2023 -- H 6295

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LC002736

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION – TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT

     Introduced By: Representatives Serpa, Lima, Biah, O'Brien, Dawson, Phillips, Fellela,
McNamara, Messier, and Casimiro

     Date Introduced: April 19, 2023

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-16-40 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-16 entitled "Teachers’

Retirement [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby

amended to read as follows:

     16-16-40. Additional benefits payable to retired teachers.

     (a) All teachers and all beneficiaries of teachers receiving any service retirement or

ordinary or accidental disability retirement allowance pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and

chapter 17 of this title, on or before December 31, 1967, shall receive a cost of living retirement

adjustment equal to one and one-half percent (1.5%) per year of the original retirement allowance,

not compounded, for each year the retirement allowance has been in effect. For purposes of

computation credit shall be given for a full calendar year regardless of the effective date of the

retirement allowance. This cost of living retirement adjustment shall be added to the amount of the

service retirement allowance as of January 1, 1970, and payment shall begin as of July 1, 1970. An

additional cost of living retirement adjustment shall be added to the original retirement allowance

equal to three percent (3%) of the original retirement allowance on the first day of January, 1971,

and each year thereafter through December 31, 1980.

     (b) All teachers and beneficiaries of teachers receiving any service retirement or ordinary

disability retirement allowance pursuant to the provisions of this title who retired on or after January

1, 1968, shall, on the first day of January, next following the third (3rd) year on retirement, receive

a cost of living adjustment, in addition to his or her retirement allowance, an amount equal to three

percent (3%) of the original retirement allowance. In each succeeding year thereafter, on the first

day of January, the retirement allowance shall be increased an additional three percent (3%) of the

original retirement allowance, not compounded, to be continued through December 31, 1980.

     (c)(1) Beginning on January 1, 1981, for all teachers and beneficiaries of teachers receiving

any service retirement and all teachers and all beneficiaries of teachers who have completed at least

ten (10) years of contributory service on or before July 1, 2005, pursuant to the provisions of this

chapter, and for all teachers and beneficiaries of teachers who receive a disability retirement

allowance pursuant to §§ 16-16-14 — 16-16-17, the cost of living adjustment shall be computed

and paid at the rate of three percent (3%) of the original retirement allowance or the retirement

allowance as computed in accordance with § 16-16-40.1, compounded annually from the year for

which the cost of living adjustment was determined to be payable by the retirement board pursuant

to the provisions of subsection (a) or (b) of this section. Such cost of living adjustments are available

to teachers who retire before October 1, 2009, or are eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009.

     (2) The provisions of this subsection shall be deemed to apply prospectively only and no

retroactive payment shall be made.

     (3) The retirement allowance of all teachers and all beneficiaries of teachers who have not

completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service on or before July 1, 2005, or were not

eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009, shall, on the month following the third anniversary date

of the retirement, and on the month following the anniversary date of each succeeding year be

adjusted and computed by multiplying the retirement allowance by three percent (3%) or the

percentage of increase in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) as published

by the United States Department of Labor Statistics, determined as of September 30 of the prior

calendar year, whichever is less; the cost of living adjustment shall be compounded annually from

the year for which the cost of living adjustment was determined payable by the retirement board;

provided, that no adjustment shall cause any retirement allowance to be decreased from the

retirement allowance provided immediately before such adjustment.

     (d) For teachers not eligible to retire in accordance with this chapter as of September 30,

2009, and not eligible upon passage of this article, and for their beneficiaries, the cost of living

adjustment described in subsection (3) above shall only apply to the first thirty-five thousand

dollars ($35,000) of retirement allowance, indexed annually, and shall commence upon the third

(3rd) anniversary of the date of retirement or when the retiree reaches age sixty-five (65), whichever

is later. The thirty-five thousand dollar ($35,000) limit shall increase annually by the percentage

increase in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumer (CPI-U) as published by the United

States Department of Labor Statistics determined as of September 30 of the prior calendar year or

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three percent (3%), whichever is less. The first thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000), as indexed,

of retirement allowance shall be multiplied by the percentage of increase in the Consumer Price

Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) as published by the United States Department of Labor

Statistics determined as of September 30 of the prior calendar year or three percent (3%), whichever

is less, on the month following the anniversary date of each succeeding year. For teachers eligible

to retire as of September 30, 2009, or eligible upon passage of this article, and for their

beneficiaries, the provisions of this subsection (d) shall not apply.

     (e) The provisions of §§ 45-13-7 — 45-13-10 shall not apply to this section.

     (f) This subsection (f) shall be effective for the period July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2015.

     (1) Notwithstanding the prior paragraphs of this section, and subject to paragraph (f)(2)

below, for all present and former teachers, active and retired teachers, and beneficiaries receiving

any retirement, disability or death allowance or benefit of any kind, the annual benefit adjustment

provided in any calendar year under this section shall be equal to (A) multiplied by (B) where (A)

is equal to the percentage determined by subtracting five and one-half percent (5.5%) (the

“subtrahend”) from the Five-Year Average Investment Return of the retirement system determined

as of the last day of the plan year preceding the calendar year in which the adjustment is granted,

said percentage not to exceed four percent (4%) and not to be less than zero percent (0%), and (B)

is equal to the lesser of the teacher’s retirement allowance or the first twenty-five thousand dollars

($25,000) of retirement allowance, such twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) amount to be

indexed annually in the same percentage as determined under paragraph (f)(1)(A) above. The

“Five-Year Average Investment Return” shall mean the average of the investment returns of the

most recent five (5) plan years as determined by the retirement board. Subject to paragraph (f)(2)

below, the benefit adjustment provided by this paragraph shall commence upon the third (3rd)

anniversary of the date of retirement or the date on which the retiree reaches his or her Social

Security retirement age, whichever is later. In the event the retirement board adjusts the actuarially

assumed rate of return for the system, either upward or downward, the subtrahend shall be adjusted

either upward or downward in the same amount.

     (2) Except as provided in paragraph (f)(3), the benefit adjustments under this section for

any plan year shall be suspended in their entirety unless the Funded Ratio of the Employees’

Retirement System of Rhode Island, the Judicial Retirement Benefits Trust and the State Police

Retirement Benefits Trust, calculated by the system’s actuary on an aggregate basis, exceeds eighty

percent (80%) in which event the benefit adjustment will be reinstated for all teachers for such plan

year.

     In determining whether a funding level under this paragraph (f)(2) has been achieved, the

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actuary shall calculate the funding percentage after taking into account the reinstatement of any

current or future benefit adjustment provided under this section.

     (3) Notwithstanding paragraph (f)(2), in each fifth plan year commencing after June 30,

2012, commencing with the plan year ending June 30, 2017, and subsequently at intervals of five

plan years, a benefit adjustment shall be calculated and made in accordance with paragraph (f)(1)

above until the Funded Ratio of the Employees’ Retirement System of Rhode Island, the Judicial

Retirement Benefits Trust and the State Police Retirement Benefits Trust, calculated by the

system’s actuary on an aggregate basis, exceeds eighty percent (80%).

     (4) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, the provisions of this paragraph

(f) of § 16-16-40 shall become effective July 1, 2012, and shall apply to any benefit adjustments

not granted on or prior to June 30, 2012.

     (g) This subsection (g) shall become effective July 1, 2015.

     (1)(A) As soon as administratively reasonable following the enactment into law of this

subsection (g)(1)(A), a one-time benefit adjustment shall be provided to teachers and/or

beneficiaries of teachers who retired on or before June 30, 2012, in the amount of two percent (2%)

of the lesser of either the teacher’s retirement allowance or the first twenty-five thousand dollars

($25,000) of the teacher’s retirement allowance. This one-time benefit adjustment shall be provided

without regard to the retiree’s age or number of years since retirement.

     (B) Notwithstanding the prior subsections of this section, for all present and former

teachers, active and retired teachers, and beneficiaries receiving any retirement, disability or death

allowance or benefit of any kind, the annual benefit adjustment provided in any calendar year under

this section for adjustments on and after January 1, 2016, and subject to subsection (g)(2) below,

shall be equal to (I) multiplied by (II):

     (I) Shall equal the sum of fifty percent (50%) of (i) plus fifty percent (50%) of (ii) where:

     (i) Is equal to the percentage determined by subtracting five and one-half percent (5.5%)

(the “subtrahend”) from the five-year average investment return of the retirement system

determined as of the last day of the plan year preceding the calendar year in which the adjustment

is granted, said percentage not to exceed four percent (4%) and not to be less than zero percent

(0%). The “five-year average investment return” shall mean the average of the investment returns

of the most recent five (5) plan years as determined by the retirement board. In the event the

retirement board adjusts the actuarially assumed rate of return for the system, either upward or

downward, the subtrahend shall be adjusted either upward or downward in the same amount.

     (ii) Is equal to the lesser of three percent (3%) or the percentage increase in the Consumer

Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) as published by the U.S. Department of Labor

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Statistics determined as of September 30 of the prior calendar year.

     In no event shall the sum of (i) plus (ii) exceed three and one-half percent (3.5%) or be less

than (0%) percent.

     (II) is equal to the lesser of either the teacher’s retirement allowance or the first twenty-

five thousand eight hundred and fifty-five dollars ($25,855) of retirement allowance, such amount

to be indexed annually in the same percentage as determined under subsection (g)(1)(B)(I) above.

     The benefit adjustments provided by this subsection (g)(1)(B) shall be provided to all

retirees entitled to receive a benefit adjustment as of June 30, 2012, under the law then in effect,

and for all other retirees the benefit adjustments shall commence upon the third anniversary of the

date of retirement or the date on which the retiree reaches his or her Social Security retirement age,

whichever is later.

     (2) Except as provided in subsection (g)(3), the benefit adjustments under subsection

(g)(1)(B) for any plan year shall be suspended in their entirety unless the funded ratio of the

employees’ retirement system of Rhode Island, the judicial retirement benefits trust and the state

police retirement benefits trust, calculated by the system’s actuary on an aggregate basis, exceeds

eighty percent (80%) in which event the benefit adjustment will be reinstated for all teachers for

such plan year.

     In determining whether a funding level under this subsection (g)(2) has been achieved, the

actuary shall calculate the funding percentage after taking into account the reinstatement of any

current or future benefit adjustment provided under this section.

     (3) Notwithstanding subsection (g)(2), in each fourth plan year commencing after June 30,

2012, commencing with the plan year ending June 30, 2016, and subsequently at intervals of four

plan years: (i) A benefit adjustment shall be calculated and made in accordance with subsection

(g)(1)(B) above; and (ii) Effective for teachers and/or beneficiaries of teachers who retired on or

before June 30, 2015, the dollar amount in subsection (g)(1)(B)(II) of twenty-five thousand eight

hundred and fifty-five dollars ($25,855) shall be replaced with thirty-one thousand and twenty-six

dollars ($31,026)until the funded ratio of the employees’ retirement system of Rhode Island, the

judicial retirement benefits trust and the state police retirement benefits trust, calculated by the

system’s actuary on an aggregate basis, exceeds eighty percent (80%).

     (4) Effective for teachers and or beneficiaries of teachers who have retired on or before

July 1, 2015, a one-time stipend of five hundred dollars ($500) shall be payable within sixty (60)

days following the enactment of the legislation implementing this provision, and a second one-time

stipend of five hundred dollars ($500) in the same month of the following year. These stipends

shall be payable to all retired teachers or beneficiaries receiving a benefit as of the applicable

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payment date and shall not be considered cost of living adjustments under the prior provisions of

this § 16-16-40.

     (h) Subsection (h) of this section shall become effective July 1, 2023.

     (1) As soon as administratively reasonable following the enactment into law of subsection

(h)(1) of this section, a one-time stipend shall be provided to members and/or beneficiaries of

members in the amount of three percent (3%) of the lesser of either the member’s retirement

allowance or the thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) of the member’s retirement allowance. This one-

time stipend shall be provided without regard to the retiree’s age or number of years since

retirement. These stipends shall be payable to all retired members or beneficiaries receiving a

benefit as of the applicable payment date and shall not be considered cost of living adjustments

under the prior provisions of this section.

     (2) The provisions of subsection (h) of this section shall be paid from the state’s general

fund, subject to the appropriation by the general assembly.

     (3) The stipend as provided in subsections (h)(1) and (h)(2) of this section may be provided

to members and /or beneficiaries in each subsequent fiscal year commencing with the fiscal year

beginning July 1, 2024, subject year to appropriation from the state’s general fund by the general

assembly.

     SECTION 2. Section 36-10-35 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-10 entitled "Retirement

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

     36-10-35. Additional benefits payable to retired employees.

     (a) All state employees and all beneficiaries of state employees receiving any service

retirement or ordinary or accidental disability retirement allowance pursuant to the provisions of

this title on or before December 31, 1967, shall receive a cost of living retirement adjustment equal

to one and one-half percent (1.5%) per year of the original retirement allowance, not compounded,

for each calendar year the retirement allowance has been in effect. For the purposes of computation,

credit shall be given for a full calendar year regardless of the effective date of the retirement

allowance. This cost of living adjustment shall be added to the amount of the retirement allowance

as of January 1, 1968, and an additional one and one-half percent (1.5%) shall be added to the

original retirement allowance in each succeeding year during the month of January, and provided

further, that this additional cost of living increase shall be three percent (3%) for the year beginning

January 1, 1971, and each year thereafter, through December 31, 1980. Notwithstanding any of the

above provisions, no employee receiving any service retirement allowance pursuant to the

provisions of this title on or before December 31, 1967, or the employee’s beneficiary, shall receive

any additional benefit hereunder in an amount less than two hundred dollars ($200) per year over

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the service retirement allowance where the employee retired prior to January 1, 1958.

     (b) All state employees and all beneficiaries of state employees retired on or after January

1, 1968, who are receiving any service retirement or ordinary or accidental disability retirement

allowance pursuant to the provisions of this title shall, on the first day of January next following

the third anniversary date of the retirement, receive a cost of living retirement adjustment, in

addition to his or her retirement allowance, in an amount equal to three percent (3%) of the original

retirement allowance. In each succeeding year thereafter through December 31, 1980, during the

month of January, the retirement allowance shall be increased an additional three percent (3%) of

the original retirement allowance, not compounded, to be continued during the lifetime of the

employee or beneficiary. For the purposes of computation, credit shall be given for a full calendar

year regardless of the effective date of the service retirement allowance.

     (c)(1) Beginning on January 1, 1981, for all state employees and beneficiaries of the state

employees receiving any service retirement and all state employees, and all beneficiaries of state

employees, who have completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service on or before July 1,

2005, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, and for all state employees, and all beneficiaries

of state employees who receive a disability retirement allowance pursuant to §§ 36-10-12 — 36-

10-15, the cost of living adjustment shall be computed and paid at the rate of three percent (3%) of

the original retirement allowance or the retirement allowance as computed in accordance with § 

36-10-35.1, compounded annually from the year for which the cost of living adjustment was

determined to be payable by the retirement board pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a) or (b)

of this section. Such cost of living adjustments are available to members who retire before October

1, 2009, or are eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009.

     (2) The provisions of this subsection shall be deemed to apply prospectively only and no

retroactive payment shall be made.

     (3) The retirement allowance of all state employees and all beneficiaries of state employees

who have not completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service on or before July 1, 2005, or

were not eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009, shall, on the month following the third

anniversary date of retirement, and on the month following the anniversary date of each succeeding

year be adjusted and computed by multiplying the retirement allowance by three percent (3%) or

the percentage of increase in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) as

published by the United States Department of Labor Statistics determined as of September 30 of

the prior calendar year, whichever is less; the cost of living adjustment shall be compounded

annually from the year for which the cost of living adjustment was determined payable by the

retirement board; provided, that no adjustment shall cause any retirement allowance to be decreased

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from the retirement allowance provided immediately before such adjustment.

     (d) For state employees not eligible to retire in accordance with this chapter as of

September 30, 2009, and not eligible upon passage of this article, and for their beneficiaries, the

cost of living adjustment described in subsection (c)(3) of this section shall only apply to the first

thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000) of retirement allowance, indexed annually, and shall

commence upon the third (3rd) anniversary of the date of retirement or when the retiree reaches

age sixty-five (65), whichever is later. The thirty-five thousand dollar ($35,000) limit shall increase

annually by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-

U) as published by the United States Department of Labor Statistics determined as of September

30 of the prior calendar year or three percent (3%), whichever is less. The first thirty-five thousand

dollars ($35,000) of retirement allowance, as indexed, shall be multiplied by the percentage of

increase in the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) as published by the United

States Department of Labor Statistics determined as of September 30 of the prior calendar year or

three percent (3%), whichever is less, on the month following the anniversary date of each

succeeding year. For state employees eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009, or eligible upon

passage of this article, and for their beneficiaries, the provisions of this subsection (d) shall not

apply.

     (e) All legislators and all beneficiaries of legislators who are receiving a retirement

allowance pursuant to the provisions of § 36-10-9.1 for a period of three (3) or more years, shall,

commencing January 1, 1982, receive a cost of living retirement adjustment, in addition to a

retirement allowance, in an amount equal to three percent (3%) of the original retirement allowance.

In each succeeding year thereafter during the month of January, the retirement allowance shall be

increased an additional three percent (3%) of the original retirement allowance, compounded

annually, to be continued during the lifetime of the legislator or beneficiary. For the purposes of

computation, credit shall be given for a full calendar year regardless of the effective date of the

service retirement allowance.

     (f) The provisions of §§ 45-13-7 — 45-13-10 shall not apply to this section.

     (g) This subsection (g) shall be effective for the period July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2015.

     (1) Notwithstanding the prior paragraphs of this section, and subject to paragraph (g)(2)

below, for all present and former employees, active and retired members, and beneficiaries

receiving any retirement, disability or death allowance or benefit of any kind, the annual benefit

adjustment provided in any calendar year under this section shall be equal to (A) multiplied by (B)

where (A) is equal to the percentage determined by subtracting five and one-half percent (5.5%)

(the “subtrahend”) from the Five-Year Average Investment Return of the retirement system

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determined as of the last day of the plan year preceding the calendar year in which the adjustment

is granted, said percentage not to exceed four percent (4%) and not to be less than zero percent

(0%), and (B) is equal to the lesser of the member’s retirement allowance or the first twenty-five

thousand dollars ($25,000) of retirement allowance, such twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000)

amount to be indexed annually in the same percentage as determined under (g)(1)(A) above. The

“Five-Year Average Investment Return” shall mean the average of the investment returns of the

most recent five (5) plan years as determined by the retirement board. Subject to paragraph (g)(2)

below, the benefit adjustment provided by this paragraph shall commence upon the third (3rd)

anniversary of the date of retirement or the date on which the retiree reaches his or her Social

Security retirement age, whichever is later. In the event the retirement board adjusts the actuarially

assumed rate of return for the system, either upward or downward, the subtrahend shall be adjusted

either upward or downward in the same amount.

     (2) Except as provided in paragraph (g)(3), the benefit adjustments under this section for

any plan year shall be suspended in their entirety unless the Funded Ratio of the Employees’

Retirement System of Rhode Island, the Judicial Retirement Benefits Trust and the State Police

Retirement Benefits Trust, calculated by the system’s actuary on an aggregate basis, exceeds eighty

percent (80%) in which event the benefit adjustment will be reinstated for all members for such

plan year.

     In determining whether a funding level under this paragraph (g)(2) has been achieved, the

actuary shall calculate the funding percentage after taking into account the reinstatement of any

current or future benefit adjustment provided under this section.

     (3) Notwithstanding paragraph (g)(2), in each fifth plan year commencing after June 30,

2012, commencing with the plan year ending June 30, 2017, and subsequently at intervals of five

plan years, a benefit adjustment shall be calculated and made in accordance with paragraph (g)(1)

above until the Funded Ratio of the Employees’ Retirement System of Rhode Island, the Judicial

Retirement Benefits Trust and the State Police Retirement Benefits Trust, calculated by the

system’s actuary on an aggregate basis, exceeds eighty percent (80%).

     (4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the provisions of this paragraph

(g) shall become effective July 1, 2012, and shall apply to any benefit adjustment not granted on or

prior to June 30, 2012.

     (h) This subsection (h) shall become effective July 1, 2015.

     (1)(A) As soon as administratively reasonable following the enactment into law of this

subsection (h)(1)(A), a one-time benefit adjustment shall be provided to members and/or

beneficiaries of members who retired on or before June 30, 2012, in the amount of 2% of the lesser

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of either the member’s retirement allowance or the first twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) of

the member’s retirement allowance. This one-time benefit adjustment shall be provided without

regard to the retiree’s age or number of years since retirement.

     (B) Notwithstanding the prior subsections of this section, for all present and former

employees, active and retired members, and beneficiaries receiving any retirement, disability or

death allowance or benefit of any kind, the annual benefit adjustment provided in any calendar year

under this section for adjustments on and after January 1, 2016, and subject to subsection (h)(2)

below, shall be equal to (I) multiplied by (II):

     (I) Shall equal the sum of fifty percent (50%) of (i) plus fifty percent (50%) of (ii) where:

     (i) Is equal to the percentage determined by subtracting five and one-half percent (5.5%)

(the “subtrahend”) from the five-year average investment return of the retirement system

determined as of the last day of the plan year preceding the calendar year in which the adjustment

is granted, said percentage not to exceed four percent (4%) and not to be less than zero percent

(0%). The “five-year average investment return” shall mean the average of the investment returns

of the most recent five (5) plan years as determined by the retirement board. In the event the

retirement board adjusts the actuarially assumed rate of return for the system, either upward or

downward, the subtrahend shall be adjusted either upward or downward in the same amount.

     (ii) Is equal to the lesser of three percent (3%) or the percentage increase in the Consumer

Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) as published by the U.S. Department of Labor

Statistics determined as of September 30 of the prior calendar year. In no event shall the sum of (i)

plus (ii) exceed three and one-half percent (3.5%) or be less than zero percent (0%).

     (II) Is equal to the lesser of either the member’s retirement allowance or the first twenty-

five thousand eight hundred and fifty-five dollars ($25,855) of retirement allowance, such amount

to be indexed annually in the same percentage as determined under subsection (h)(1)(B)(I) above.

     The benefit adjustments provided by this subsection (h)(1)(B) shall be provided to all

retirees entitled to receive a benefit adjustment as of June 30, 2012, under the law then in effect,

and for all other retirees the benefit adjustments shall commence upon the third anniversary of the

date of retirement or the date on which the retiree reaches his or her Social Security retirement age,

whichever is later.

     (2) Except as provided in subsection (h)(3) of this section, the benefit adjustments under

subsection (h)(1)(B) for any plan year shall be suspended in their entirety unless the funded ratio

of the employees’ retirement system of Rhode Island, the judicial retirement benefits trust and the

state police retirement benefits trust, calculated by the system’s actuary on an aggregate basis,

exceeds eighty percent (80%) in which event the benefit adjustment will be reinstated for all

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members for such plan year.

     In determining whether a funding level under this subsection (h)(2) has been achieved, the

actuary shall calculate the funding percentage after taking into account the reinstatement of any

current or future benefit adjustment provided under this section.

     (3) Notwithstanding subsection (h)(2), in each fourth plan year commencing after June 30,

2012, commencing with the plan year ending June 30, 2016, and subsequently at intervals of four

plan years:

     (i) A benefit adjustment shall be calculated and made in accordance with subsection

(h)(1)(B) above; and

     (ii) Effective for members and/or beneficiaries of members who retired on or before June

30, 2015, the dollar amount in subsection (h)(1)(B)(II) of twenty-five thousand eight hundred and

fifty-five dollars ($25,855) shall be replaced with thirty-one thousand and twenty-six dollars

($31,026) until the funded ratio of the employees’ retirement system of Rhode Island, the judicial

retirement benefits trust and the state police retirement benefits trust, calculated by the system’s

actuary on an aggregate basis, exceeds eighty percent (80%).

     (i) Effective for members and/or beneficiaries of members who have retired on or before

July 1, 2015, a one-time stipend of five hundred dollars ($500) shall be payable within sixty (60)

days following the enactment of the legislation implementing this provision, and a second one-time

stipend of five hundred dollars ($500) in the same month of the following year. These stipends

shall be payable to all retired members or beneficiaries receiving a benefit as of the applicable

payment date and shall not be considered cost of living adjustments under the prior provisions of

this section.

     (j) Subsection (j) of this section shall become effective July 1, 2023.

     (1) As soon as administratively reasonable following the enactment into law of subsection

(j)(1) of this section, a one-time stipend shall be provided to members and/or beneficiaries of

members in the amount of three percent (3%) of the lesser of either the member’s retirement

allowance of the thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) of the member’s retirement allowance. This one-

time stipend shall be provided without regard to the retiree’s age or number of years since

retirement. These stipends shall be payable to all retired members or beneficiaries receiving a

benefit as of the applicable payment date and shall not be considered cost of living adjustments

under the prior provisions of this section.

     (2) The provisions of subsection (j) of this section shall be paid from the state’s general

fund, subject to the appropriation by the general assembly.

     (3) The stipend as provided in subsections (j)(1) and (j)(2) of this section may be provided

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to members and/or beneficiaries in each subsequent fiscal year commencing with the fiscal year

beginning July 1, 2024, subject each year to appropriation from the state’s general fund by the

general assembly.

     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 EDUCATION – TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT

***

     This act would provide all retired teachers and all retired state employees a one-time

stipend in the amount of three percent (3%) of the lesser of either the member’s retirement

allowance or the thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) of the member’s retirement allowance.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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