AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RETIREMENT OF MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (Authorizes retired police officers and firefighters to earn income in addition to their earnable compensation; provided that, the amount would not exceed 5 times the rate of earnable compensation currently in force.)

H7566

2026 -- H 7566
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LC003896
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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 TOWNS AND CITIES -- RETIREMENT OF MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES

Introduced By:
Representatives Casey, Serpa, O'Brien, Edwards, Shanley, Messier,
Spears, Read, and Casimiro

Date Introduced:
February 06, 2026

Referred To:
House Municipal Government & Housing
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 45-21-24 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-21 entitled "Retirement
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of Municipal Employees" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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45-21-24. Adjustment of disability allowances on return to work — Discontinuance
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for refusal to submit to examination.
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(a) Should the beneficiary be engaged in a gainful occupation or should the beneficiary be
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offered service as a result of the placing of his or her name on a list of candidates, the retirement
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board shall adjust, and from time to time readjust, the amount of his or her disability allowance to
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an amount which, when added to the amount of compensation then earnable by the beneficiary,
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shall not exceed the rate of earnable compensation currently in force for the classification that the
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disability annuitant held prior to retirement.
Beneficiaries that retire under the provisions of chapter
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21.2 of title 45, shall be entitled to earn an amount that, when added to the amount of compensation
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then earnable by the beneficiary, shall not exceed five (5) times the rate of earnable compensation
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currently in force for the classification that the disability annuitant held prior to retirement.
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(b) Should any disability annuitant under the minimum age of retirement refuse to submit
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to a medical examination in any year by a physician or physicians designated by the retirement
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board, the annuitant’s retirement allowance may be discontinued until the annuitant’s withdrawal
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of the refusal, and should the annuitant’s refusal continue for one year after a request has been
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made, all the annuitant’s rights in and to the retirement allowance may be revoked by the retirement
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board. A disability annuitant, reinstated to active service, shall be reinstated as a member and

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participate in the benefits of the retirement system to the same extent as any other member.
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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 TOWNS AND CITIES -- RETIREMENT OF MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES
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This act would authorize retired police officers and firefighters to earn income in addition
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to their earnable compensation; provided that, the amount would not exceed five (5) times the rate
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of earnable compensation currently in force.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC003896
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