2023 -- H 6017

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LC002154

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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 PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- RETIREMENT SYSTEM--

MEMBERSHIP AND SERVICE CREDITS

     Introduced By: Representatives Finkelman, Baginski, Solomon, J. Brien, Cardillo,
Phillips, Azzinaro, Noret, Dawson, and O'Brien

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2023

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 36-9-31 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-9 entitled "Retirement

System — Membership and Service Credits" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     36-9-31. Armed service credit.

     (a) Any active member of the retirement system, who served on active duty in the armed

service of the United States or in the Merchant Marine service of the United States as defined in

P.L. 1946, ch. 1721, § 2 may purchase credit for that service up to a maximum of four (4) years

provided that he or she has received an honorable discharge. Provided further that any employee

on an official leave of absence for illness or injury shall be eligible to purchase military credits as

defined herein while on the leave of absence.

     (b) For members of the retirement system, who served in the national guard or reserves,

who qualify as a veteran, may purchase creditable service at a ratio of five (5) years of guard or

reserve service to one year of creditable service up to a maximum of four (4) years; provided that,

they have received an honorable discharge. Provided further, that any employee on an official leave

of absence for illness or injury shall be eligible to purchase military credits as defined herein while

on the leave of absence.

     (c) The cost to purchase these credits shall be ten percent (10%) of the member’s first year’s

earnings as a state employee as defined in chapter 9 of this title, multiplied by the number of years

and fraction thereof of the armed service or Merchant Marine service up to a maximum of four (4)

years.

     (c)(d) There will be no interest charge provided the member makes that purchase during

his or her first five (5) years of membership in the retirement system, but will be charged regular

interest to date of purchase from date of enrollment into membership if purchased after completing

five (5) years of membership; provided, however, any member who was in the retirement system

prior to July 1, 1980, would not be charged interest whenever he or she purchases the armed

services credit.

     (e) Effective July 1, 2023, any members who are employed as state police officers, deputy

sheriffs, capitol police officers, environmental police officers, firefighters, crew chiefs, assistant

chiefs, fire investigators, fire safety inspectors, fire safety training officers, explosives and

flammable liquids technicians, and campus police officers employed by the State of Rhode Island

and executive military staff, or any municipal police officer employed by any municipality, shall

be exempt from the provisions of subsections (c) and (d) of this section relating to the cost to

purchase credit for military service and any interest charges.

     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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     This act would allow members of retirement systems who served in the national guard or

reserves and also qualify as veterans to purchase retirement services credits. Additionally, this act

would exempt active members of the retirement system employed as a state public safety

professional and/or a municipal police officer from the cost to purchase credit for military service

and interest charges.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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