2018 -- S 2368

========

LC004539

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- RETIREMENT SYSTEM --

CONTRIBUTIONS AND BENEFITS

     

     Introduced By: Senator Hanna M. Gallo

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1

     SECTION 1. Sections 36-10-1 and 36-10-10 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-10

2

entitled "Retirement System - Contributions and Benefits" are hereby amended to read as follows:

3

     36-10-1. Member contributions -- Deduction from compensation.

4

     (a) Prior to July 1, 2012, each member of the retirement system shall contribute an

5

amount equal to eight and three-quarters percent (8.75%) of his or her compensation as his or her

6

share of the cost of annuities, benefits, and allowances. Effective July 1, 2012, each member of

7

the retirement system shall contribute an amount equal to three and three quarters percent

8

(3.75%) of his or her compensation, except for correctional officers as defined in § 36-10-9.2 who

9

shall contribute an amount equal to eight and three quarters percent (8.75%) of his or her

10

compensation. Effective July 1, 2015, each member of the retirement system, except for

11

correctional officers as defined in § 36-10-9.2, with twenty (20) or more years of total service as

12

of June 30, 2012 shall contribute an amount equal to eleven percent (11%) of compensation. The

13

contributions shall be made in the form of deductions from compensation. Effective July 1, 2018,

14

a member of the retirement system, except for correctional officers as defined in § 36-10-9.2, who

15

was eligible to retire with fewer than twenty (20) years of total service as of June 30, 2012, and

16

who does not make an election under § 36-10-1(d), shall contribute an amount equal to eleven

17

percent (11%) of their compensation.

18

     (b) The deductions provided for herein shall be made notwithstanding that the minimum

 

1

compensation provided by law for any member shall be reduced thereby. Every member shall be

2

deemed to consent and agree to the deductions made and provided for herein and receipt of his or

3

her full compensation and payment of compensation, less the deductions, shall be a full and

4

complete discharge and acquittance of all claims and demands whatsoever for the services

5

rendered by the person during the period covered by the payment except as to the benefit

6

provided under this chapter.

7

     (c) A member of the retirement system, except for correctional officers as defined in §

8

36-10-9.2, who was eligible to retire with fewer than twenty (20) years of total service as of June

9

30, 2012, and who does not make an election under § 36-10-1(d), may elect to pay into the

10

retirement system an amount equal to six and three-quarters percent (6.75%) of their current

11

compensation representing two and one-quarter percent (2.25%) per year for the years between

12

July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2018, without interest if the election is made before December 31,

13

2018, and at the full actuarial rate if the election is made after December 31, 2018.

14

     (d) A member of the retirement system, except for correctional officers as defined in §

15

36-10-9.2, who was eligible to retire with fewer than twenty (20) years of total service as of June

16

30, 2012, may elect to contribute three and three-quarters percent (3.75%) of their compensation,

17

effective July 1, 2018, by so notifying the retirement system before August 15, 2018, and such

18

member shall be subject to chapter 10.3 of title 36, entitled "Defined Contribution Retirement

19

Plan," and shall receive a retirement allowance in accordance with § 36-10-10(d)(i).

20

     36-10-10. Amount of service retirement allowance.

21

     (a) (1) (i) For employees eligible to retire on or before September 30, 2009, upon

22

retirement for service under § 36-10-9, a member whose membership commenced before July 1,

23

2005 and who has completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service on or before July 1,

24

2005 shall receive a retirement allowance which shall be determined in accordance with schedule

25

A below for service prior to July 1, 2012:

26

Schedule A

27

Years of Service Percentage Allowance

28

     1st through 10th inclusive 1.7%

29

     11th through 20th inclusive 1.9%

30

     21st through 34th inclusive 3.0%

31

     35th 2.0%

32

     (ii) For employees eligible to retire on or after October 1, 2009, who were not eligible to

33

retire on or before September 30, 2009, upon retirement from service under § 36-10-9, a member

34

whose membership commenced before July 1, 2005 and who has completed at least ten (10) years

 

LC004539 - Page 2 of 7

1

of contributory service on or before July 1, 2005 shall receive a retirement allowance which shall

2

be determined in accordance with schedule A above for service on before September 30, 2009,

3

and shall be determined in accordance with schedule B in subsection (a)(2) below for service on

4

or after October 1, 2009 and prior to July 1, 2012.

5

     (2) Upon retirement for service under § 36-10-9, a member whose membership

6

commenced after July 1, 2005, or who has not completed at least ten (10) years of contributory

7

service as of July 1, 2005, shall, receive a retirement allowance which shall be determined in

8

accordance with Schedule B below for service prior to July 1, 2012:

9

Schedule B

10

Years of Service Percentage Allowance

11

     1st through 10th inclusive 1.60%

12

     11th through 20th inclusive 1.80%

13

     21st through 25th inclusive 2.0%

14

     26th through 30th inclusive 2.25%

15

     31st through 37th inclusive 2.50%

16

     38th 2.25%

17

     (b) The retirement allowance of any member whose membership commenced before July

18

1, 2005 and who has completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service on or before July 1,

19

2005 shall be in an amount equal to the percentage allowance specified in subsection (a)(1) of his

20

or her average highest three (3) consecutive years of compensation multiplied by the number of

21

years of total service, but in no case to exceed eighty percent (80%) of the compensation payable

22

at completion of thirty-five (35) years of service; provided, however, for employees retiring on or

23

after October 1, 2009 who were not eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009 the calculation

24

shall be based on the average highest five (5) consecutive years of compensation. Any member

25

who has in excess of thirty-five (35) years on or before June 2, 1985, shall not be entitled to any

26

refund, and any member with thirty-five (35) years or more on or after June 2, 1985, shall

27

contribute from July 1, 1985, until his or her retirement.

28

     The retirement allowance of any member whose membership commenced after July 1,

29

2005 or who had not completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service as of July 1, 2005,

30

shall, be in an amount equal to the percentage allowance specified in Schedule B of his or her

31

average highest three (3) consecutive years of compensation multiplied by the number of years of

32

total service, but in no case to exceed seventy-five percent (75%) of the compensation payable at

33

the completion of thirty-eight (38) years of service; provided, however, for employees retiring on

34

or after October 1, 2009 who were not eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009 the calculation

 

LC004539 - Page 3 of 7

1

shall be based on the average highest five (5) consecutive years of compensation.

2

     (c) Any member with thirty-eight (38) years or more of service prior to December 31,

3

1985, shall not be required to make additional contributions. Contributions made between

4

December 31, 1985, and July 1, 1987, by members with thirty-eight (38) or more years of service

5

prior to December 31, 1985, shall be refunded by the retirement board to the persons, their heirs,

6

administrators, or legal representatives.

7

     (d) For service prior to July 1, 2012, the retirement allowance of a member shall be

8

determined in accordance with subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2) above. For service on and after July

9

1, 2012, a member's retirement allowance shall be equal to:

10

     (i) For members with fewer than twenty (20) years of total service as of June 30, 2012,

11

including members who were eligible to retire with fewer than twenty (20) years of service as of

12

June 30, 2012, who make an election in accordance with § 36-10-1(d), one percent (1%) of the

13

member's average compensation multiplied by the member's years of total service on and after

14

July 1 2012, except that the retirement allowance of a member who was eligible to retire as of

15

June 30, 2012, with fewer than twenty (20) years of service and who does not make an election

16

under § 36-10-1(d) shall be in accordance with § 36-10-1(d)(iii); and

17

     (ii) For members with twenty (20) or more years of total service as of June 30, 2012, a

18

member's retirement allowance shall be equal to one percent (1%) of the member's average

19

compensation multiplied by the member's years of total service between July 1, 2012 and June

20

30, 2015, and two percent (2%) of the member's average compensation multiplied by the

21

member's years of total service on and after July 1, 2015. For purposes of computing a member's

22

total service under the preceding sentence, service purchases shall be included in total service

23

only with respect to those service purchases approved prior to June 30, 2012 and those

24

applications for service purchases received by the retirement system on or before June 30, 2012.

25

     In no event shall a member's retirement allowance exceed the maximum limitations set

26

forth in paragraph (b) above.

27

     (iii) For members who were eligible to retire with fewer than twenty (20) years of total

28

service as of June 30, 2012, a member's retirement allowance shall be equal to one percent (1%)

29

of the member's average compensation multiplied by the member's years of total service between

30

July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2018, and two percent (2%) of the member's total years of total service

31

on and after July 1, 2018; provided, however, that the retirement allowance of a member who was

32

eligible to retire with fewer than twenty (20) years of total service as of June 30, 2012 and who

33

makes an election in accordance with § 36-10-l(c), shall be equal to one percent (1%) of the

34

member's average compensation multiplied by the member's years of total service between July 1,

 

LC004539 - Page 4 of 7

1

2012, and June 30, 2015, and two percent (2%) of the member's years of total service on and after

2

July 1, 2015. For purposes of computing a member's total service under the preceding sentence,

3

service purchases shall be included in total service only with respect to those service purchases

4

approved prior to June 30, 2012, and those applications for service purchases received by the

5

retirement system on or before June 30, 2012, except that amounts paid for a member's election in

6

accordance with. § 36-10-l(c) shall not to be deemed service purchases. In no event shall a

7

member's retirement allowance exceed the maximum limitations set forth in subsection (b) of this

8

section.

9

     SECTION 2. Section 36-10.3-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-10.3 entitled "Defined

10

Contribution Retirement Plan" is hereby amended to read as follows:

11

     36-10.3-1. Definitions.

12

     As used in this chapter, the following terms, unless the context requires a different

13

interpretation, shall have the following meanings:

14

     (1) "Compensation" means compensation as defined in section 36-8-1(8).

15

     (2) "Employee" means an employee as defined in §§ 36-8-1(9) and 45-21-2(7) and a

16

teacher as defined in § 16-16-1(12), effective July 1, 2012; provided however, effective July 1,

17

2015, "employee" shall not include any employee with twenty (20) or more years of total service

18

as of June 30, 2012 in the employees retirement system under chapters 8 through 10 of title 36 or

19

chapter 16 of title 16 (ERS), or the municipal employees retirement system under chapter 21 of

20

title 45 (MERS); provided, however, effective July 1, 2018, "employee" shall not include any

21

employee in the employees' retirement system under chapters 8 through 10 of title 36 who is

22

eligible to retire with fewer than twenty (20) years of total service as of June 30, 2012, and who

23

does not make an election in accordance with § 36-10-1(d).

24

     (3) "Employer" means the State of Rhode Island or the local municipality which employs

25

a member of the Employees Retirement System under chapters 8 through 10 of title 36 or chapter

26

16 of title 16 (ERS) or the Municipal Employees Retirement System under chapters 21 and 21.2

27

of title 45 (MERS).

28

     (4) "Plan" means the retirement plan established by this chapter.

29

     (5) A "public safety member" shall mean a member of MERS who is a municipal fire

30

fighter or a municipal policeman or policewoman as defined in § 45-21.2-2 who does not

31

participate in Social Security under the Federal Old Age, Survivors, and Disability income

32

program.

33

     (6) "Regular member" means:

34

     (i) An employee who is a member of ERS other than correctional officers as defined in §

 

LC004539 - Page 5 of 7

1

36-10-9.2; or

2

     (ii) An employee who is a member of MERS other than a public safety member.

3

     (7) The "retirement board" or "board" shall mean the retirement board of the Employees

4

Retirement System of Rhode Island as defined in Chapter 36-8. The retirement board shall be the

5

plan administrator and plan trustee and shall administer the plan in accordance with § 36-8-4.1.

6

     (8) "State investment commission" or "commission" means the state investment

7

commission as defined in § 35-10-1.

8

     (9) "Supplemental employer" includes any employer that provides supplemental

9

contributions to the defined contribution retirement plan as provided in § 36-10.3-3.

10

     (10) "Supplemental member" is defined in § 36-10.3-3.

11

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC004539

========

 

LC004539 - Page 6 of 7

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- RETIREMENT SYSTEM --

CONTRIBUTIONS AND BENEFITS

***

1

     This act would change the retirement benefits of state employees who were eligible to

2

retire by reason of age on June 30, 2012. The act would exempt these employees from the 401(a)

3

plan, and return them to the traditional defined benefit plan. The act would give the affected

4

employees the option of remaining in the hybrid plan.

5

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC004539

========

 

LC004539 - Page 7 of 7