Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 45-21 - Retirement of Municipal Employees
Section 45-21-51.1. - Optional annuity protection — Election of option by member.

§ 45-21-51.1. Optional annuity protection — Election of option by member.
(a) Upon death of a member having (1) at least ten (10) years of membership service on or before June 30, 2012, or (2) for active contributing members on or after July 1, 2012, at least five (5) years of membership service, the spouse or domestic partner of the member has the option to elect to receive option one as provided in § 45-21-30 in lieu of a return of contributions, provided the spouse or domestic partner is the designated beneficiary of the member’s retirement account. The election is based upon the amount of retirement allowance or actuarial equivalent that may accrue at the date of death of the member.
(b) The election under option one for a person other than the spouse or domestic partner of the member may be made by the member, while in service; provided, that the member has (i) at least ten (10) years of membership service on or before June 30, 2012, and before retirement or (ii) for active contributing members on or after July 1, 2012, at least five (5) years of membership service and before retirement, on a form prescribed by the retirement board. The election is based upon the amount of retirement allowances or actuarial equivalents that may accrue at the date of death of the member; provided, that the election form is executed and filed with the retirement board prior to the date of death. The election may be revoked or modified by the member at any time prior to the date of retirement, on a form prescribed by the retirement board.
(c) Upon the death of a member, the option becomes effective thirty (30) days after the first day of the next calendar month following the date of death of the member if death occurs while in an employee status. Should death occur while in an inactive member status, the option under this section becomes payable on the first day of the next succeeding month that in which the designated beneficiary attains the age of sixty (60) years.
History of Section.P.L. 1988, ch. 511, § 4; P.L. 1989, ch. 547, § 2; P.L. 2007, ch. 510, § 16; P.L. 2011, ch. 408, § 11; P.L. 2011, ch. 409, § 11.

Structure Rhode Island General Laws

Rhode Island General Laws

Title 45 - Towns and Cities

Chapter 45-21 - Retirement of Municipal Employees

Section 45-21-1. - Purpose of chapter.

Section 45-21-2. - Definitions.

Section 45-21-3. - Effective date of operations.

Section 45-21-4. - Acceptance by municipalities — Effective date.

Section 45-21-5. - Procedure for withdrawal of municipality.

Section 45-21-6. - Settlement on withdrawal from system.

Section 45-21-7. - Liability of municipalities — Enforcement.

Section 45-21-8. - Membership in system.

Section 45-21-8.1. - Exclusion of elected city, town council or other elected members.

Section 45-21-9. - Prior service credit of members joining by election — Purchase of credit for prior service.

Section 45-21-10. - Information furnished as to members — Classification.

Section 45-21-11. - Cessation of membership.

Section 45-21-12. - Statements as to prior service.

Section 45-21-12.1. - Credit for service as a teacher or state employee.

Section 45-21-13. - Verification of prior service.

Section 45-21-14. - Computation of years of service.

Section 45-21-14.1. - Repealed.

Section 45-21-14.2. - Leave of absence credits.

Section 45-21-15. - Prior service certificate.

Section 45-21-16. - Retirement on service allowance.

Section 45-21-16.1. - Repealed.

Section 45-21-16.2. - Electronic funds transfer.

Section 45-21-17. - Service retirement allowance.

Section 45-21-17.1. - Optional service retirement benefits — Applicability to members of city or town legislative bodies.

Section 45-21-17.2. - Social security supplemental option.

Section 45-21-18. - Deferred allowance on service retirement before minimum age.

Section 45-21-19. - Retirement for ordinary disability.

Section 45-21-20. - Ordinary disability allowance.

Section 45-21-21. - Retirement for accidental disability.

Section 45-21-22. - Accidental disability allowance.

Section 45-21-23. - Periodical examination of disability annuitants — Placement on employment lists.

Section 45-21-24. - Adjustment of disability allowances on return to work — Discontinuance for refusal to submit to examination.

Section 45-21-25. - Accidental death benefits.

Section 45-21-26. - Ordinary death benefits.

Section 45-21-27. - Benefit on death of retired employee.

Section 45-21-28. - Refund of contributions on cessation of membership.

Section 45-21-29. - Repayment of refunded contributions — Reinstatement of service credit.

Section 45-21-30. - Optional benefits on service retirement.

Section 45-21-31. - Offset of workers’ compensation or personal injury recovery.

Section 45-21-32. - Retirement system established as corporation — Management.

Section 45-21-33. - Information furnished by municipalities.

Section 45-21-34. - Annual report and statement.

Section 45-21-35. - Legal adviser — General treasurer — Executive director — Assistant director.

Section 45-21-36. - Clerical and professional assistance — Appropriations and disbursements.

Section 45-21-37. - Vouchers for payment of benefits.

Section 45-21-38. - Receipt of contributions — Investment of funds.

Section 45-21-39. - Credit of interest.

Section 45-21-40. - Improper interest in investments of board.

Section 45-21-41. - Members’ contributions — Payroll deductions — Certification to board.

Section 45-21-41.1. - Municipality payment of member contributions.

Section 45-21-42. - Contributions by municipalities.

Section 45-21-42.1. - Payment of administrative expenses of the retirement board and maintaining the retirement system — Restricted receipt account.

Section 45-21-42.2. - Fiscal impact of proposed legislation impacting the retirement system.

Section 45-21-43. - Accounts and records — Reserve accounts.

Section 45-21-43.1. - Actuarial cost method.

Section 45-21-44. - Guaranties by municipalities — Adjustment of contribution rates.

Section 45-21-45. - Tax exemption.

Section 45-21-46. - Forfeiture for fraudulent claims.

Section 45-21-47. - Reserved power to amend or repeal — Vested rights.

Section 45-21-48 - — 45-21-50. Repealed.

Section 45-21-51. - Persons eligible for optional benefits — Time of election — Modification or revocation — Effective date.

Section 45-21-51.1. - Optional annuity protection — Election of option by member.

Section 45-21-52. - Automatic increase in service retirement allowance.

Section 45-21-53. - Armed service credit.

Section 45-21-54. - Reemployment of retired members.

Section 45-21-54.1. - Reemployment of retired members related to COVID-19. [Expires after 2021-2022 school year.]

Section 45-21-55. - Retired members of the town of Warren.

Section 45-21-56. - Credit for other municipal service.

Section 45-21-57. - Life insurance benefits.

Section 45-21-58. - Credits for layoffs.

Section 45-21-59. - Effect of deferral and/or reduction of salary.

Section 45-21-60. - Pensioners and beneficiaries of Plan No. 3023 — Town of North Kingstown.

Section 45-21-61. - Purchase of credit while serving a prison sentence — Prohibited.

Section 45-21-62. - Purchase of credits for continuous municipal service.

Section 45-21-63. - Health insurance coverage of retired municipal employees.

Section 45-21-64. - Purchase of service credits payable by installment.

Section 45-21-65. - Other post-employment benefits — OPEB trusts.

Section 45-21-66. - Severability.

Section 45-21-67. - Central Falls retirees — Settlement agreement.