reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
RI Gen L § 45-21-51.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|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.
RI Gen L § 45-21-53 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-21 - Retirement of Municipal Employees|Section 45-21-53 - Armed service credit.

§ 45-21-53. Armed service credit.(a) Any active municipal employee who served on active duty in the armed service of the United States or in the merchant marine service of the United States as defined in § 2 of chapter 1721 of the public laws, 1946, may purchase credit for that service up to a maximum of four (4) years, provided that he or she received an honorable discharge; provided, further, that any employee on an official leave of absence for illness or injury is eligible to purchase military credits as defined in this section while on that leave of absence.(b) The cost to purchase these credits is ten percent (10%) of the member's first year's earnings as a municipal employee, as defined in this chapter, multiplied by the number of years and fraction of years of armed service up to a maximum for four (4) years.(c) There will be no interest charge; provided, the member makes that purchase during his or her first five (5) years of membership in the retirement system, but will be charged regular interest to date of purchase from date of enrollment into membership, if purchased after completing five (5) years of membership; provided, that any member who was in the retirement system prior to July 1, 1980, would not be charged interest whenever he or she purchases the armed services credit.History of Section.P.L. 1980, ch. 173, § 6; P.L. 1981, ch. 344, § 3; P.L. 1984, ch. 425, § 3; P.L. 1986, ch. 463, § 3; P.L. 1988, ch. 510, § 3; P.L. 1992, ch. 306, art. 3, § 2; P.L. 1997, ch. 169, § 3.
RI Gen L § 45-21-54 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-21 - Retirement of Municipal Employees|Section 45-21-54 - Reemployment of retired members.

§ 45-21-54. Reemployment of retired members.Any retired member of the system is permitted to reenter the service of the system for not more than seventy-five (75) working days in a calendar year without interruption of pension benefits. Pension payments, however, are suspended when that period is exceeded. If the retired member continues in service beyond the seventy-five (75) day period (with his annuity temporarily suspended) the member is not eligible for pension credit for the additional service, nor is the member required to make pension contributions for this service; provided, that any retired member of the system is permitted to serve as an elected city or town council member or school committee member and continues to be eligible for and receive the retirement allowance for service other than that as a council member or school committee member.History of Section.P.L. 1971, ch. 65, § 1; P.L. 1980, ch. 17, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-21-55 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-21 - Retirement of Municipal Employees|Section 45-21-55 - Retired members of the town of Warren.

§ 45-21-55. Retired members of the town of Warren.Every person, who was an employee of the town of Warren receiving retirement benefits prior to July 1, 1974, shall be paid benefits at a rate equivalent to that in effect for retirees on and after July 1, 1974; provided, that the town of Warren shall annually contribute to the system those sums in accordance with the provisions of § 45-21-42 that are deemed necessary to carry out the purpose of this section.History of Section.P.L. 1975, ch. 254, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-21-56 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-21 - Retirement of Municipal Employees|Section 45-21-56 - Credit for other municipal service.

§ 45-21-56. Credit for other municipal service.(a) Any member who was employed by a municipality, as defined in § 45-21-2, which did not elect to accept this chapter, as provided in § 45-21-4, shall be given credit for that service for the various purposes of this system; provided, that the member pays to the retirement system a lump sum amount equal to the full actuarial cost of that credit as certified by the retirement board.(b) The retirement board shall fix and determine rules and regulations to govern the provisions of this section.(c) If any member who was employed by a participating municipality is subsequently hired by a different participating municipality, his or her service credits from the former employer shall transfer in toto to the current employer. The retirement system shall transfer all prior employee contributions to the account of the current employing municipality and calculate the full actuarial value of the accrued benefit with the former employing municipality. If the full actuarial value of the accrued benefit with the former employer is greater than the total employee contributions transferred, the retirement system shall also transfer the difference between the full actuarial value of the accrued benefit with the former employer and the employee's contributions from the account of the former employing municipality to the account of the current employing municipality.History of Section.P.L. 1982, ch. 99, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 70, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 291, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-21-57 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-21 - Retirement of Municipal Employees|Section 45-21-57 - Life insurance benefits.

§ 45-21-57. Life insurance benefits.Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any member who, at the time of retirement from service, has in effect life insurance provided for as a benefit of his or her employment, shall, after retirement, be entitled to keep the policy of life insurance in effect by paying to the municipality the annual premium. The policy of insurance shall remain in effect so long as the member continues to make annual payments.History of Section.P.L. 1986, ch. 492, § 1; P.L. 1987, ch. 580, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 109, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-21-58 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-21 - Retirement of Municipal Employees|Section 45-21-58 - Credits for layoffs.

§ 45-21-58. Credits for layoffs.(a) Members who are laid off for any reason and are not on leave without pay may purchase up to one year's credit for retirement purposes; provided, that the member did not withdraw his or her retirement contributions while on layoff, and returns to active membership; provided, further, that the member purchases the credit upon his or her return to service from being laid off and pays into the retirement system, in a lump sum, the amount he or she would have contributed to the system but for the layoff plus regular interest. Effective July 1, 2012, any purchase under this paragraph shall be at full actuarial cost.(b) The retirement board shall fix and determine rules and regulations to govern the provisions of this section.History of Section.P.L. 1989, ch. 474, § 3; P.L. 2011, ch. 408, § 11; P.L. 2011, ch. 409, § 11.
RI Gen L § 45-21-59 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-21 - Retirement of Municipal Employees|Section 45-21-59 - Effect of deferral and/or reduction of salary.

§ 45-21-59. Effect of deferral and/or reduction of salary.(a) If subsequent to January 1, 1991, a member sustains a loss of salary due to a deferral of salary or a reduction of salary in order to avoid shutdowns or layoffs, or because of a retrenchment of state or local finances, then in calculating the service retirement allowance of the member, the amount of salary deferred and/or the amount of the reduction of salary shall not reduce the amount of annual compensation of the member for the purpose of establishing his or her highest three (3) consecutive years of compensation. This provision is subject to subsection (c).(b) (1) For purposes of subsection (a), reduction of salary means:(i) The actual dollar amount which represents the difference between the employee's salary prior to the voluntary reduction of salary and the employee's salary after the voluntary reduction of salary; or(ii) The actual dollar amount which represents the difference between the employee's salary prior to the renegotiation and/or alteration of an existing collective bargaining agreement and the employee's salary after the renegotiation and/or alteration of an existing collective bargaining agreement.(2) Reduction of salary also means the voluntary or negotiated reduction in the number of hours that an employee works in a pay period and for which he or she is paid.(c) An employee who has sustained a reduction in salary in accordance with subsection (a) shall pay, prior to retirement, to the retirement board an amount equal to the difference between the amount of contribution the employee would have paid on his or her salary prior to the reduction in salary and the amount that the employee actually contributed plus interest.History of Section.P.L. 1991, ch. 129, § 2; P.L. 1991, ch. 174, § 2; P.L. 2009, ch. 5, art. 10, § 7.
RI Gen L § 45-21-60 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-21 - Retirement of Municipal Employees|Section 45-21-60 - Pensioners and beneficiaries of Plan No. 3023 - Town of North Kingstown.

§ 45-21-60. Pensioners and beneficiaries of Plan No. 3023 — Town of North Kingstown.(a) All municipal retirees of the town of North Kingstown and the beneficiaries of municipal retirees of the town of North Kingstown are given a one-time percentage increase to their original retirement benefit in multiples of two percent (2%) as follows up to a maximum of twenty percent (20%).   YEAR OF RETIREMENT % OF INCREASE    1989 2%    1988 4%    1987 6%    1986 8%    1985 10%    1984 12%    1983 14%    1982 16%    1981 18%    1980 20%    YEARS PRIOR TO 1980 20%  (b) The additional percentage is incorporated into the recipients' monthly benefit retroactive to July 1, 1990.(c) The provisions of this section are not applicable to any employees who retired under the provisions of chapter 21.2 of this title.History of Section.P.L. 1991, ch. 406, § 1; P.L. 1991, ch. 407, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-21-61 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-21 - Retirement of Municipal Employees|Section 45-21-61 - Purchase of credit while serving a prison sentence - Prohibited.

§ 45-21-61. Purchase of credit while serving a prison sentence — Prohibited.Notwithstanding any other provisions of the retirement law or rulings of the retirement board in accordance with the powers vested in this chapter, no member is allowed to purchase service credits for time while incarcerated in prison, including but not limited to work release programs or home confinement programs.History of Section.P.L. 1992, ch. 306, art. 3, § 3.
RI Gen L § 45-21-62 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-21 - Retirement of Municipal Employees|Section 45-21-62 - Purchase of credits for continuous municipal service.

§ 45-21-62. Purchase of credits for continuous municipal service.Notwithstanding any other provision of the retirement laws of this state, any active member of the municipal employees' retirement system who was sixty (60) years of age or greater when their employment commenced, and commenced employment before June 22, 1989, and was ineligible by state law from joining the retirement system, is allowed to purchase service credits for actual past employment. The number of years for which credits may be purchased is limited to the difference between the date upon which they commenced employment at sixty (60) years of age or greater and June 22, 1989, when they were required by law to join the retirement system. Purchase of past service credits shall be at the rate that contributions would have been calculated at the time of past service, plus interest.History of Section.P.L. 1993, ch. 231, § 4.
RI Gen L § 45-21-63 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-21 - Retirement of Municipal Employees|Section 45-21-63 - Health insurance coverage of retired municipal employees.

§ 45-21-63. Health insurance coverage of retired municipal employees.Any retired member of the municipal employees retirement system with a pension sufficient to pay premiums is entitled to purchase individual health insurance benefits out of the retiree's pension payroll, as long as the health insurance is from a company either subject to chapters 19 and 20 of title 27, or licensed pursuant to chapter 41 of title 27. If the municipal retiree desires, the retiree is also permitted to purchase coverage for his or her dependents. In any case, it is the responsibility of the retiree to obtain health insurance and present proof of insurance to the retirement system, which shall establish rules and regulations that are reasonably necessary to carry out this section of law. Retirees purchasing health insurance under this section shall pay the full cost for health insurance.History of Section.P.L. 1998, ch. 45, § 1; P.L. 1998, ch. 292, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-21-64 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-21 - Retirement of Municipal Employees|Section 45-21-64 - Purchase of service credits payable by installment.

§ 45-21-64. Purchase of service credits payable by installment.Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter or of any other public or general law to the contrary, the retirement board shall permit individuals who purchase service credit to do so in installments. The retirement board shall create, by rule and regulation, provisions allowing that individuals purchasing service credit may do so on an installment plan by payroll deduction not to exceed five (5) years, provided that all purchases must be made prior to retirement. The retirement board shall charge interest at the actuarial assumed rate of return adopted by the board for purchases made on an installment plan.History of Section.P.L. 2001, ch. 193, § 3; P.L. 2001, ch. 269, § 3.
RI Gen L § 45-21-66 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-21 - Retirement of Municipal Employees|Section 45-21-66 - Severability.

§ 45-21-66. Severability.The holding of any section or sections or parts of this chapter to be void, ineffective, or unconstitutional for any cause shall not be deemed to affect any other section or part hereof.History of Section.P.L. 2011, ch. 408, § 11; P.L. 2011, ch. 409, § 11.
RI Gen L § 45-21.1-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-21.1 - Municipal Fire Fighters' Pensions|Section 45-21.1-1 - Benefits.

§ 45-21.1-1. Benefits.(a) Whenever, under any general law or special act, any town or city has established a pension system for the fire fighters of the town or city, funded in whole or in part by contributions from those fire fighters, then upon the death of a fire fighter, whether before or after his or her retirement, there is due from the fire fighter's pension fund of the town or city to the person or persons as he or she has nominated by written designation, and, if no designation was made, to the widow or widower or domestic partner of the fire fighter, if any, an amount equal to the total contributions made to the pension fund by the deceased fire fighter less any benefits received by the fire fighter from the fund. If there is no designation and no widow or widower or domestic partner surviving the fire fighter, payments under the provisions of this section are paid to the estate of the deceased fire fighter in an amount equal to the total contributions made to the pension fund by the deceased fire fighter less any benefits received by the fire fighter from the fund; provided, that if the amount due to the estate of a deceased fire fighter under the provisions of this section is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or less, then, in lieu of making the payment due under the provisions of this section to the estate, the payment may be made to the widow or widower or domestic partner (for his or her sole use) of the deceased fire fighter; and provided, further, that this section does not apply in the case of any pension fund which provides benefits for the dependents or survivors of a deceased fire fighter.(b) The term "domestic partner" shall have the same meaning as that provided for in § 45-21-2.History of Section.P.L. 1964, ch. 178, § 1; P.L. 1970, ch. 125, § 1; P.L. 1988, ch. 84, § 103; P.L. 2007, ch. 510, § 17.
RI Gen L § 45-21.2-1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-21.2 - Optional Retirement for Members of Police Force and Fire Fighters|Section 45-21.2-1 - Purpose.

§ 45-21.2-1. Purpose.It is the intent of this chapter to provide municipalities with an alternate retirement plan for police and fire fighters to be administered in accordance with chapter 21 of this title.History of Section.P.L. 1968, ch. 230, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-21.2-2 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-21.2 - Optional Retirement for Members of Police Force and Fire Fighters|Section 45-21.2-2 - Definitions.

§ 45-21.2-2. Definitions.As used in this chapter, the words defined in § 45-21-2 have the same meanings stated in that section except that "employee" means any regular and permanent police official or officer and any regular and permanent fire fighter. The retirement board shall determine who are employees within the meaning of this chapter; and "final compensation" means for members who retire on or prior to June 30, 2012, the average annual compensation, pay or salary of a member for services rendered during the period of three (3) consecutive years within the total service of the member when that average was highest. Effective on and after July 1, 2012, "final compensation" means the average annual compensation of a member for services rendered during the period of the highest five (5) consecutive years within the total service of the member, and compensation shall be defined in accordance with § 36-8-1(8). Notwithstanding the prior sentence, in no event shall a member's final compensation be less than the member's final compensation on or before June 30, 2012.History of Section.P.L. 1968, ch. 230, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 408, § 12; P.L. 2011, ch. 409, § 12.
RI Gen L § 45-21.2-3 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-21.2 - Optional Retirement for Members of Police Force and Fire Fighters|Section 45-21.2-3 - Optional retirement for police and firefighters.

§ 45-21.2-3. Optional retirement for police and firefighters.In addition to the retirement system established under the provisions of chapter 21 of this title, any municipality may accept this chapter in the manner stated in § 45-21-4. Withdrawal from the system is in the same manner as stated in § 45-21-5 subject to the provisions of § 45-21.4-3.History of Section.P.L. 1968, ch. 230, § 1; P.L. 2019, ch. 272, § 2; P.L. 2019, ch. 277, § 2.
RI Gen L § 45-21.2-4 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-21.2 - Optional Retirement for Members of Police Force and Fire Fighters|Section 45-21.2-4 - Mode of administration.

§ 45-21.2-4. Mode of administration.The optional retirement system established in this chapter is administered in the same manner provided in chapter 21 of this title; credits for prior service and collection of contributions are determined through reference to that chapter; provided, that where the provisions of that chapter conflict with this chapter, then the provision of this chapter control. Liability of contributions is enforced in the same manner as stated in chapter 21 of this title.History of Section.P.L. 1968, ch. 230, § 1.
RI Gen L § 45-21.2-5.1 (2021)
2021 Rhode Island General Laws|Title 45 - Towns and Cities|Chapter 45-21.2 - Optional Retirement for Members of Police Force and Fire Fighters|Section 45-21.2-5.1 - Retirement credits for layoffs.

§ 45-21.2-5.1. Retirement credits for layoffs.(a) Members who are laid off for any reason, and not on leave without pay, may purchase layoff time up to one year service credit for retirement purposes, provided the member did not withdraw his or her retirement contributions while on the layoff, and returns to active service.(b) Provided, further, that the member purchases the credit within one year of the member's return to service from the layoff and (1) for purchases on or prior to June 30, 2012, the member pays into the retirement system in a lump sum the amount the member would have contributed to the system but for the layoff plus regular interest and (2) for purchases on or after July 1, 2012, the member pays into the retirement system in a lump sum the full actuarial cost of the time being purchased.(c) The retirement board shall fix and determine rules and regulations to govern the provisions of this section.History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 428, § 1; P.L. 2011, ch. 408, § 12; P.L. 2011, ch. 409, § 12.