AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TEACHERS' RETIREMENT (Allows teachers, state and municipal employees to retire when they have at least twenty-eight (28) years of active service and their retirement age, when combined with the number of their years of service reaches, the number eighty-five (85).)

H7160

2026 -- H 7160
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LC003663
========

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TEACHERS' RETIREMENT

Introduced By:
Representatives O'Brien, McEntee, Dawson, Biah, Noret, Furtado,
Messier, Read, Corvese, and Slater

Date Introduced:
January 16, 2026

Referred To:
House Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1
SECTION 1. Section 16-16-12 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

16-16-12. Procedure for service retirement.
5
Retirement of a member on a service retirement allowance shall be made by the retirement
6
board as follows:
7
(a)(i) Any member may retire upon his or her written application to the retirement board
8
as of the first day of the calendar month in which the application was filed, provided the member
9
was separated from service prior to filing the application, and further provided however, that if
10
separation from service occurs during the month in which the application is filed, the effective date
11
shall be the first day following the separation from service, and provided further that the member
12
on retirement date has attained the age of sixty (60) years and has completed at least ten (10) years
13
of contributory service on or before July 1, 2005, or regardless of age has completed twenty-eight
14
(28) years of total service and has completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service on or
15
before July 1, 2005, and who retire before October 1, 2009, or are eligible to retire as of September
16
30, 2009.
17
(ii) For teachers who become eligible to retire on or after October 1, 2009, and prior to July
18
1, 2012, benefits are available to teachers who have attained the age of sixty-two (62) and
19
completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service. For teachers in service as of October 1,

1
2009, who were not eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009, but became eligible to retire prior
2
to July 1, 2012, the minimum retirement age of sixty-two (62) will be adjusted downward in
3
proportion to the amount of service the member has earned as of September 30, 2009. The
4
proportional formula shall work as follows:
5
(A) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in
6
effect on September 30, 2009, which shall then be subtracted from the minimum retirement age of
7
sixty-two (62).
8
(B) The formula shall then take the teacher’s total service credit as of September 30, 2009,
9
as the numerator and the years of service credit determined under (A) as the denominator.
10
(C) The fraction determined in (B) shall then be multiplied by the age difference in (1) to
11
apply a reduction in years from age sixty-two (62).
12
(b)(i) Any member, who has not completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service
13
on or before July 1, 2005, may retire upon his or her written application to the retirement board as
14
of the first day of the calendar month in which the application was filed; provided, the member was
15
separated from service prior thereto; and further provided, however, that if separation from service
16
occurs during the month in which application is filed, the effective date shall be the first day
17
following that separation from service; provided, the member on his or her retirement date had
18
attained the age of fifty-nine (59) and had completed at least twenty-nine (29) years of total service;
19
or provided, that the member on his or her retirement date had attained the age of sixty-five (65)
20
and had completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service; or provided, that the member on
21
his or her retirement date had attained the age of fifty-five (55) and had completed twenty (20)
22
years of total service and provided, that the retirement allowance, as determined according to the
23
formula in § 16-16-13 is reduced actuarially for each month that the age of the member is less than
24
sixty-five (65) years and who retire before October 1, 2009, or are eligible to retire as of September
25
30, 2009.
26
(ii) For teachers who become eligible to retire on or after October 1, 2009, and prior to July
27
1, 2012, benefits are available to teachers who have attained the age of sixty-two (62) and have
28
completed at least twenty-nine (29) years of total service or have attained the age of sixty-five (65)
29
and completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service. For teachers in service as of October
30
1, 2009, who were not eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009, but become eligible to retire prior
31
to July 1, 2012, who have a minimum retirement age of sixty-two (62), the retirement age will be
32
adjusted downward in proportion to the amount of service the member has earned as of September
33
30, 2009. The proportional formula shall work as follows:
34
(A) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in

LC003663 - Page 2 of 15
1
effect on September 30, 2009, which shall then be subtracted from the minimum retirement age of
2
sixty-two (62).
3
(B) The formula shall then take the teacher’s total service credit as of September 30, 2009,
4
as the numerator and the years of service credit determined under (A) as the denominator.
5
(C) The fraction determined in (B) shall then be multiplied by the age difference
6
determined in (A) to apply a reduction in years from age sixty-two (62).
7
(c) Effective July 1, 2012, the following shall apply to all teachers not eligible to retire
8
prior to July 1, 2012:
9
(i) A teacher with contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, shall be eligible to retire
10
upon the completion of at least five (5) years of contributory service and attainment of the teacher’s
11
Social Security retirement age.
12
(ii) For teachers with five (5) or more years of contributory service as of June 30, 2012,
13
with contributory service on and after July 1, 2012, who have a retirement age of Social Security
14
Retirement Age, the retirement age will be adjusted downward in proportion to the amount of
15
service the teacher has earned as of June 30, 2012, but in no event shall a teacher’s retirement age
16
under this subparagraph (ii) be prior to the attainment of age fifty-nine (59) or prior to the teacher’s
17
retirement age determined under the laws in effect on June 30, 2012. The proportional formula shall
18
work as follows:
19
(1) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in
20
effect on June 30, 2012, which shall then be subtracted from Social Security retirement age;
21
(2) The formula shall then take the teacher’s total service credit as of June 30, 2012, as the
22
numerator and the projected service at retirement age in effect on June 30, 2012, as the
23
denominator;
24
(3) The fraction determined in (2) shall then be multiplied by the age difference determined
25
in (1) to apply a reduction in years from Social Security retirement age.
26
(iii) Effective July 1, 2015, a teacher who has completed twenty (20) or more years of total
27
service and who has attained an age within five (5) years of the eligible retirement age under
28
subdivisions (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above or subsection (d) below, may elect to retire provided that the
29
retirement allowance shall be reduced actuarially for each month that the age of the teacher is less
30
than the eligible retirement age under subdivisions (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above or subsection (d) below in
31
accordance with the following table:
32
Year Preceding Retirement Cumulative Annual Reduction Cumulative Monthly
33
Reduction
34
For Year 1 9% .75%

LC003663 - Page 3 of 15
1
For Year 2 8% .667%
2
For Year 3 7% .583%
3
For Year 4 7% .583%
4
For Year 5 7% .583%
5
(iv) Notwithstanding any other provisions of section § 16-16-12(c), a teacher who has
6
completed ten (10) or more years of contributory service as of June 30, 2012, may elect to retire at
7
his or her eligible retirement date as determined under subsections (a) and (b) above provided that
8
a teacher making an election under this paragraph shall receive the teacher’s retirement benefit
9
determined and calculated based on the teacher’s service and average compensation as of June 30,
10
2012. This provision shall be interpreted and administered in a manner to protect a teacher’s
11
accrued benefit on June 30, 2012.
12
(d)
(i)
Notwithstanding any other provisions of subsection (c) above, effective July 1, 2015,
13
teachers in active service shall be eligible to retire upon the earlier of:
14
(A) The attainment of at least age sixty-five (65) and the completion of at least thirty (30)
15
years of total service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-four (64) and the completion of at least
16
thirty-one (31) years of total service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-three (63) and the
17
completion of at least thirty-two (32) years of total service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-
18
two (62) and the completion of at least thirty-three (33) years of total service; or
19
(B) The teacher’s retirement eligibility date under subsections (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above.
20

(ii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of subsections (c) or (d)(i) of this section,
21
commencing July 1, 2026, teachers in active service who have at least twenty-eight (28) years of
22
total service, shall be eligible to retire upon the earlier of:
23

(A) When the teacher's age when combined with their number of years of service, totals
24
the number eighty-five (85); or
25

(B) The teacher's retirement eligibility date under subsections (c)(i) or (c)(ii) of this section.
26
(e) Except as specifically provided in §§ 36-10-9.1, 36-10-12 through 36-10-15, and 45-
27
21-19 through 45-21-22, no member shall be eligible for pension benefits under this chapter unless
28
(i) The member shall have been a contributing member of the employees’ retirement
29
system for at least ten (10) years; or
30
(ii) For teachers in active contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, the teacher shall
31
have been a contributing member of the employees’ retirement system for at least five (5) years.
32
(2) Provided, however, a person who has ten (10) years service credit shall be vested;
33
provided that for teachers in active contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, a teacher who has
34
five (5) years of contributory service shall be vested.

LC003663 - Page 4 of 15
1
(3) Furthermore, any past service credits purchased in accordance with § 36-9-38 shall be
2
counted towards vesting.
3
(4) Any person who becomes a member of the employees’ retirement system pursuant to
4
§ 45-21-8 shall be considered a contributing member for the purpose of chapter 21 of title 45 and
5
this chapter.
6
(5) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no more than five (5) years of service
7
credit may be purchased by a member of the system. The five (5) year limit shall not apply to any
8
purchases made prior to January 1, 1995. A member who has purchased more than five (5) years
9
of service credit before January 1, 1995, shall be permitted to apply the purchases towards the
10
member’s service retirement. However, no further purchase will be permitted.
11
(6) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective July 1, 2012, except for purchases
12
under §§ 16-16-7.1, 36-5-3, 36-9-31, 36-10-10.4, and 45-21-53:
13
(i) For service purchases for time periods prior to a teacher’s initial date of hire, the
14
purchase must be made within three (3) years of the teacher’s initial date of hire; and
15
(ii) For service purchases for time periods for official periods of leave as authorized by
16
law, the purchase must be made within three (3) years of the time the official leave was concluded
17
by the teacher. Notwithstanding paragraphs (i) and (ii) above, service purchases from time periods
18
prior to June 30, 2012, may be made on or prior to June 30, 2015.
19
(f) No member of the teachers’ retirement system shall be permitted to purchase service
20
credits for casual or seasonal employment, for employment as a temporary or emergency employee,
21
a page in the general assembly, or for employment at any state college or university while the
22
employee is a student or graduate of the college or university.
23
(g) Except as specifically provided in §§ 16-16-6.2 and 16-16-6.4, a member shall not
24
receive service credit in this retirement system for any year or portion of a year which counts as
25
service credit in any other retirement system in which the member is vested or from which the
26
member is receiving a pension and/or any annual payment for life. This subsection shall not apply
27
to any payments received pursuant to the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 301 et seq.
28
(h) A member who seeks to purchase or receive service credit in this retirement system
29
shall have the affirmative duty to disclose to the retirement board whether or not he or she is a
30
vested member in any other retirement system and/or is receiving a pension, retirement allowance,
31
or any annual payment for life. The retirement board shall have the right to investigate as to whether
32
or not the member has utilized the same time of service for credit in any other retirement system.
33
The member has an affirmative duty to cooperate with the retirement board including, by way of
34
illustration and not by way of limitation, the duty to furnish or have furnished to the retirement

LC003663 - Page 5 of 15
1
board any relevant information that is protected by any privacy act.
2
(i) A member who fails to cooperate with the retirement board shall not have the time of
3
service credit counted toward total service credit until the time the member cooperates with the
4
retirement board and until the time the retirement board determines the validity of the service credit.
5
(j) A member who knowingly makes a false statement to the retirement board regarding
6
service time or credit shall not be entitled to a retirement allowance and is entitled only to the return
7
of his or her contributions without interest.
8
SECTION 2. Section 36-10-9 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-10 entitled "Retirement
9
System — Contributions and Benefits" is hereby amended to read as follows:
10

36-10-9. Retirement on service allowance — In general.
11
Retirement of a member on a service retirement allowance shall be made by the retirement
12
board as follows:
13
(1)(a)(i) Any member may retire upon his or her written application to the retirement board
14
as of the first day of the calendar month in which the application was filed; provided, the member
15
was separated from service prior thereto; and further provided, however, that if separation from
16
service occurs during the month in which application is filed, the effective date shall be the first
17
day following that separation from service; and provided further that the member on his or her
18
retirement date attained the age of sixty (60) and completed at least ten (10) years of contributory
19
service on or before July 1, 2005, or who, regardless of age, has completed twenty-eight (28) years
20
of total service and has completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service on or before July
21
1, 2005, and who retire before October 1, 2009, or are eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009.
22
(ii) For members who become eligible to retire on or after October 1, 2009, and prior to
23
July 1, 2012, benefits are available to members who have attained the age of sixty-two (62) and
24
completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service. For members in service as of October 1,
25
2009, who were not eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009, but become eligible to retire prior
26
to July 1, 2012, the minimum retirement age of sixty-two (62) will be adjusted downward in
27
proportion to the amount of service the member has earned as of September 30, 2009. The
28
proportional formula shall work as follows:
29
(1) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in
30
effect on September 30, 2009, which shall then be subtracted from the minimum retirement age of
31
sixty-two (62).
32
(2) The formula shall then take the member’s total service credit as of September 30, 2009,
33
as the numerator and the years of service credit determined under (1) as the denominator.
34
(3) The fraction determined in (2) shall then be multiplied by the age difference determined

LC003663 - Page 6 of 15
1
in (1) to apply a reduction in years from age sixty-two (62).
2
(b)(i) Any member, who has not completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service
3
on or before July 1, 2005, may retire upon his or her written application to the retirement board as
4
of the first day of the calendar month in which the application was filed; provided, the member was
5
separated from service prior thereto; and further provided, however, that if separation from service
6
occurs during the month in which application is filed, the effective date shall be the first day
7
following that separation from service; provided, the member or his or her retirement date had
8
attained the age of fifty-nine (59) and had completed at least twenty-nine (29) years of total service
9
or provided that the member on his or her retirement date had attained the age of sixty-five (65)
10
and had completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service; or provided, that the member on
11
his or her retirement date had attained the age of fifty-five (55) and had completed twenty (20)
12
years of total service provided, that the retirement allowance, as determined according to the
13
formula in § 36-10-10 is reduced actuarially for each month that the age of the member is less than
14
sixty-five (65) years, and who retire before October 1, 2009, or are eligible to retire as of September
15
30, 2009.
16
(ii) For members who become eligible to retire on or after October 1, 2009 and prior to
17
July 1, 2012, benefits are available to members who have attained the age of sixty-two (62) and
18
completed at least twenty-nine (29) years of total service or have attained the age of sixty-five (65)
19
and completed at least ten (10) years of contributory service. For members in service as of October
20
1, 2009, who were not eligible to retire as of September 30, 2009, but become eligible to retire prior
21
to July 1, 2012, who have a minimum retirement age of sixty-two (62), the retirement age will be
22
adjusted downward in proportion to the amount of service the member has earned as of September
23
30, 2009. The proportional formula shall work as follows:
24
(1) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in
25
effect on September 30, 2009, which shall then be subtracted from the minimum retirement age of
26
sixty-two (62).
27
(2) The formula shall then take the member’s total service credit as of September 30, 2009,
28
as the numerator and the years of service credit determined under (1) as the denominator.
29
(3) The fraction determined in (2) above shall then be multiplied by the age difference
30
determined in (1) to apply a reduction in years from age sixty-two (62).
31
(c) Effective July 1, 2012, the following shall apply to all members not eligible to retire
32
prior to July 1, 2012:
33
(i) A member with contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, shall be eligible to retire
34
upon the completion of at least five (5) years of contributory service and attainment of the member’s

LC003663 - Page 7 of 15
1
Social Security retirement age.
2
(ii) For members with five (5) or more years of contributory service as of June 30, 2012,
3
with contributory service on and after July 1, 2012, who have a retirement age of Social Security
4
Retirement Age, the retirement age will be adjusted downward in proportion to the amount of
5
service the member has earned as of June 30, 2012, but in no event shall a member’s retirement
6
age under this subparagraph (ii) be prior to the attainment of age fifty-nine (59) or prior to the
7
member’s retirement age determined under the laws in effect on June 30, 2012. The proportional
8
formula shall work as follows:
9
(1) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in
10
effect on June 30, 2012, which shall then be subtracted from Social Security retirement age;
11
(2) The formula shall then take the member’s total service credit as of June 30, 2012, as
12
the numerator and the projected service at retirement age in effect on June 30, 2012, as the
13
denominator;
14
(3) The fraction determined in (2) shall then be multiplied by the age difference determined
15
in (1) to apply a reduction in years from Social Security retirement age.
16
(iii) Effective July 1, 2015, a member who has completed twenty (20) or more years of
17
total service and who has attained an age within five (5) years of the eligible retirement age under
18
subparagraphs (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above or subsection (d) below, may elect to retire provided that the
19
retirement allowance shall be reduced actuarially for each month that the age of the member is less
20
than the eligible retirement age under subparagraphs (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above or subsection (d) below
21
in accordance with the following table:
22
Year Preceding Retirement Cumulative Annual Reduction Cumulative Monthly
23
Reduction
24
For Year 1 9% .75%
25
For Year 2 8% .667%
26
For Year 3 7% .583%
27
For Year 4 7% .583%
28
For Year 5 7% .583%
29
(iv) Notwithstanding any other provisions of section 36-10-9(c), a member who has
30
completed ten (10) or more years of contributory service as of June 30, 2012, may elect to retire at
31
his or her eligible retirement date as determined under paragraphs (1)(a) and (1)(b) above provided
32
that a member making an election under this paragraph shall receive the member’s retirement
33
benefit determined and calculated based on the member’s service and average compensation as of
34
June 30, 2012. This provision shall be interpreted and administered in a manner to protect a

LC003663 - Page 8 of 15
1
member’s accrued benefit on June 30, 2012.
2
(d)
(i)
Notwithstanding any other provisions of subsection (c) above, effective July 1, 2015,
3
members in active service shall be eligible to retire upon the earlier of: (A) The attainment of at
4
least age sixty-five (65) and the completion of at least thirty (30) years of total service, or the
5
attainment of at least age sixty-four (64) and the completion of at least thirty-one (31) years of total
6
service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-three (63) and the completion of at least thirty-two
7
(32) years of total service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-two (62) and the completion of at
8
least thirty-three (33) years of total service; or (B) The member’s retirement eligibility date under
9
subsections (c)(i) or (c)(ii) above.
10

(ii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of subsections (c) or (d)(i) of this section,
11
commencing July 1, 2026, teachers in active service who have at least twenty-eight (28) years of
12
total service, shall be eligible to retire upon the earlier of:
13

(A) When the teacher's age when combined with their number of years of service, totals
14
the number eighty-five (85); or
15

(B) The teacher's retirement eligibility date under subsections (c)(i) or (c)(ii) of this section.
16
(2) Any faculty employee at a public institution of higher education under the jurisdiction
17
of the council on postsecondary education shall not be involuntarily retired upon attaining the age
18
of seventy (70) years.
19
(3)(i) Except as specifically provided in § 36-10-9.1, §§ 36-10-12 — 36-10-15, and §§ 45-
20
21-19 — 45-21-22, (I) On or prior to June 30, 2012 no member shall be eligible for pension benefits
21
under this chapter unless the member shall have been a contributing member of the employee’s
22
retirement system for at least ten (10) years, or (II) For members in active contributory service on
23
or after July 1, 2012, the member shall have been a contributing member of the retirement system
24
for at least five (5) years.
25
(ii) Provided, however, a person who has ten (10) years service credit on or before June 16,
26
1991, shall be vested.
27
(iii) Furthermore, any past service credits purchased in accordance with § 36-9-38 shall be
28
counted towards vesting.
29
(iv) Any person who becomes a member of the employees’ retirement system pursuant to
30
§ 45-21-4 shall be considered a contributing member for the purpose of chapter 21 of title 45 and
31
this chapter.
32
(v) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no more than five (5) years of service
33
credit may be purchased by a member of the system. The five (5) year limit shall not apply to any
34
purchases made prior to January 1, 1995. A member who has purchased more than five (5) years

LC003663 - Page 9 of 15
1
of service credits before January 1, 1995, shall be permitted to apply those purchases towards the
2
member’s service retirement. However, no further purchase will be permitted. Repayment in
3
accordance with applicable law and regulation of any contribution previously withdrawn from the
4
system shall not be deemed a purchase of service credit.
5
(vi) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective July 1, 2012, except for
6
purchases under §§ 16-16-7.1, 36-5-3, 36-9-31, 36-10-10.4, and 45-21-53, (A) For service
7
purchases for time periods prior to a member’s initial date of hire, the purchase must be made
8
within three (3) years of the member’s initial date of hire, (B) For service purchases for time periods
9
for official periods of leave as authorized by law, the purchase must be made within three (3) years
10
of the time the official leave was concluded by the member. Notwithstanding the preceding
11
sentence, service purchases from time periods prior to June 30, 2012, may be made on or prior to
12
June 30, 2015.
13
(4) No member of the employees’ retirement system shall be permitted to purchase service
14
credits for casual, seasonal, or temporary employment, or emergency appointment, for employment
15
as a page in the general assembly, or for employment at any state college or university while the
16
employee is a student or graduate assistant of the college or university.
17
(5) Except as specifically provided in §§ 16-16-6.2 and 16-16-6.4, a member shall not
18
receive service credit in this retirement system for any year or portion of it, which counts as service
19
credit in any other retirement system in which the member is vested or from which the member is
20
receiving a pension and/or any annual payment for life. This subsection shall not apply to any
21
payments received pursuant to the federal Social Security Act or to payments from a military
22
pension earned prior to participation in state or municipal employment, or to military service credits
23
earned prior to participation in state or municipal employment.
24
(6) A member who seeks to purchase or receive service credit in this retirement system
25
shall have the affirmative duty to disclose to the retirement board whether or not he or she is a
26
vested member in any other retirement system and/or is receiving a pension, retirement allowance,
27
or any annual payment for life. The retirement board shall have the right to investigate as to whether
28
or not the member has utilized the same time of service for credit in any other retirement system.
29
The member has an affirmative duty to cooperate with the retirement board including, by way of
30
illustration and not by way of limitations the duty to furnish or have furnished to the retirement
31
board any relevant information which is protected by any privacy act.
32
(7) A member who fails to cooperate with the retirement board shall not have the time of
33
service counted toward total service credit until such time as the member cooperates with the
34
retirement board and until such time as the retirement board determines the validity of the service

LC003663 - Page 10 of 15
1
credit.
2
(8) A member who knowingly makes a false statement to the retirement board regarding
3
service time or credit shall not be entitled to a retirement allowance and is entitled only to the return
4
of his or her contributions without interest.
5
SECTION 3. Section 45-21-16 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-21 entitled "Retirement
6
of Municipal Employees" is hereby amended to read as follows:
7

45-21-16. Retirement on service allowance.
8
Retirement of a member on a service retirement allowance shall be made by the retirement
9
board as follows:
10
(1)(i) Any member who is eligible to retire on or before June 30, 2012, may retire upon the
11
member’s written application to the retirement board as of the first day of the calendar month in
12
which the application was filed, provided the member was separated from service prior to the
13
application, and provided, further, that if separation from service occurs during the month in which
14
application is filed, the effective date is the first day following the separation from service, provided
15
that the member at the time so specified for the member’s retirement has attained the applicable
16
minimum retirement age and has completed at least ten (10) years of total service or who, regardless
17
of age, completed thirty (30) years of total service, and notwithstanding that during the period of
18
notification the member has separated from service. The minimum ages for service retirement
19
(except for employees completing thirty (30) years of service) is fifty-eight (58) years.
20
(ii) Effective July 1, 2012, the following shall apply to all members not eligible to retire
21
prior to July 1, 2012:
22
(A) A member with contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, shall be eligible to retire
23
upon the completion of at least five (5) years of contributory service and attainment of the member’s
24
Social Security retirement age.
25
(B) For members with five (5) or more years of contributory service as of June 30, 2012,
26
with contributory service on and after July 1, 2012, who have a retirement age of Social Security
27
retirement age, the retirement age will be adjusted downward in proportion to the amount of service
28
the member has earned as of June 30, 2012, but in no event shall a member’s retirement age under
29
this subparagraph (B) be prior to the attainment of age fifty-nine (59) or prior to the member’s
30
retirement age determined under the laws in effect on June 30, 2012. The proportional formula shall
31
work as follows:
32
(1) The formula shall determine the first age of retirement eligibility under the laws in
33
effect on June 30, 2012, which shall then be subtracted from Social Security retirement age;
34
(2) The formula shall then take the member’s total service credit as of June 30, 2012, as

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1
the numerator and the projected service at retirement age in effect on June 30, 2012, as the
2
denominator;
3
(3) The fraction determined in (2) shall then be multiplied by the age difference determined
4
in (1) to apply a reduction in years from Social Security retirement age.
5
(C) Effective July 1, 2015, a member who has completed twenty (20) or more years of total
6
service and who has attained an age within five (5) years of the eligible retirement age under
7
subparagraphs (ii)(A) or (ii)(B) above or subsection (iii) below, may elect to retire provided that
8
the retirement allowance shall be reduced actuarially for each month that the age of the member is
9
less than the eligible retirement age under subparagraphs (ii)(A) or (ii)(B) above or subsection (iii)
10
below in accordance with the following table:
11
Year Preceding Retirement Cumulative Annual Reduction Cumulative Monthly
12
Reduction
13
For Year 1 9% .75%
14
For Year 2 8% .667%
15
For Year 3 7% .583%
16
For Year 4 7% .583%
17
For Year 5 7% .583%
18
(D)(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of § 42-21-16(1)(ii), a member who has
19
completed ten (10) or more years of contributory service as of June 30, 2012, may elect to retire at
20
his or her eligible retirement date as determined under paragraph (i) above provided that a member
21
making an election under this paragraph shall receive the member’s retirement benefit determined
22
and calculated based on the member’s service and average compensation as of June 30, 2012. This
23
provision shall be interpreted and administered in a manner to protect a member’s accrued benefit
24
on June 30, 2012.
25
(iii)
(A)
Notwithstanding any other provisions of subsection (ii) above, effective July 1,
26
2015, members in active service shall be eligible to retire upon the earlier of: (I) The attainment of
27
at least age sixty-five (65) and the completion of at least thirty (30) years of total service, or the
28
attainment of at least age sixty-four (64) and the completion of at least thirty-one (31) years of total
29
service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-three (63) and the completion of at least thirty-two
30
(32) years of total service, or the attainment of at least age sixty-two (62) and the completion of at
31
least thirty-three (33) years of total service; or (II) The member’s retirement eligibility date under
32
subsections (ii)(A) or (ii)(B) above.
33

(B) Notwithstanding any other provisions of subsections (ii) or (iii)(A) of this section,
34
commencing July 1, 2026, members in active service who have at least twenty-eight (28) years of

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1
total service shall be eligible to retire upon the earlier of:
2

(I) When the teacher's age when combined with their number of years of service, totals the
3
number eighty-five (85); or
4

(II) The member's retirement eligibility date under subsections (ii)(A) or (ii)(B) of this
5
section.
6
(2) Except as specifically provided in §§ 45-21-19 — 45-21-22, no member is eligible for
7
pension benefits under this chapter unless:
8
(I) On or prior to June 30, 2012, the member has been a contributing member of the
9
employees’ retirement system for at least ten (10) years; or
10
(II) For members in active contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, the member shall
11
have been a contributing member of the employees’ retirement system for at least five (5) years.
12
(i) Provided, however, a person who has ten (10) years service credit on or before June 16,
13
1991, is vested.
14
(ii) Furthermore, any past service credits purchased in accordance with § 45-21-62 are
15
counted towards vesting.
16
(iii) Any person who becomes a member of the employees’ retirement system pursuant to
17
§ 45-21-4 shall be considered a contributing member for the purpose of this chapter.
18
(iv) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no more than five (5) years of service
19
credit may be purchased by a member of the System. The five (5)-year limit does not apply to any
20
purchases made prior to the effective date of this provision. A member who has purchased more
21
than five (5) years of service credit maximum, before January 1, 1995, shall be permitted to apply
22
the purchases towards the member’s service retirement. However, no further purchase will be
23
permitted. Repayment, in accordance with applicable law and regulation, of any contribution
24
previously withdrawn from the System is not deemed a purchase of service credit.
25
(v) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, effective July 1, 2012, except for purchases
26
under §§ 16-16-7.1, 36-5-3, 36-9-31, 36-10-10.4, and 45-21-53:
27
(I) For service purchases for time periods prior to a member’s initial date of hire; the
28
purchase must be made within three (3) years of the member’s initial date of hire; and
29
(II) For service purchases for time periods for official periods of leave as authorized by
30
law, the purchase must be made within three (3) years of the time the official leave was concluded
31
by the member.
32
Notwithstanding (I) and (II) above, service purchases from time periods prior to June 30,
33
2012, may be made on or prior to June 30, 2015.
34
(3) No member of the municipal employees’ retirement system is permitted to purchase

LC003663 - Page 13 of 15
1
service credits for casual, temporary, emergency or seasonal employment, for employment as a
2
page in the general assembly, or for employment at any state college or university while the
3
employee is a student or graduate assistant of the college or university.
4
(4) A member does not receive service credit in this retirement system for any year or
5
portion of a year, which counts as service credit in any other retirement system in which the member
6
is vested or from which the member is receiving a pension and/or any annual payment for life. This
7
subsection does not apply to any payments received pursuant to the federal Social Security Act or
8
to payments from a military pension earned prior to participation in state or municipal employment,
9
or to military service credits earned prior to participation in state or municipal employment.
10
(5) A member who seeks to purchase or receive service credit in this retirement system has
11
the affirmative duty to disclose to the retirement board whether or not he or she is a vested member
12
in any other retirement system and/or is receiving a pension retirement allowance or any annual
13
payment for life. The retirement board has the right to investigate whether or not the member has
14
utilized the same time of service for credit in any other retirement system. The member has an
15
affirmative duty to cooperate with the retirement board including, by way of illustration and not by
16
way of limitation, the duty to furnish or have furnished to the retirement board any relevant
17
information which is protected by any privacy act.
18
(6) A member who fails to cooperate with the retirement board shall not have the time of
19
service counted toward total service credit until a time that the member cooperates with the
20
retirement board and until a time that the retirement board determines the validity of the service
21
credit.
22
(7) A member who knowingly makes a false statement to the retirement board regarding
23
service time or credit is not entitled to a retirement allowance and is entitled only to the return of
24
his or her contributions without interest.
25
SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TEACHERS' RETIREMENT
***
1
Commencing on July 1, 2026, this act would allow teachers, state and municipal employees
2
to retire when they have at least twenty-eight (28) years of active service and their retirement age,
3
when combined with the number of their years of service reaches, the number eighty-five (85).
4
This act would take effect upon passage.
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