State Retirement and Pension System - Forfeiture of Benefits

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0044*

SENATE BILL 44
P6 6lr1452
SB 388/25 – B&T (PRE–FILED)
By: Senator Folden
Requested: October 29, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Budget and Taxation

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

State Retirement and Pension System – Forfeiture of Benefits 2

FOR the purpose of establishing that a public employee is subject to forfeiture of benefits 3
from the State Retirement and Pension System when the public employee is found 4
guilty of, pleads guilty to, or enters a plea of nolo contendere to a qualifying crime; 5
providing for th e processes and procedures to implement a forfeiture of benefits; 6
providing for the processes and procedures to reverse a forfeiture of benefits; and 7
generally relating to the forfeiture of pension benefits. 8

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – State Personnel and Pensions 10
Section 21–502(a)(3) 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 13

BY adding to 14
Article – State Personnel and Pensions 15
Section 21–801 through 21–809 to be under the new subtitle “Subti tle 8. Forfeiture 16
of Benefits” 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2024 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 19

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21

Article – State Personnel and Pensions 22

21–502. 23

(a) (3) A court of competent jurisdiction may expressly order that a benefit 24
2 SENATE BILL 44

under this Division II be assigned to a spouse, former spouse, child, or other dependent 1
when [an order of benefit forfeiture is issued ] A FORFEITURE OF BENEFITS OCCURS in 2
accordance with § 21–704 OR § 21–804 of this title. 3

SUBTITLE 8. FORFEITURE OF BENEFITS. 4

21–801. 5

(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 6
INDICATED. 7

(B) “DOMESTIC RELATIONS OR DER” MEANS AN ORDER ISSUE D IN 8
ACCORDANCE WITH § 21–502(A)(2) OF THIS TITLE , § 414(P) OF THE INTERNAL 9
REVENUE CODE, AND REGULATIONS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES THAT 10
ASSIGNS A BENEFIT TO A SPOUSE , A FORMER SPOUSE , A CHILD , OR ANY OTHER 11
DEPENDENT OF A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE IN CONNECTION WITH A DECREE OR ORDER OF 12
ALIMONY, CHILD SUPPORT, OR DIVORCE. 13

(C) “FINAL ADJUDICATION ” MEANS ADJUDICATION B Y A TRIAL COURT 14
RESULTING IN FINAL D ISPOSITION OF ALL CH ARGES THAT CONSTITUT E A 15
QUALIFYING CRIME. 16

(D) “PUBLIC EMPLOYEE” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO: 17

(1) IS LISTED IN § 21–802 OF THIS SUBTITLE; AND 18

(2) HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH A QUALIFYING CRIME. 19

(E) “QUALIFYING CRIME” MEANS A CRIMINAL OFF ENSE UNDER § 3–303, § 20
3–304, § 3–309, OR § 3–310 OF THE CRIMINAL LAW ARTICLE THAT IS COMMITTED IN 21
THE COURSE OF THE PE RFORMANCE OF THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE ’S DUTIES AND 22
RESPONSIBILITIES. 23

(F) “RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE”: 24

(1) HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 20–101 OF THIS ARTICLE; AND 25

(2) INCLUDES A VESTED ALLOWANCE. 26

(G) “VESTED ALLOWANCE” HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 20–101 OF THIS 27
ARTICLE. 28

21–802. 29
SENATE BILL 44 3

(A) THIS SUBTITLE APPLIES TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS A MEMBER, FORMER 1
MEMBER, OR RETIREE OF: 2

(1) THE STATE POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM; 3

(2) THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS’ PENSION SYSTEM; 4

(3) THE EMPLOYEES’ PENSION SYSTEM OR THE EMPLOYEES’ 5
RETIREMENT SYSTEM; 6

(4) THE TEACHERS’ PENSION SYSTEM OR THE TEACHERS’ 7
RETIREMENT SYSTEM; 8

(5) THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM; OR 9

(6) THE JUDGES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM. 10

(B) THIS SUBTITLE DOES NO T APPLY TO ANY SERVI CE EARNED BEFORE 11
JULY 1, 2026. 12

21–803. 13

(A) BENEFITS UNDER THIS DIVISION II OF THIS ARTICLE PAYA BLE TO A 14
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE ARE SUBJECT TO FORFEITUR E IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS 15
SUBTITLE IF THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE IS FOUND GUILTY OF, PLEADS GUILTY TO, OR 16
ENTERS A PLEA OF NOLO CONTENDERE TO A QUALIFYING CRIME. 17

(B) (1) BENEFITS UNDER THIS DIVISION II MAY NOT BE FORFEITED OR 18
REDUCED IF THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE DETERMINES TH AT THE 19
FORFEITURE OR REDUCT ION WILL NEGATIVELY AFFECT OR INVALIDATE THE TAX 20
QUALIFIED STATUS OF ANY OF THE SEVERAL SYSTEMS. 21

(2) IF THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE DETERMINES TH AT THE 22
APPLICATION OF THIS SUBTITLE WOULD NEGATIVELY AFFECT OR INVALIDATE THE 23
TAX QUALIFIED STATUS OF ANY OF THE SEVERA L SYSTEMS, ANY FORFEITURE OF 24
BENEFITS THAT TOOK P LACE BEFORE THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE’S 25
DETERMINATION SHALL BE REVERSED IN ACCOR DANCE WITH § 21–807 OF THIS 26
SUBTITLE TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO COMPLY WITH THE DETERMINATION. 27

21–804. 28

(A) IF THE FINAL ADJUDICATION OF CHARGES RESULTS IN CONVICTION OF 29
4 SENATE BILL 44

A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE, THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE’S RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE SHALL BE 1
FORFEITED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION. 2

(B) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED UN DER SUBSECTIONS (C), (D), AND (E) OF 3
THIS SECTION, BENEFITS MAY NOT BE PAID TO A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE IF THE BOARD 4
OF TRUSTEES FINDS BY CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT: 5

(I) THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE WAS CONVICTED OF A QUALIFYING 6
CRIME; 7

(II) THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE WAS A MEMBER OF THE STATE 8
POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS’ PENSION 9
SYSTEM, THE EMPLOYEES’ PENSION SYSTEM, THE EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT 10
SYSTEM, THE TEACHERS’ PENSION SYSTEM, THE TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT 11
SYSTEM, THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM, OR THE JUDGES’ 12
RETIREMENT SYSTEM; AND 13

(III) THE QUALIFYING CRIME FOR WHICH THE PUBLIC 14
EMPLOYEE WAS CONVICT ED WAS COMMITTED WHILE THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE WAS 15
AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE STATE POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, THE LAW 16
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS’ PENSION SYSTEM, THE EMPLOYEES’ PENSION SYSTEM, 17
THE EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM, THE TEACHERS’ PENSION SYSTEM, THE 18
TEACHERS’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM, THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS’ RETIREMENT 19
SYSTEM, OR THE JUDGES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM. 20

(2) ONLY SERVICE CREDIT I N THE STATE SYSTEM IN WHICH THE 21
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE IS A MEMBER WHEN THE QUAL IFYING CRIME IS COMM ITTED IS 22
ELIGIBLE FOR FORFEITURE UNDER THIS SECTION. 23

(C) (1) A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE CONVICTED OF A QUALIFYIN G CRIME MAY, 24
WITHIN 1 YEAR AFTER THE CONVI CTION, FILE A CLAIM IN CIRC UIT COURT FOR A 25
PARTIAL PAYMENT OF THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE’S RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE. 26

(2) NOTICE OF THE CLAIM F ILED UNDER PAR AGRAPH (1) OF THIS 27
SUBSECTION SHALL BE SERVED ON THE STATE RETIREMENT AGENCY. 28

(3) WHEN CONSIDERING A CL AIM OF A PUBLIC EMPL OYEE UNDER 29
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION, THE COURT SHALL CONSIDER: 30

(I) THE SEVERITY OF THE CRIME; 31

(II) THE AMOUNT OF M ONETARY LOSS SUFFERE D BY THE 32
STATE, A COUNTY, A POLITICAL SUBDIVIS ION, OR A PERSON AS A RES ULT OF THE 33
CRIME; 34
SENATE BILL 44 5

(III) THE DEGREE OF PUBLIC TRUST PLACED IN THE PUBLIC 1
EMPLOYEE; 2

(IV) THE FINANCIAL NEEDS AND RESOURCES OF THE PUBLIC 3
EMPLOYEE; 4

(V) THE FINANCIAL NEEDS AND RESOURCES OF THE PUB LIC 5
EMPLOYEE’S SPOUSE, CHILDREN, OR OTHER DEPENDENTS; 6

(VI) ANY INTEREST IN BENE FITS OF A FORMER SPO USE 7
ESTABLISHED UNDER AN EXISTING DOMESTIC RELATIONS ORDER; AND 8

(VII) ANY OTHER FACTORS THE COURT DETERMINES RELEVANT. 9

(D) (1) A SPOUSE, A FORMER SPOUSE , A CHILD , OR ANY OTHER 10
DEPENDENT OF A PUBLI C EMPLOYEE CONVICTED OF A QUALIFYING CRIM E MAY , 11
WITHIN 1 YEAR AFTER THE CONVI CTION, FILE A CLAIM IN CIRC UIT COURT FOR A 12
PARTIAL PAYMENT OF T HE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE ’S RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE FOR 13
PURPOSES OF CHILD SUPPORT, ALIMONY, OR MARITAL PROPERTY RIGHTS. 14

(2) NOTICE OF THE CLAIM F ILED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 15
SUBSECTION SHALL BE SERVED ON THE STATE RETIREMENT AGENCY. 16

(3) THE COURT MAY ENTER A DOMESTIC RELATIONS ORDER THAT 17
PROVIDES THAT SOME OR ALL OF THE FORFEITED BENEFITS BE PAID TO A SPOUSE, 18
A FORMER SPOUSE, A CHILD, OR ANY OTHER DEPENDENT FOR PURPOSES OF CHILD 19
SUPPORT, ALIMONY, OR MARITAL PROPERTY RIGHTS. 20

(4) WHEN DETERMINING WHET HER TO ENTER A DOMES TIC 21
RELATIONS ORDER UNDER THIS SUBSECTION , THE COURT SHALL CONS IDER 22
WHETHER THE PUBLIC E MPLOYEE’S SPOUSE , FORMER SPOUSE , CHILDREN, OR 23
OTHER DEPENDENTS WERE CULPABLE OR COMPLICIT IN THE COMMISSION OF THE 24
QUALIFYING CRIME. 25

(5) THE COURT MAY NOT ORD ER BENEFITS TO BE PAID TO A PUBLI C 26
EMPLOYEE’S SPOUSE , FORMER SPOUSE , CHILD, OR OTHER DEPENDENT I N A 27
MANNER THAT IS INCON SISTENT WITH THE PAY MENT OF BENEFITS IN THE STATE 28
SYSTEM IN WHICH THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE WAS A MEMBER. 29

(E) (1) A FORFEITURE OF BENEFI TS UNDER THIS SECTION MAY NOT 30
IMPAIR OR ALTER AN EXISTING DOMESTIC RELATIONS ORDER PROVIDING BENEFITS 31
TO A FORMER SPOUSE OF A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE. 32

6 SENATE BILL 44

(2) A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE ’S INTEREST IN A BENE FIT OF A FORMER 1
SPOUSE ESTABLISHED BY A DOMESTIC RELATIONS ORDER MAY NOT BE SUBJECT TO 2
A FORFEITURE OR REDUCTION UNDER THIS SUBTITLE. 3

(F) BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE AS A BENEFICIARY MAY 4
NOT BE SUBJECT TO A FORFEITURE UNDER THIS SUBTITLE. 5

21–805. 6

(A) IF A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE HAS RETIRED BEFORE BEING CONVICTED OF A 7
QUALIFYING CRIME, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES MAY RECOVER FROM THE PUBLIC 8
EMPLOYEE THE AMOUNT OF BENEFITS PAID TO THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE BEFORE THE 9
CONVICTION. 10

(B) THE RECOVERY UNDER SU BSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION IS L IMITED 11
TO AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE BENEFITS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN FORFEITED HAD 12
THE CONVICTION OCCUR RED BEFORE THE PUBLI C EMPLOYEE BEGAN REC EIVING 13
ANY BENEFITS AS A RETIREE. 14

21–806. 15

(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE WHO IS NOT A RETIREE. 16

(B) SUBJECT TO SUBSECTION (C) OF THIS SECTION , A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE 17
MAY SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FOR RETIREMENT. 18

(C) IF A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR A RETIREMENT 19
ALLOWANCE, A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE’S APPLICATION FOR RETIREMENT BENEFITS: 20

(1) SHALL BE CONSIDERED SUBMITTED ON THE FIR ST DAY OF THE 21
MONTH AFTER IT IS PROPERLY COMPL ETED AND SUBMITTED T O THE STATE 22
RETIREMENT AGENCY; AND 23

(2) MAY NOT BE PROCESSED BY THE STATE RETIREMENT AGENCY 24
UNLESS AND UNTIL THE FINAL ADJUDICATION OF THE CHARGE DOES NO T RESULT 25
IN CONVICTION. 26

21–807. 27

(A) (1) ON RECEIPT OF AN ORDER THAT REVERSES OR OVERTURNS A 28
CONVICTION OF A PUBL IC EMPLOYEE, THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES SHALL RESCIN D 29
THE FORFEITURE OF BENEFITS AND PAY ANY BENEFITS THAT ARE PAYABLE UNDER 30
THIS DIVISION II OF THIS ARTICLE TO THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE. 31

SENATE BILL 44 7

(2) WHEN A CONVICTION IS OVERTURNED , ANY DOMESTIC 1
RELATIONS ORDER ENTERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 21–804(D) OF THIS SUBTITLE 2
IS TERMINATED AND TH E BOARD OF TRUSTEES MAY NOT PAY ANY BENEFITS IN 3
ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDER. 4

(B) IF A CONVICTION OF A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE WHO WAS A RETIREE BEFORE 5
THE DATE OF CONVICTION IS OVERTURNED: 6

(1) THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE ’S BENEFITS SHALL BE RESTORED BACK 7
TO THE DATE THE BENEFIT PAYMENTS CEASED; 8

(2) THE ALLOWANCE SHALL: 9

(I) BE PAID BEGINNING TH E MONTH AFTER THE STATE 10
RETIREMENT AGENCY IS NOTIFIED THAT THE CONVICTION IS OVERTURNED; AND 11

(II) INCLUDE ANY COST –OF–LIVING ADJUSTMENTS T HAT 12
WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE TIME BETWEEN THE CONVICTION AND T HE TIME 13
BENEFIT PAYMENTS ARE RESTORED; AND 14

(3) BENEFIT PAYMENTS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MADE DURING THE 15
TIME FROM THE DATE O F CONVICTION TO THE DATE THE CONVICTION IS 16
OVERTURNED SHALL BE MADE TO THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE, LESS ANY PAYMENTS: 17

(I) MADE IN ACCORDANCE W ITH A DOMESTIC RELAT IONS 18
ORDER DIRECTING PAYM ENT OF BENEFITS TO A SPOUSE, A FORMER SPOUSE , A 19
CHILD, OR ANY OTHER DEPENDENT; AND 20

(II) RECEIVED BY THE PUBL IC EMPLOYEE IN ACCOR DANCE 21
WITH AN ORDER ISSUED UNDER § 21–804 OF THIS SUBTITLE GRANTING THE PUBLIC 22
EMPLOYEE A PARTIAL PAYMENT OF BENEFITS. 23

(C) IF A CONVICTION OF A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE WHO WAS NOT A RETIREE 24
BEFORE THE DATE OF C ONVICTION IS OVERTURNED, THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE MAY 25
RECEIVE BENEFITS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS DIVISION II OF THIS ARTICLE. 26

21–808. 27

(A) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED UN DER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION , A 28
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE SUBJECT TO A FORFEITURE UNDER THIS SUBTITLE IS ENTITLED 29
TO A RETURN OF THE I NDIVIDUAL’S ACCUMULATED CONTRIBUTIONS ON REQUEST 30
UNDER § 29–501 OF THIS ARTICLE. 31

(B) THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE ’S ACCUMULATED CONTRI BUTIONS SHALL BE 32
8 SENATE BILL 44

REDUCED BY AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO ANY BENEFIT PAYMENTS R ECEIVED BY THE 1
PUBLIC EMPLOYEE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN SUBJ ECT TO FORFEITURE AN D HAVE 2
NOT BEEN RECOVERED B Y THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES UNDER § 21–805 OF THIS 3
SUBTITLE. 4

21–809. 5

THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS TO IMPLEMENT THIS 6
SUBTITLE. 7

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall be construed to 8
apply only prospectively and may not be applied or interpreted to have any effect on or 9
application to any crime committed before the effective date of this Act. 10

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 11
1, 2026. 12