An Act To Create Equality in Retirement for Forest Rangers with That of Employees of State Conservation Law Enforcement Agencies
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0317
Committee: Labor and Housing
Sponsors: DOORE, CLOUTIER, CUDDY, MADIGAN, WHITE, BALDACCI
Amends: 5 MRSA §17711, 5 MRSA §17851, 5 MRSA §17851-A, 5 MRSA §17852

Legislative Document
No. 317
H.P. 221
House of Representatives, February 8, 2021
An Act To Create Equality in Retirement for Forest Rangers with 
That of Employees of State Conservation Law Enforcement 
Agencies
Received by the Clerk of the House on February 4, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Labor and Housing pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 
401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative DOORE of Augusta.
Cosponsored by Representatives: CLOUTIER of Lewiston, CUDDY of Winterport, 
MADIGAN of Waterville, McCREA of Fort Fairfield, WHITE of Waterville, Senator: 
BALDACCI of Penobscot.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §17711, sub-§3 is enacted to read:
3.  After August 31, 1984, beginning September 1, 2022.  Beginning September 1, 
2022, a forest ranger in the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry who was 
first employed in that capacity after August 31, 1984 shall contribute to the retirement 
system or have pick-up contributions made by the employer at a rate of 7.5% of earnable 
compensation until the law enforcement officer has completed 25 years of creditable 
service and at a rate of 6.5% thereafter.
Sec. 2.  5 MRSA §17851, sub-§8-B is enacted to read:
8-B.  Forest rangers after August 31, 1984, beginning September 1, 2022.  
Beginning September 1, 2022 and subject to subsection 8-C, a forest ranger in the 
Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry who was first employed in that 
capacity after August 31, 1984 or who, if employed in that capacity before August 31, 
1984, ceased to be employed in that capacity on or before that date and who subsequently 
became reemployed in that capacity after that date qualifies for a service retirement benefit 
after completing at least 25 years of creditable service in that capacity.
Sec. 3.  5 MRSA §17851, sub-§8-C is enacted to read:
8-C.  Forest rangers; contingent qualifications for benefits.  Notwithstanding 
subsection 8-A and section 17851-A, subsection 1, paragraph C, the qualification for a 
service retirement benefit for a forest ranger in the Department of Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestry who was first employed after August 31, 1984 is governed by 
the provisions of subsection 8-B for all service earned in a covered capacity upon 
certification by the executive director to the Governor and the Commissioner of 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry that all liabilities associated with that service have 
been paid in full by the State to the system.
Sec. 4.  5 MRSA §17851-A, sub-§1, ¶C, as amended by PL 2013, c. 405, Pt. D, 
§2, is further amended to read:
C.  Forest Until September 1, 2022, forest rangers in the employment of the former 
Department of Conservation on July 1, 1998, or hired thereafter by the former 
Department of Conservation or the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and 
Forestry;
Sec. 5.  5 MRSA §17851-A, sub-§2, as corrected by RR 2019, c. 2, Pt. A, §5, is 
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 and 
before September 1, 2022 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs paragraph 
C; after June 30, 1998 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs E 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, paragraphs N to P; 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. 6.  5 MRSA §17851-A, sub-§3, ¶A, as corrected by RR 2019, c. 2, Pt. A, §6, 
is amended by amending subparagraph (1) to read:
(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 and before September 1, 2022 for employees identified in 
subsection 1, paragraphs paragraph C; after June 30, 1998 for employees identified 
in subsection 1, paragraphs E to H; 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, paragraphs N to P 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
Sec. 7.  5 MRSA §17851-A, sub-§4, ¶A, as corrected by RR 2019, c. 2, Pt. A, §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 and before September 1, 2022 for employees identified in subsection 1, 
paragraphs paragraph C; after June 30, 1998 for employees identified in subsection 1, 
paragraphs E 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; after June 30, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph 
M; and after June 30, 2020 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs N to 
P; 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 and before September 1, 2022 
for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs paragraph C; after June 30, 1998 
for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs E 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; after June 30, 2002 for 
employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph M; and after June 30, 2020 for 
employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs N to P; 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 and before 
September 1, 2022 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs paragraph C; 
after June 30, 1998 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs E 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; after June 
30, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph M; and after June 30, 
2020 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs N to P, 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. 8.  5 MRSA §17851-A, sub-§4, ¶B, as corrected by RR 2019, c. 2, Pt. A, §8, 
is 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; before 
July 1, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph M; and before July 1, 
2020 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs N to P 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 and 
before September 1, 2022 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs 
paragraph C; after June 30, 1998 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs 
E 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; 
after June 30, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph M; and after 
June 30, 2020 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs N to P, 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; before July 1, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph M; and 
before July 1, 2020 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs N to P 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; before July 1, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph M; and 
before July 1, 2020 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs N to P 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; 
before July 1, 2002 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph M; and 
before July 1, 2020 for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs N to P, 
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 and before September 1, 2022 for employees identified 
in subsection 1, paragraphs paragraph C; after June 30, 1998 for employees 
identified in subsection 1, paragraphs E 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; after June 30, 2002 for 
employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph M; and after June 30, 2020 for 
employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs N to P 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 and before September 1, 2022 for employees 
identified in subsection 1, paragraphs paragraph C; after June 30, 1998 for 
employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs E 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; after June 30, 2002 for 
employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph M; and after June 30, 2020 for 
employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs N to P 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 and before September 1, 2022 for 
employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs paragraph C; after June 30, 1998 
for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs E 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; after June 30, 2002 
for employees identified in subsection 1, paragraph M; and after June 30, 2020 for 
employees identified in subsection 1, paragraphs N to P 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 
years of age.
Sec. 9.  5 MRSA §17851-A, sub-§5, as corrected by RR 2019, c. 2, Pt. A, §9, is 
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 and before September 1, 2022 for employees 
identified in subsection 1, paragraphs paragraph C; after June 30, 1998 for employees 
identified in subsection 1, paragraphs E 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; after June 30, 2002 for employees identified in 
subsection 1, paragraph M; and after June 30, 2020 for employees identified in subsection 
1, paragraphs N to P, 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. 10.  5 MRSA §17852, sub-§7-C is enacted to read:
7-C.  Forest rangers; benefit computation after September 1, 2022.  On and after 
September 1, 2022, the retirement benefit of a law enforcement officer in the Department 
of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry who is qualified under section 17851, subsection 
8-B is calculated as follows:
A.  The portion of the retirement benefit that is based on service earned in the covered 
capacity prior to September 1, 2022 is computed in accordance with section 17851-A, 
subsection 4; and
B.  The portion of the retirement benefit that is based on service earned in the covered 
capacity on and after September 1, 2022 is computed in accordance with subsection 1.
Sec. 11.  5 MRSA §17852, sub-§7-D is enacted to read:
7-D.  Forest rangers; contingent benefit computation.  Notwithstanding subsection 
7-C, paragraph A, the retirement benefit of a law enforcement officer in the Department of 
Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry who is qualified under section 17851, subsection 
8-C is computed in accordance with subsection 8-C, paragraph B for all service in the 
covered capacity.
SUMMARY
This bill removes forest rangers in the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and 
Forestry from the 1998 Special Plan and allows them to retire after 25 years of service, 
similar to law enforcement officers in the Department of Marine Resources and law 
enforcement officers in the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.