§ 45-21.2-7 and 45-21.2-9 as applicable, for members hired prior to |
| September 1, 2019. If a disability retirement pension is granted, the member shall receive benefits |
| provided by the Central Falls pension plan pursuant to the collective bargaining agreements in |
| effect on August 31, 2019. |
| (f) Beginning September 1, 2019 July 1, 2026, firefighters and police officers in active |
| service thatwho are members of the Central Falls plan in active service shall contribute an amount |
| equal to eleven and seven-tenths percent (11.7%) ten percent (10%) of the salary or compensation |
| earned or accruing to the member. |
| (g) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section being met, new employees |
| hired on or after September 1, 2019, shall be subject to all of the provisions of § 45-21.2, including |
| all applicable disability provisions and benefits provided by §§ 36-10.3-4 and 45-21-52. |
| (h) Notwithstanding anything in § 45-21-42.2 to the contrary, the cost to evaluate Central |
| Falls prospective membership in the retirement system pursuant to this section or § 45-21.4-3, shall |
| be borne by the retirement board. |
| (i) Notwithstanding anything in § 45-21-43.1 to the contrary, determination of the |
| employer contribution rate of the closed Central Falls pension plan pursuant to this section shall be |
| computed using an amortization period for the unfunded actuarial accrued liability as determined |
| by the board, based upon the recommendation of the plan’s actuary. Future actuarial gains and |
| losses accruing within a plan year will be amortized over individual new twenty-year (20) closed |
| periods consistent with § 45-21-43.1(c). |
| (j) Notwithstanding anything in § 45-21-56 to the contrary, if a Central Falls pension plan |
| pursuant to this section is in critical status as defined in § 45-65-4, and an employee of the Central |
| Falls pension plan leaves employment and is hired by another participating municipality that is not |
| in critical status as defined in § 45-65-4, then the retirement system shall transfer the amount of the |
| member’s total accrued liability with the Central Falls pension plan, multiplied by the funded status |
| of the Central Falls pension plan, to the account of the current employing municipality. |
| (k) Upon the conditions of subsection (b) of this section being met, the city of Central Falls |
| shall remain liable to the retirement system for the cost of funding a retirement system for its |
| employees who are members of the system as provided herein, and the retirement board maintains |
| the right to enforce payment of any liability as provided in chapter 21 of this title. |
| (l) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section being met, the Central Falls |
| plan and the provisions of this section shall be administered in the same manner provided in chapter |
| 21 of this title; credits for prior service and collection of contributions are determined through |
| reference to that chapter; provided, that where the provisions of that chapter conflict with this |
| chapter, then the provisions of this chapter control. Liability of contributions is enforced in the |
| same manner as stated in chapter 21 of this title. |
| SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC006348 |
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