§ 36-10-9.1. Retirement on service allowance — Legislators.
(a) Every person who shall have served as a member of the senate or of the house of representatives, or in combination of both the senate and the house of representatives, and/or other employment as defined in § 36-9-20, and/or including up to four (4) years of military service as defined in § 36-9-31, for a period in the aggregate of eight (8) years, and having attained the age of fifty-five (55) years shall be entitled to receive a retirement allowance, as in § 36-10-10.1 upon application therefor to the retirement board; provided, however, that any person who shall have served as a member of the senate or of the house of representatives, or in combination of both the senate and the house of representatives, and/or other employment as defined in § 36-9-20, and/or including up to four (4) years of military service as defined in § 36-9-31, for a period in the aggregate of twenty (20) years or more shall be entitled to receive a retirement allowance as in § 36-10-10.1 regardless of his or her age upon completion of the twenty (20) years; provided further, however, that if any person who shall have served as a member of the senate or the house of representatives, or in combination of both the senate or the house of representatives, and/or other employment as defined in § 36-9-20, for a period in the aggregate of eight (8) years dies leaving a surviving spouse or domestic partner, the benefit as provided by § 36-10-10.1 shall be payable to his or her spouse or domestic partner to be continued for his or her lifetime or remarriage or establishment of a domestic partnership.
(b) No legislator shall be eligible for benefits under this section unless the legislator shall have served a minimum of four (4) years as a member of the senate or the house of representatives or in combination of both the senate and the house of representatives.
(c) Except as hereinafter provided, any legislator, elected at the general election in 1988 or thereafter to serve as a member of the general assembly shall not be eligible for benefits under subsection (a) of this section unless the legislator shall have served a minimum of eight (8) years as a member of the senate or the house of representatives or in combination of both the senate and the house of representatives; provided however, that the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to any legislator who was elected to serve as a member of the general assembly prior to the general election of 1988.
(d) Service credits earned prior to January 5, 1993, by a person as a member of the senate or of the house of representatives or in combination of both the senate and the house of representatives may be utilized by that person for any retirement purpose permitted under current law.
(e) Service credits earned on or after January 5, 1993, by a person as a member of the senate or of the house of representatives or in combination of both the senate and the house of representatives may be utilized by that person only for the purposes of § 36-10-10.1.
History of Section.P.L. 1983, ch. 211, §§ 1, 2; P.L. 1986, ch. 550, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 370, § 1; P.L. 1992, ch. 306, art. 1, § 7; P.L. 2007, ch. 510, § 11.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 36 - Public Officers and Employees
Chapter 36-10 - Retirement System — Contributions and Benefits
Section 36-10-1. - Member contributions — Deduction from compensation.
Section 36-10-1.1. - Department payment of member contributions.
Section 36-10-2. - State contributions.
Section 36-10-2.1. - Actuarial cost method.
Section 36-10-3. - Credits to individuals in annuity savings account.
Section 36-10-4. - Credits and charges to contingent reserve account.
Section 36-10-6. - Agreements for federal contributions.
Section 36-10-7. - Guaranty by state — Annual appropriations.
Section 36-10-8. - Refund of contributions — Repayment and restoration of credits.
Section 36-10-9. - Retirement on service allowance — In general.
Section 36-10-9.1. - Retirement on service allowance — Legislators.
Section 36-10-9.2. - Retirement on service allowance — Correctional officers.
Section 36-10-9.3. - Retirement on service allowance — Registered nurses.
Section 36-10-9.4. - Post-retirement service as legislator.
Section 36-10-9.5. - Repealed.
Section 36-10-9.6. - Aeronautics inspectors — Retirement.
Section 36-10-9.7. - Electronic funds transfer.
Section 36-10-10. - Amount of service retirement allowance.
Section 36-10-10.1. - Amount of service retirement allowance — Legislators.
Section 36-10-10.2. - Amount of service retirement allowance — Correctional officers.
Section 36-10-10.3. - Social security supplemental option.
Section 36-10-10.4. - Effect of deferral and/or reduction of salary.
Section 36-10-11. - Service allowance to member withdrawing from service before retirement age.
Section 36-10-12. - Retirement for ordinary disability.
Section 36-10-13. - Amount of ordinary disability benefit.
Section 36-10-14. - Retirement for accidental disability.
Section 36-10-15. - Amount of accidental disability benefit.
Section 36-10-16. - Disability benefits pending final decision on application.
Section 36-10-18. - Optional benefits.
Section 36-10-19.1. - Optional annuity protection — In service.
Section 36-10-20. - Accidental death benefits.
Section 36-10-21. - Ordinary death benefit.
Section 36-10-22. - Retention of death benefit coverage by general assembly member not reelected.
Section 36-10-23. - Benefit payable on death after retirement.
Section 36-10-23.1. - Benefit payable on death of retired legislator.
Section 36-10-24. - Person to whom death benefit payable.
Section 36-10-25 - — 36-10-30. Repealed.
Section 36-10-31. - Deduction of amounts received from workers’ compensation or as damages.
Section 36-10-32. - Tax exemption.
Section 36-10-33. - Penalty for fraudulent claim or statement.
Section 36-10-34. - Exemption of benefits and contributions from attachment.
Section 36-10-35. - Additional benefits payable to retired employees.
Section 36-10-35.1. - One time adjustment to original retirement allowances.
Section 36-10-36. - Post-retirement employment.
Section 36-10-36.1. - Post-retirement employment related to COVID-19.
Section 36-10-37. - Retirement benefits for certain general state officers.
Section 36-10-38. - Combined service credits of general state officers.
Section 36-10-39. - Fiscal impact of proposed legislation impacting the retirement system.