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H7656
2026 -- H 7656
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LC004646
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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 -- RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC
EMPLOYEE PENSION REVOCATION AND REDUCTION ACT
Introduced By:
Representatives McEntee, Caldwell, Read, Spears, McNamara, Bennett,
O'Brien, and Dawson
Date Introduced:
February 11, 2026
Referred To:
House Judiciary
(General Treasurer)
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 36-10.1-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-10.1 entitled "Rhode
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Island Public Employee Pension Revocation and Reduction Act" is hereby amended to read as
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follows:
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36-10.1-2. Definitions.
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(a) “Crime related to public office or public employment” shall mean any of the following
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criminal offenses:
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(1) The committing, aiding, or abetting of an embezzlement of public funds;
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(2) The committing, aiding, or abetting of any felonious theft by a public officer or
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employee from his or her employer;
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(3) Bribery in connection with employment of a public officer or employee;
and
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(4) The committing of any felony by a public officer or employee who, willfully and with
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the intent to defraud
the public or the public agency for which the public officer or employee acts,
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or in which they are employed, of the right to receive the faithful performance of their duty as a
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public officer or employee
, realizes or obtains, or attempts to realize or obtain, a
monetary or
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nonmonetary
profit, gain, or advantage for himself or herself or for some other person through the
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use or attempted use of the power, rights, privileges, duties, or position of his or her public office
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or employment position
; or
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(5) The committing on or after July 1, 2026, of any felony under chapter 37 of title 11 by
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a public officer or employee through the use or attempted use of power, rights, privileges, duties,
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or position of their public office or employment position
.
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(b) “Public official” or “public employee” shall mean any current or former state or
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municipal elected official as defined in § 36-14-2(10), state or municipal appointed official as
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defined in § 36-14-2(4), and any employee of state or local government, of boards, commissions
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or agencies as defined in § 36-14-2(8)(i), (ii), who is otherwise entitled to receive or who is
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receiving retirement benefits under this title, under title 16, under title 45, under title 8, under
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chapter 30 of title 28, under chapter 43 of title 31, or under chapter 28 of title 42, whether that
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person is acting on a permanent or temporary basis and whether or not compensated on a full-time
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or part-time basis. For the purposes of this chapter, all these persons are deemed to be engaged in
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public employment.
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(c) As used in this chapter, the phrase “pleads guilty or nolo contendere” shall not include
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any plea of nolo contendere which does not constitute a conviction by virtue of § 12-10-12 or 12-
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18-3.
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(d) For purposes of this chapter, “domestic partner” shall be defined as a person who, prior
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to the decedent’s death, was in an exclusive, intimate and committed relationship with the decedent,
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and who certifies by affidavit that their relationship met the following qualifications:
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(1) Both partners were at least eighteen (18) years of age and were mentally competent to
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contract;
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(2) Neither partner was married to anyone else;
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(3) Partners were not related by blood to a degree which would prohibit marriage in the
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state of Rhode Island;
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(4) Partners resided together and had resided together for at least one year at the time of
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death; and
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(5) Partners were financially interdependent as evidenced by at least two (2) of the
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following:
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(i) Domestic partnership agreement or relationship contract;
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(ii) Joint mortgage or joint ownership of primary residence;
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(iii) Two (2) of: (A) joint ownership of motor vehicle; (B) joint checking account; (C) joint
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credit account; (D) joint lease; and/or
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(iv) The domestic partner had been designated as a beneficiary for the decedent’s will,
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retirement contract or life insurance.
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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 PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC
EMPLOYEE PENSION REVOCATION AND REDUCTION ACT
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This act would authorize the state retirement board to revoke or reduce an individual’s
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pension benefit if that individual is convicted or pleads guilty or no contest to a felony sex crime
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related to their public office or public employment.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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