An Act To Improve Recruitment and Retention in State Law Enforcement by Offering Retirement Service Credit and To Improve Retirement Benefits for Veterans of the Cold War
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1400
Committee Amendment CA_A_H495 (House)
Amends: 5 MRSA §17767, 5 MRSA §17851-A, 5 MRSA §18363

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 1015, L.D. 1400, Bill, "An Act To 
Improve Recruitment and Retention in State Law Enforcement by Offering Retirement 
Service Credit and To Improve Retirement Benefits for Veterans of the Cold War" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Improve Recruitment and Retention in State Law Enforcement by 
Offering Retirement Service Credit' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
'Sec.1. 5 MRSA §17767 is enacted to read: 
§17767. Law enforcement service 
Service credit for service in law enforcement is governed as follows. 
1. Service before becoming member. A member who served as a full-time law 
enforcement officer with a federal, state, county or local law enforcement agency before 
becoming a member is entitled under this subsection to purchase service credit for the 
period of time that the member served as a law enforcement officer if the member has at 
least 15 years of creditable service at the time of retirement by complying with the terms 
and conditions of this subsection and the applicable provisions of subsection 2. Service 
credit purchased under this section is limited to 4 years. Notwithstanding anything to the 
contrary, a member for which service credit under this section is to be granted must 
provide a certified statement from the appropriate retirement system that the service 
credit to be granted has not been and will not be used to obtain other retirement benefits. 
2. Members qualified for credit at actuarial cost. A member qualified under 
subsection 1 to purchase service credit at the cost set forth in this subsection is entitled to 
service credit if the member pays an amount that, together with regular interest on that 
amount, is the actuarial equivalent, at the effective date of the retirement benefit, of the 
portion of the retirement benefit based on the additional creditable service. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1015, L.D. 1400 
A. Payment must be made before any retirement benefit becomes effective for that 
member. 
B. Payment may be made to the retirement system by a single direct payment or by 
annual direct payments in accordance with section 17701, subsection 4. 
Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §17851-A, sub-§3, ~' as enacted by PL 1997, c. 769, §11, is 
amended to read: 
B. 
For the purpose of meeting the qualification requirement of subsection 2, 
paragraph B: 
(1) Service credit purchased by repayment of an earlier refund of accumulated 
contributions following termination of service is included if the time to which the 
refund relates was served in any one or a combination of the capacities specified 
in subsection 1, regardless of whether the time was served before or after the 
establishment of the 1998 Special Plan; and 
(2) Service credit purchased other than as provided under subparagraph (1) is not 
included, except that service credit purchased for military service or for law 
enforcement service pursuant to section 17767 is included. 
Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §18363 is enacted to read: 
§18363. Law enforcement service 
Service credit for service in law enforcement is governed as follows. 
1. Service before becoming member. A member who served as a full-time law 
enforcement officer with a federal, state, county or local law enforcement agency before 
becoming a member is entitled under this subsection to purchase service credit for the 
period of time that the member served as a law enforcement officer if the member has at 
least 15 years of creditable service at the time of retirement by complying with the terms 
and conditions of this subsection and the applicable provisions of subsection 2. Service 
credit purchased under this section is limited to 4 years. Notwithstanding anything to the 
contrary, a member for which service credit under this section is to be granted must 
provide a certified statement from the appropriate retirement system that the service 
credit to be granted has not been and will not be used to obtain other retirement benefits. 
2. Members qualified for credit at actuarial cost. A member qualified under 
subsection 1 to purchase service credit at the cost set forth in this subsection is entitled to 
service credit if the member pays an amount that. together with regular interest on that 
amount. is the actuarial equivalent, at the effective date of the retirement benefit. of the 
portion of the retirement benefit based on the additional creditable service. 
A. Payment must be made before any retirement benefit becomes effective for that 
member. 
B. Payment may be made to the retirement system by a single direct payment or by 
8 
annual direct payments in accordance with section 17701, subsection 4. 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEEAMENDMENT'A"toH.P.1015,L.D.1400 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. It allows a member of the State Employee and 
Teacher Retirement Program or the Participating Local District Retirement Program to 
purchase up to 4 years of service credit for time served as a full-time law enforcement 
officer prior to membership at full actuarial cost if the member has at least 15 years of 
creditable service at the time of retirement. The amendment also requires that the 
member certify that the service credit to be purchased has not and will not be used to 
obtain other retirement benefits. The amendment also clarifies that the purchase of 
service credit for time served as a full-time law enforcement officer may be applied to the 
requirement for creditable service of25 years under the 1998 Special Plan. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/28/19 feac 
LD 1400 
LR 1149(02) 
An Act To Improve Recruitment and Retention in State Law Enforcement by Offering Retirement 
Service Credit and To Improve Retirement Benefits for Veterans of the Cold War 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "/r(fl-L/f 5\ 
Committee: Labor and Housing 
) 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
No state fiscal impact - Cost borne by member 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Allowing a member of the State Employee and Teacher Retirement Program or the Participating Local District 
Retirement Program to purchase up to 4 years on service credit for time served as a full-time law enforcement officer 
prior to membership at the full actuarial cost if the member meets certain conditions will not increase costs to the 
State or participating local districts. The cost will be borne fully by the member. 
LRl 149(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1