2025 -- S 0444 | |
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LC001225 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- RETIREMENT SYSTEM -- | |
MEMBERSHIP AND SERVICE CREDITS | |
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Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Tikoian, Sosnowski, Dimitri, and Appollonio | |
Date Introduced: February 26, 2025 | |
Referred To: Senate Finance | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Section 36-9-31 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-9 entitled "Retirement |
2 | System — Membership and Service Credits" is hereby amended to read as follows: |
3 | 36-9-31. Armed service credit. |
4 | (a) Any active member of the retirement system, who served on active duty in the armed |
5 | service of the United States or in the Merchant Marine service of the United States as defined in |
6 | P.L. 1946, ch. 1721, § 2 may purchase credit for that service up to a maximum of four (4) years |
7 | provided that he or she has received an honorable discharge. Provided further that any employee |
8 | on an official leave of absence for illness or injury shall be eligible to purchase military credits as |
9 | defined herein while on the leave of absence. |
10 | (b) Members of the retirement system who are police officers or firefighters, and who |
11 | served in the national guard or reserves, and qualify as veterans, may purchase creditable service |
12 | at a ratio of five (5) years of guard or reserve service to one year of creditable service, up to a |
13 | maximum of four (4) years; provided that, they have received an honorable discharge. Provided |
14 | further, that any police officer or firefighter on an official leave of absence for illness or injury shall |
15 | be eligible to purchase military credits as defined in this section while on their leave of absence. |
16 | (b)(c) The cost to purchase these credits shall be ten percent (10%) of the member’s first |
17 | year’s earnings as a state employee as defined in chapter 9 of this title, multiplied by the number |
18 | of years and fraction thereof of the armed service or Merchant Marine service up to a maximum of |
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1 | four (4) years. |
2 | (c)(d) There will be no interest charge provided the member makes that purchase during |
3 | his or her first five (5) years of membership in the retirement system, but will be charged regular |
4 | interest to date of purchase from date of enrollment into membership if purchased after completing |
5 | five (5) years of membership; provided, however, any member who was in the retirement system |
6 | prior to July 1, 1980, would not be charged interest whenever he or she purchases the armed |
7 | services credit. |
8 | 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 PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- RETIREMENT SYSTEM -- | |
MEMBERSHIP AND SERVICE CREDITS | |
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1 | This act would allow members of the retirement system who served in the national guard |
2 | or reserves and qualify as veterans, to purchase retirement service credits based on their years of |
3 | service in the National guard or reserves. |
4 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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