Bill Sponsors
Appollonio, Burke, Ciccone, Bell, Tikoian, McKenney, Urso, Thompson, Famiglietti, and Murray
Committee
Senate Finance
Summary
Select
This legislation amends the state retirement laws regarding post-retirement employment for certain retired teachers and state employees. Specifically, it focuses on retirees who return to work part-time to provide classroom instruction for driver education or motorcycle driver education courses. Currently, these retirees can earn up to $15,000 per calendar year without their pension benefits being reduced or suspended. The bill raises this earnings cap to match the limit set for retired state college faculty, which is currently $25,000. This allows these instructors to earn more annually while retaining their full retirement allowances.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Allows retired public servants to earn a higher supplementary income, helping them cope with the rising cost of living and inflation while maintaining their earned benefits.
- Encourages experienced instructors to remain in the workforce, potentially increasing the availability of driver education courses which promotes public safety on the roads.
- Aligns the earnings cap for driver education teachers with that of higher education faculty, creating more equity among different classes of retired public employees.
Cons for Progressives
- Perpetuates the practice of "double-dipping," where individuals collect both a state pension and a state salary, which some argue misallocates limited public funds that could support new hires.
- May discourage the hiring of younger, non-retired workers for these positions, as agencies rely on an existing pool of retirees rather than recruiting new talent.
- Focuses on a piecemeal fix for a specific subgroup rather than addressing the broader systemic issue of whether current pension levels are sufficient for all retirees to live on without working.
Pros for Conservatives
- Promotes economic freedom by allowing individuals to work and earn more money without arbitrary government penalties on their existing assets.
- Increases government efficiency by utilizing experienced professionals for driver education rather than spending taxpayer money to recruit and train entirely new employees.
- Reduces the regulatory burden on retirees, allowing the labor market to function more freely by removing a disincentive to work.
Cons for Conservatives
- Allows public sector employees to "double-dip" at the expense of the taxpayer, collecting a pension funded by the public while simultaneously drawing a salary from public funds.
- Expands the scope of government spending by increasing the allowable payout threshold, potentially adding to the state's long-term fiscal liabilities.
- Delays the necessary shrinking of the public workforce by incentivizing retired government employees to remain on the public payroll instead of transitioning to the private sector.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Retired teachers
- Retired state employees
- Driver education instructors
- Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
- Board of Governors for Higher Education
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
Amount unknown
Revenue Generated
None
BillBuddy Impact Ratings
Importance
Measures population affected and overall level of impact.
Freedom Impact
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Public Services
How much the bill is likely to impact one or more public services.
Regulatory
Estimated regulatory burden imposed on the subject(s) of the bill.
Clarity of Bill Language
How clear the language of the bill is. Higher ambiguity equals a lower score.
Enforcement Provisions
Measures enforcement provisions and penalties for non-compliance (if applicable).
Environmental Impact
Impact the bill will have on the environment, positive or negative.
Privacy Impact
Impact the bill is likely to have on the privacy of individuals.
Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 01/09/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Finance
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Section 36-10-36 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-10 entitled "Retirement System — Contributions and Benefits" is hereby amended to read as follows:
36-10-36. Post-retirement employment.
(a) On and after July 7, 1994, no member who has retired under the provisions of title 16, 36, or 45 may be employed or reemployed by any state agency or department unless any and all retirement benefits to which the member may be entitled by virtue of the provisions of title 16, 36, or 45 are suspended for the duration of any employment or reemployment. No additional service credits shall be granted for any post-retirement employment or reemployment and no deductions shall be taken from an individual’s salary for retirement contribution. Notice of any such post- retirement employment or reemployment shall be sent monthly to the retirement board by the employing agency or department and by the retired member.
(b) Any member who has retired under the provisions of title 16, 36, or 45 may be employed or reemployed by any municipality within the state that has accepted the provisions of chapter 21 of title 45 and participates in the municipal employees’ retirement system for a period of not more than seventy-five (75) working days or one hundred fifty (150) half days with half-day pay in any one calendar year without any forfeiture or reduction of any retirement benefits and allowances the member is receiving, or may receive, as a retired member. Pension payments shall be suspended whenever this period is exceeded. No additional contributions shall be taken, and no additional service credits shall be granted, for this service. Notice of this employment or reemployment shall be sent monthly to the retirement board by the employer and by the retired member.
(c) Any member who has retired under the provisions of title 16, 36, or 45 may be employed or reemployed by any municipality within the state that has not accepted the provisions of chapter 21 of title 45 and that does not participate in the municipal employees’ retirement system.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section:
(1) Any retired member of the system shall be permitted to serve as an elected mayor, the town administrator, the city administrator, the town manager, the city manager, the chief administrative officer, or the chief executive officer of any city or town, city or town council member, school committee member, or unpaid member of any part-time state board or commission or member of any part-time municipal board or commission, and shall continue to be eligible for, and receive, the retirement allowance for service other than that as a mayor, administrator, council member, school committee member, or member of any state board or commission or member of any part-time municipal board or commission; provided, however, that no additional service credits shall be granted for any service under this subsection;
(2) Any retired member, who retired from service at any state college, university, state school, or who retired from service as a teacher under the provisions of title 16, or who retired from service under title 36 or title 45, may be employed or reemployed, on a part-time basis, by any state college, university, or state school for the purpose of providing classroom instruction, academic advising of students, and/or coaching. Compensation shall be provided at a level not to exceed the salary provided to other faculty members employed under a collective bargaining agreement at the institution. In no event shall “part-time” mean gross pay of more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in any one calendar year. Any retired member who provides such instruction or service shall do so without forfeiture or reduction of any retirement benefit or allowance; provided, however, that no additional service credits shall be granted for any service under this subsection;
(3) Any retired member who retired from service as a teacher under the provisions of title 16, or as a state employee who, while an active state employee, was certified to teach driver education by the department of elementary and secondary education or by the board of governors for higher education, may be employed or reemployed, on a part-time basis, by the department of elementary and secondary education or by the board of governors of higher education for the purpose of providing classroom instruction in driver education courses in accordance with § 31- 10-19 and/or motorcycle driver education courses in accordance with § 31-10.1-1.1. In no event shall “part-time” mean gross pay of more thanfifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) the gross pay LC003683 - Page 2 of 5 referenced in subsection (d)(2) of this section in any one calendar year. Any retired teacher who provides that instruction shall do so without forfeiture or reduction of any retirement benefit or allowance the retired teacher is receiving as a retired teacher; provided, however, that no additional service credits shall be granted for any service under this subsection;
(4) Any retired member who retired from service as a registered nurse may be employed or reemployed, on a per-diem basis, for the purpose of providing professional nursing care and/or services at a state-operated facility in Rhode Island, including employment as a faculty member of a nursing program at a state-operated college or university. In no event shall “part-time” mean gross pay of more than a period of seventy-five (75) working days or one hundred fifty (150) half days with half pay in any one calendar year. Any retired nurse who provides such care and/or services shall do so without forfeiture or reduction of any retirement benefit or allowance the retired nurse is receiving as a retired nurse; provided, however, that no additional service credits shall be granted for any service under this subsection. Pension payments shall be suspended whenever this period is exceeded. No additional contributions shall be taken and no additional service credits shall be granted for this service. Notice of this employment or reemployment shall be sent monthly to the retirement board by the employer and by the retired member;
(5) Any retired member who, at the time of passage of this section, serves as a general magistrate within the family court and thereafter retires from judicial service, may be employed or reemployed by the family court to perform such services as a general magistrate of the family court as the chief judge of the family court shall prescribe without any forfeiture or reduction of any retirement benefits and allowances that the member is receiving or may receive. For any such services or assignments performed after retirement, the general magistrate shall receive no compensation whatsoever, either monetary or in kind. No additional contributions shall be taken and no additional service credits shall be granted for this service;
(6) Any retired district court clerk/magistrate or magistrate of the district court who shall subsequently be assigned to perform service in accordance with § 8-8-8.1 or § 8-8-16.2(e), may be employed or reemployed by the district court to perform such services as a magistrate as the chief judge of the district court shall prescribe without any forfeiture or reduction of any retirement benefits and allowance that they are receiving or may receive. For any such services or assignment performed after retirement, the district court clerk/magistrate or magistrate shall receive, in addition to their retirement pension, the difference in pay and fringe benefits between their retirement pension, and that of a sitting magistrate of the district court with comparable state service time. No additional contributions shall be taken and no additional service credits shall be granted for this service; and LC003683 - Page 3 of 5
(7) Any retired member of the system shall be permitted to serve as a municipal employee without any forfeiture or reduction of any retirement benefits and allowances that the member is receiving or may receive; provided, that said member shall be appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the highest elected chief executive officer, as defined in § 45-9-2, in any city or town subject to the provisions of chapter 9 of title 45 entitled “Budget Commissions” relating to the appointment of a fiscal overseer, budget commission, receiver, and/or financial advisor. Provided further, that no additional service credits shall be granted for any service under this subsection.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
36-10-36. Post-retirement employment.
(a) On and after July 7, 1994, no member who has retired under the provisions of title 16, 36, or 45 may be employed or reemployed by any state agency or department unless any and all retirement benefits to which the member may be entitled by virtue of the provisions of title 16, 36, or 45 are suspended for the duration of any employment or reemployment. No additional service credits shall be granted for any post-retirement employment or reemployment and no deductions shall be taken from an individual’s salary for retirement contribution. Notice of any such post- retirement employment or reemployment shall be sent monthly to the retirement board by the employing agency or department and by the retired member.
(b) Any member who has retired under the provisions of title 16, 36, or 45 may be employed or reemployed by any municipality within the state that has accepted the provisions of chapter 21 of title 45 and participates in the municipal employees’ retirement system for a period of not more than seventy-five (75) working days or one hundred fifty (150) half days with half-day pay in any one calendar year without any forfeiture or reduction of any retirement benefits and allowances the member is receiving, or may receive, as a retired member. Pension payments shall be suspended whenever this period is exceeded. No additional contributions shall be taken, and no additional service credits shall be granted, for this service. Notice of this employment or reemployment shall be sent monthly to the retirement board by the employer and by the retired member.
(c) Any member who has retired under the provisions of title 16, 36, or 45 may be employed or reemployed by any municipality within the state that has not accepted the provisions of chapter 21 of title 45 and that does not participate in the municipal employees’ retirement system.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section:
(1) Any retired member of the system shall be permitted to serve as an elected mayor, the town administrator, the city administrator, the town manager, the city manager, the chief administrative officer, or the chief executive officer of any city or town, city or town council member, school committee member, or unpaid member of any part-time state board or commission or member of any part-time municipal board or commission, and shall continue to be eligible for, and receive, the retirement allowance for service other than that as a mayor, administrator, council member, school committee member, or member of any state board or commission or member of any part-time municipal board or commission; provided, however, that no additional service credits shall be granted for any service under this subsection;
(2) Any retired member, who retired from service at any state college, university, state school, or who retired from service as a teacher under the provisions of title 16, or who retired from service under title 36 or title 45, may be employed or reemployed, on a part-time basis, by any state college, university, or state school for the purpose of providing classroom instruction, academic advising of students, and/or coaching. Compensation shall be provided at a level not to exceed the salary provided to other faculty members employed under a collective bargaining agreement at the institution. In no event shall “part-time” mean gross pay of more than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in any one calendar year. Any retired member who provides such instruction or service shall do so without forfeiture or reduction of any retirement benefit or allowance; provided, however, that no additional service credits shall be granted for any service under this subsection;
(3) Any retired member who retired from service as a teacher under the provisions of title 16, or as a state employee who, while an active state employee, was certified to teach driver education by the department of elementary and secondary education or by the board of governors for higher education, may be employed or reemployed, on a part-time basis, by the department of elementary and secondary education or by the board of governors of higher education for the purpose of providing classroom instruction in driver education courses in accordance with § 31- 10-19 and/or motorcycle driver education courses in accordance with § 31-10.1-1.1. In no event shall “part-time” mean gross pay of more than
(4) Any retired member who retired from service as a registered nurse may be employed or reemployed, on a per-diem basis, for the purpose of providing professional nursing care and/or services at a state-operated facility in Rhode Island, including employment as a faculty member of a nursing program at a state-operated college or university. In no event shall “part-time” mean gross pay of more than a period of seventy-five (75) working days or one hundred fifty (150) half days with half pay in any one calendar year. Any retired nurse who provides such care and/or services shall do so without forfeiture or reduction of any retirement benefit or allowance the retired nurse is receiving as a retired nurse; provided, however, that no additional service credits shall be granted for any service under this subsection. Pension payments shall be suspended whenever this period is exceeded. No additional contributions shall be taken and no additional service credits shall be granted for this service. Notice of this employment or reemployment shall be sent monthly to the retirement board by the employer and by the retired member;
(5) Any retired member who, at the time of passage of this section, serves as a general magistrate within the family court and thereafter retires from judicial service, may be employed or reemployed by the family court to perform such services as a general magistrate of the family court as the chief judge of the family court shall prescribe without any forfeiture or reduction of any retirement benefits and allowances that the member is receiving or may receive. For any such services or assignments performed after retirement, the general magistrate shall receive no compensation whatsoever, either monetary or in kind. No additional contributions shall be taken and no additional service credits shall be granted for this service;
(6) Any retired district court clerk/magistrate or magistrate of the district court who shall subsequently be assigned to perform service in accordance with § 8-8-8.1 or § 8-8-16.2(e), may be employed or reemployed by the district court to perform such services as a magistrate as the chief judge of the district court shall prescribe without any forfeiture or reduction of any retirement benefits and allowance that they are receiving or may receive. For any such services or assignment performed after retirement, the district court clerk/magistrate or magistrate shall receive, in addition to their retirement pension, the difference in pay and fringe benefits between their retirement pension, and that of a sitting magistrate of the district court with comparable state service time. No additional contributions shall be taken and no additional service credits shall be granted for this service; and LC003683 - Page 3 of 5
(7) Any retired member of the system shall be permitted to serve as a municipal employee without any forfeiture or reduction of any retirement benefits and allowances that the member is receiving or may receive; provided, that said member shall be appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the highest elected chief executive officer, as defined in § 45-9-2, in any city or town subject to the provisions of chapter 9 of title 45 entitled “Budget Commissions” relating to the appointment of a fiscal overseer, budget commission, receiver, and/or financial advisor. Provided further, that no additional service credits shall be granted for any service under this subsection.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.