2026 -- S 2678 | |
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LC005838 | |
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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 EDUCATION -- TEACHERS' RETIREMENT | |
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Introduced By: Senators Britto, Raptakis, Felag, Appollonio, Gallo, Gu, DiMario, Zurier, | |
Date Introduced: February 27, 2026 | |
Referred To: Senate Finance | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Section 16-16-26 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-16 entitled "Teachers’ |
2 | Retirement [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby |
3 | amended to read as follows: |
4 | 16-16-26. Spouse’s, former spouse divorced, or domestic partner’s benefits. |
5 | (a) Spouse’s, former spouse divorced, and domestic partner’s benefits are payable |
6 | following the decease of a member as provided in §§ 16-16-25 — 16-16-38. |
7 | (b) The spouse, former spouse divorced, or domestic partner shall be entitled to benefits |
8 | upon attaining the age of sixty (60) years. |
9 | (c) The spouse, former spouse divorced, or domestic partner was living with the deceased |
10 | member at the time of the member’s death. A spouse, former spouse divorced, or domestic partner |
11 | is deemed to have been living with the deceased member if they were both members of the same |
12 | household on the date of the deceased member’s death, or the spouse, former spouse divorced, or |
13 | domestic partner was receiving contributions from the deceased member toward support on that |
14 | date, or the deceased member had been ordered by a court to contribute to the spouse’s, former |
15 | spouse divorced, or domestic partner’s support. |
16 | (d) Remarriage of the spouse, former spouse divorced, or domestic partner or establishment |
17 | of a domestic partnership shall render the person ineligible to receive current or future benefits |
18 | under this section. |
19 | (e) The spouse or domestic partner of a member, as defined in this section, shall be entitled |
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1 | to monthly benefits payable in accordance with the following table: |
2 | Spouse's or Domestic |
3 | Highest Annual Partner's Monthly |
4 | Salary Minimum Benefit |
5 | $17,000 or less $825 $1,025 |
6 | $17,001 to $25,000 $963 $1,200 |
7 | $25,001 to $33,000 $1,100 $1,375 |
8 | $33,001 to $40,000 $1,238 $1,550 |
9 | $40,001 and over $1,375 $1,725 |
10 | (f) The former spouse divorced shall be entitled to monthly benefits, payable in accordance |
11 | with the table provided in subsection (e) of this section, only if there are no dependent children, |
12 | parents, or other spouse or domestic partner entitled to benefits. |
13 | (g) A yearly adjustment of the base benefit, and a yearly cost-of-living adjustment for |
14 | spouse’s, former spouse divorced, or domestic partner’s benefits shall be based on the annual social |
15 | security adjustment. |
16 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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LC005838 | |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TEACHERS' RETIREMENT | |
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1 | This act would increase the monthly minimum death benefit for a spouse, domestic partner |
2 | or former spouse. |
3 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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LC005838 | |
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