SP0423
LD 1355
Session - 129th Maine Legislature
 
LR 1445
Item 1
Bill Tracking, Additional Documents Chamber Status

An Act To Expand the 1998 Special Retirement Plan To Include Civilian Employees Who Work for the Department of Public Safety Crime Lab and Computer Crimes Unit

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §17851-A, sub-§1, ¶L,  as amended by PL 2001, c. 646, §1, is further amended to read:

L. Oil and hazardous materials emergency response workers in the employment of the Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Response Services who participate in a standby rotation on January 1, 2002 or are hired thereafter; and

Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §17851-A, sub-§1, ¶M,  as enacted by PL 2001, c. 646, §2 and amended by PL 2009, c. 317, Pt. E, §§15 and 16, is further amended to read:

M. Capitol Police officers in the employment of the Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Capitol Police on July 1, 2002 or hired thereafter . ; and

Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §17851-A, sub-§1, ¶N  is enacted to read:

N Civilian employees in the employment of the Department of Public Safety, Maine State Police Crime Laboratory or computer crimes unit on July 1, 2020 who elect to participate in the 1998 Special Plan or hired thereafter.

Sec. 4. 5 MRSA §17851-A, sub-§2,  as amended by PL 2017, c. 439, §1, is further amended to read:

2. Qualification for benefits.   A member employed 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 to H; after December 31, 1999 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs I to K; any employee identified in subsection 1, paragraph M; after June 30, 2020 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph N; and any employee identified in subsection 1, paragraph L, qualifies for a service retirement benefit if that member either:
A. Is at least 55 years of age and has completed at least 10 years of creditable service under the 1998 Special Plan in any one or a combination of the capacities; or
B. Has completed at least 25 years of creditable service in any one or a combination of the capacities specified in subsection 1, whether or not the creditable service included in determining that the 25-year requirement has been met was earned under the 1998 Special Plan or prior to its establishment.

Sec. 5. 5 MRSA §17851-A, sub-§3, ¶A,  as amended by PL 2017, c. 439, §2, is further 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 to H; and after December 31, 1999 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs I to K ; and after June 30, 2020 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph N 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, paragraphs L and M 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. 6. 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 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 after June 30, 2020 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph N; 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 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 after June 30, 2020 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph N; 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 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 after June 30, 2020 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph N, 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. 7. 5 MRSA §17851-A, sub-§4, ¶B,  as amended by PL 2017, c. 439, §3, is further amended to read:

B. Except as provided in paragraphs D, E and F, if some part of the member's creditable service in any one or a combination of the capacities specified in subsection 1 was earned before July 1, 1998 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs A to H; before January 1, 2000 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs I to K; before January 1, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph L; and before July 1, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph M ; and before July 1, 2020 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph N and some part 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 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 after June 30, 2020 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph N, then the member's service retirement benefit must be computed in segments and the amount of the member's service retirement benefit is the sum of the segments. The segments must be computed as follows:

(1) The segment or, if the member served in more than one of the capacities specified in subsection 1 and the benefits related to the capacities are not interchangeable under section 17856, segments that reflect creditable service earned before July 1, 1998 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs A to H; before January 1, 2000 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs I to K; before January 1, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph L; and before July 1, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph M ; and before July 1, 2020 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph N or purchased by repayment of an earlier refund of accumulated contributions for service before July 1, 1998, for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs A to H; before January 1, 2000 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs I to K; before January 1, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph L; and before July 1, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph M ; and before July 1, 2020 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph N in a capacity or capacities specified in subsection 1 or purchased by other than the repayment of a refund and eligibility to make the purchase of the service credit, including, but not limited to, service credit for military service, was achieved before July 1, 1998 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs A to H; before January 1, 2000 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs I to K; before January 1, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph L; and before July 1, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph M ; and before July 1, 2020 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph N, must be computed under section 17852, subsection 1, paragraph A. If the member is qualified under subsection 2, paragraph B and:

(a) Had 10 years of creditable service on July 1, 1993, the amount of the segment or segments must be reduced as provided in section 17852, subsection 3, paragraphs A and B; or

(b) Had fewer than 10 years of creditable service on July 1, 1993, the amount of the segment or segments must be reduced as provided in section 17852, subsection 3-A; and

(2) The segment that reflects creditable service 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 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 after June 30, 2020 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph N or purchased by repayment of an earlier refund of accumulated contributions for service 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 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 after June 30, 2020 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph N in any one or a combination of the capacities specified in subsection 1, or purchased by other than the repayment of a 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 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 after June 30, 2020 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph N must be computed under section 17852, subsection 1, paragraph A. If the member is qualified under subsection 2, paragraph B and:

(a) Had 10 years of creditable service on July 1, 1993, the segment amount must be reduced in the manner provided in section 17852, subsection 3, paragraphs A and B for each year that the member's age precedes 55 years of age; or

(b) Had fewer than 10 years of creditable service on July 1, 1993, the segment amount must be reduced by 6% for each year that the member's age precedes 55 years of age.

Sec. 8. 5 MRSA §17851-A, sub-§5,  as amended by PL 2007, c. 491, §157, is further amended to read:

5. Contributions.   Notwithstanding any other provision of subchapter 3, 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 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 after June 30, 2020 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph N, a member in the capacities specified in subsection 1 must contribute to the State Employee and Teacher Retirement Program or have pick-up contributions made at the rate of 8.65% of earnable compensation until the member has completed 25 years of creditable service as provided in this section and at the rate of 7.65% thereafter.

Sec. 9. Transition. If a civilian employee in the employment of the Department of Public Safety, Maine State Police Crime Laboratory or computer crimes unit on July 1, 2020 elects to participate in the 1998 Special Plan of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System, as provided in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 17851-A, subsection 1, that employee must make that election not later than 180 days after the effective date of this Act.

SUMMARY

This bill allows civilian employees in the employment of the Department of Public Safety, Maine State Police Crime Laboratory or computer crimes unit to elect to participate in the 1998 Special Plan of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System. Under that plan, a person may retire at 55 years of age with 10 years of creditable service or may retire before 55 years of age with 25 years of creditable service and at a reduced benefit.


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