An Act To Provide Retirement Equity to Forest Ranger Supervisory Personnel Whose Retirement Plans Were Changed after Initial Date of Hire
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §17851-A, sub-§1, ¶C, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 769, §11, is amended to read:
C. Forest rangers , except those in District Ranger, Regional Ranger, State Ranger Supervisor and Chief Ranger Pilot job classifications, in the employment of the Department of Conservation on July 1, 1998, or hired thereafter;
Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §17851-A, sub-§1, ¶C-1 is enacted to read:
C-1. District Ranger, Regional Ranger, State Ranger Supervisor and Chief Ranger Pilot job classifications in the Department of Conservation on July 1, 1998, or hired thereafter;
Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §17851-A, sub-§3, ¶A, as repealed and replaced by PL 2003, c. 510, Pt. D, §2 and affected by §§6 and 7, is amended to read:
A.
For the purpose of meeting the qualification requirement of subsection 2, paragraph A:
(1) Service credit purchased by repayment of an earlier refund of accumulated contributions following termination of service is included only to the extent that time to which the refund relates was served after June 30, 1998 and before September 1, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs A and B; after June 30, 1998 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs C and D to H; after December 31, 1999 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs I to K; and after June 30, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph M, in any one or a combination of the capacities specified in subsection 1. Service credit may be purchased for service by an employee identified in subsection 1, paragraph paragraphs C-1 and L regardless of when performed; and
(2) Service credit purchased other than as provided under subparagraph (1), including but not limited to service credit for military service, is not included.
Sec. 4. 5 MRSA §17851-A, sub-§4, ¶A, as repealed and replaced by PL 2003, c. 510, Pt. D, §3 and affected by §§6 and 7, is amended to read:
A.
If all of the member's creditable service in any one or a combination of the capacities specified in subsection 1 was earned after June 30, 1998 and before September 1, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs A and B; after June 30, 1998 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs C and D to H; after December 31, 1999 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs I to K; after December 31, 2001 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph L; and after June 30, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph M; and regardless of when earned for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph C-1; if service credit was purchased by repayment of an earlier refund of accumulated contributions for service in any one or a combination of the capacities specified in subsection 1 after June 30, 1998 and before September 1, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs A and B; after June 30, 1998 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs C and D to H; after December 31, 1999 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs I to K; after December 31, 2001 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph L; and after June 30, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph M; and regardless of when purchased for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph C-1; or if service credit was purchased by other than the repayment of an earlier refund and eligibility to make the purchase of the service credit, including, but not limited to, service credit for military service, was achieved after June 30, 1998 and before September 1, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs A and B; after June 30, 1998 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs C and D to H; after December 31, 1999 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs I to K; after December 31, 2001 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph L; and after June 30, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph M ; and regardless of when earned for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph C-1, the benefit must be computed as provided in section 17852, subsection 1, paragraph A.
(1) If the member had 10 years of creditable service on July 1, 1993, the benefit under subsection 2, paragraph B must be reduced as provided in section 17852, subsection 3, paragraphs A and B.
(2) If the member had fewer than 10 years of creditable service on July 1, 1993, the benefit under subsection 2, paragraph B must be reduced by 6% for each year that the member's age precedes 55 years of age.
Sec. 5. 5 MRSA §17851-A, sub-§4, ¶E, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 409, §5, is amended to read:
E.
The service retirement benefit of a member to whom subsection 1, paragraph C-1 or L applies and who qualifies for service retirement benefits under subsection 2 must be computed under section 17852, subsection 1, paragraph A on the basis of all of the member's creditable service in the capacity specified in subsection 1, paragraph C-1 or L, as appropriate, regardless of when that creditable service was earned, except that for a member qualifying under subsection 2, paragraph B:
(1) If the member had 10 years of service on July 1, 1993, the benefit must be reduced as provided in section 17852, subsection 3, paragraphs A and B for each year the member's age precedes 55 years of age; or
(2) If the member had fewer than 10 years of creditable service on July 1, 1993, the benefit must be reduced by 6% for each year that the member's age precedes 55 years of age.
summary
This bill provides that service retirement benefits for District Ranger, Regional Ranger, State Ranger Supervisor and Chief Ranger Pilot job classifications included in the 1998 Special Plan be computed on the basis of all the member's creditable service, regardless of when that service was earned.