An Act To Allow Forfeiture of Maine Public Employees Retirement System Benefits for Persons Convicted of Certain Crimes

Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §17813  is enacted to read:

§ 17813.  Forfeiture of benefits for crime; restitution

Notwithstanding section 17054 or any other provision of this Part, if a member is convicted of or pleads guilty or no contest to a crime committed in connection with the member's public office or public employment or to a crime the member's position placed the member in a position to commit:

summary

This bill permits a court to order the forfeiture of benefits of a public employee who is a member of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System if the member is convicted of a crime for which the penalties are equal to or greater than a Class C crime if the crime is committed in connection with the member's public office or public employment or if the member's position placed the member in a position to commit the crime.

The bill also provides that amounts credited to the account of a member of the retirement system are available to pay any court-ordered restitution for economic loss suffered by the State or a political subdivision of the State as the result of the crime.