2026 -- H 8143

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LC005478

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RETIREMENT OF MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES

     Introduced By: Representatives Casimiro, Donovan, Spears, Read, Potter, Alzate, and
Shallcross Smith

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2026

     Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 45-21 of the General Laws entitled "Retirement of Municipal

Employees" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     45-21-54.1. Optional post-retirement employment for certain public safety

administrators.

     (a) Definitions. As used in this section:

     (1) “Administrative position” means a police chief, deputy chief, assistant chief, fire chief,

deputy chief, assistant chief, fire marshal, public safety director, town manager, city manager, or

other department-head position designated as administrative by the retirement board by rule or

regulation.

     (2) “Optional post-retirement employment election” means an affirmative written election

made by a public safety retiree under this section.

     (3) “Public safety retiree” means a retired member of the municipal employees’ retirement

system who retired from service as a police officer or firefighter and is receiving a service

retirement allowance pursuant to this chapter.

     (b) Optional election. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 45-21-54 or any general or

special law to the contrary, a public safety retiree may elect to be reemployed by a municipal

employer in an administrative position without limitation on the number of days worked or the

compensation earned, in lieu of the post-retirement employment limitations otherwise applicable

under this chapter.

     (c) No additional retirement benefit. A retiree participating under this section:

     (1) Shall not accrue additional service credit in the municipal employees’ retirement

system;

     (2) Shall not be eligible for recalculation, enhancement, or increase of retirement benefits

as a result of such reemployment;

     (3) Shall remain subject to all applicable federal tax requirements, including bona fide

termination of employment prior to retirement.

     (d) Contribution requirement.

     (1) A public safety retiree who elects optional post-retirement employment under this

section shall remit a contribution equal to five percent (5%) of the compensation earned during the

period of reemployment.

     (2) The contribution shall be remitted to the employees’ retirement system of Rhode Island

by the employer in a manner prescribed by the retirement board.

     (3) Contributions made pursuant to this subsection shall not be credited toward service

credit or used in the calculation of any retirement benefit.

     (4) The contribution required under this subsection may be paid by the retiree, the

employer, or shared between the parties as determined by agreement.

     (e) Age limitation. A public safety retiree shall not participate in optional post-retirement

employment under this section after attaining sixty-eight (68) years of age.

     (f) Same position restriction. A retiree shall not retire and be reemployed under this section

in the same position held immediately prior to retirement.

     (g) Rules and regulations. The retirement board shall promulgate such rules and regulations

as are necessary to implement and administer the provisions of this section, including verification

of eligible administrative positions, reporting procedures, contribution remittance, and compliance

with federal law.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RETIREMENT OF MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES

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     This act would provide for the re-employment of public safety retirees under certain

conditions.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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