The bill proposes amendments to Section 45-21-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-21, which governs the retirement of municipal employees. It introduces a new definition for "police officer," expanding it to include full-time officers from patrolman to chief, policewomen, and certified municipal police academy graduates. The bill also provides precise definitions for terms such as "accumulated contributions," "active member," "actuarial reserve," and "beneficiary," among others. Notably, it defines "domestic partner" with specific qualifications and clarifies "final compensation" for members retiring before and after June 30, 2012, with provisions for those with average compensation equal to or less than $35,000, subject to annual adjustments. The bill ensures that no member's compensation will be less than what was determined as of June 30, 2012.
Additionally, the bill amends Section 45-21-54 to permit retired police officers to work private details for non-governmental entities without being limited by the seventy-five (75) day employment restriction for retirement purposes. This change effectively broadens the scope of employment opportunities for retired police officers. The bill, which includes both insertions and deletions of legal language, is set to take effect upon passage, signaling immediate changes to the retirement system for municipal employees, particularly police officers.
Statutes affected: 5008: 45-21-2, 45-21-54