AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- RETIREMENT SYSTEM -- MEMBERSHIP AND SERVICE CREDITS (Allows members of the retirement system who served in the national guard or reserves and qualify as veterans, to purchase retirement service credits based on their years of service in the National guard or reserves.)

H7254

2026 -- H 7254
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LC003874
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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 PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- RETIREMENT SYSTEM --
MEMBERSHIP AND SERVICE CREDITS

Introduced By:
Representatives Read, Noret, Azzinaro, Fascia, Casey, Corvese, Bennett,
O'Brien, and Hull

Date Introduced:
January 21, 2026

Referred To:
House Finance
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 36-9-31 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-9 entitled "Retirement
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System — Membership and Service Credits" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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36-9-31. Armed service credit.
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(a) Any active member of the retirement system, who served on active duty in the armed
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service of the United States or in the Merchant Marine service of the United States as defined in
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P.L. 1946, ch. 1721, § 2 may purchase credit for that service up to a maximum of four (4) years
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provided that he or she has received an honorable discharge. Provided further that any employee
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on an official leave of absence for illness or injury shall be eligible to purchase military credits as
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defined herein while on the leave of absence.
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(b) Members of the retirement system who are police officers or firefighters, and who
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served in the national guard or reserves, and qualify as veterans, may purchase creditable service
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at a ratio of five (5) years of guard or reserve service to one year of creditable service, up to a
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maximum of four (4) years; provided that, they have received an honorable discharge. Provided
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further, that any police officer or firefighter on an official leave of absence for illness or injury shall
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be eligible to purchase military credits as defined in this section while on their leave of absence.
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(b)
(c)
The cost to purchase these credits shall be ten percent (10%) of the member’s first
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year’s earnings as a state employee as defined in chapter 9 of this title, multiplied by the number
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of years and fraction thereof of the armed service or Merchant Marine service up to a maximum of

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four (4) years.
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(c)
(d)
There will be no interest charge provided the member makes that purchase during
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his or her first five (5) years of membership in the retirement system, but will be charged regular
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interest to date of purchase from date of enrollment into membership if purchased after completing
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five (5) years of membership; provided, however, any member who was in the retirement system
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prior to July 1, 1980, would not be charged interest whenever he or she purchases the armed
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services credit.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC003874
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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 the retirement system who served in the national guard
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or reserves and qualify as veterans, to purchase retirement service credits based on their years of
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service in the National guard or reserves.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC003874
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