Bill Sponsors
LaMountain, Felag, McKenney, Patalano, Tikoian, Britto, Dimitri, Appollonio, Famiglietti, and Thompson
Committee
Senate Finance
Summary
Select
This legislation amends the state's optional retirement guidelines for police officers and firefighters. Specifically, it creates a new provision taking effect on July 1, 2027. Under this new rule, eligible members who have reached the age of 57 and have completed at least 20 years of service may retire without the actuarial reduction in benefits that would typically apply to early retirement. This allows these specific public safety employees to retire with a full service allowance earlier than the standard schedule requires, provided they meet the age and service criteria.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Supports labor rights by acknowledging the physical toll of public safety professions, allowing workers in hazardous jobs to retire with financial dignity before old age.
- Strengthens the social safety net for public servants, ensuring that those who have dedicated two decades to community service are not penalized financially for retiring at age 57.
- May accelerate the retirement of older officers, potentially creating vacancies that can be filled by a younger, more diverse generation of recruits, aiding in systemic reform efforts.
Cons for Progressives
- Increases long-term pension liabilities, which could divert municipal funds away from other vital social services, education, or community welfare programs.
- Prioritizes benefits specifically for police and fire personnel rather than expanding protections or benefits for all municipal workers or the general working class.
- Could be viewed as entrenching the current system of policing by offering enhanced financial incentives, rather than focusing on systemic changes to public safety structures.
Pros for Conservatives
- Demonstrates strong support for law enforcement and first responders, aligning with values that prioritize public safety and order.
- Helps retain experienced personnel by offering a secure off-ramp at age 57, potentially keeping seasoned officers on the force until that age.
- Honors the implicit contract between the government and those who risk their lives for the community, ensuring they are treated fairly after long service.
Cons for Conservatives
- Increases the financial burden on taxpayers by removing actuarial reductions, effectively increasing the cost of public sector pensions.
- Expands government liabilities and benefits, moving away from fiscal conservatism and efforts to reduce government spending.
- Sets a precedent for bypassing established actuarial math intended to keep pension funds solvent, potentially leading to future tax hikes to cover shortfalls.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Police Officers
- Firefighters
- Municipal Taxpayers
- Retirement Board
- Municipal Governments
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
Amount unknown
Revenue Generated
None
BillBuddy Impact Ratings
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Freedom Impact
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Public Services
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Regulatory
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Clarity of Bill Language
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Environmental Impact
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Privacy Impact
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Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 01/16/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Finance
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Section 45-21.2-5 of the General Laws in Chapter 45-21.2 entitled "Optional Retirement for Members of Police Force and Firefighters" is hereby amended to read as follows:
45-21.2-5. Retirement on service allowance.
(a) Retirement of a member on a service retirement allowance for members eligible to retire on or before June 30, 2012, shall be made, subject to paragraph (a)(11) below, by the retirement board as follows:
(1) Any member who has attained or attains age seventy (70) shall be retired as stated in §  45-21-16 subject to the discretions contained in that section; provided, that any member who is a member of the Woonsocket fire department who has attained or attains an age of sixty-five (65) years shall be retired. Retirement occurs on the first day of the next succeeding calendar month in which the member has attained the age of sixty-five (65) years.
(2) Any member may retire pursuant to this subdivision upon written application to the board stating at what time the member desires to retire; provided, that the member at the specified time for retirement has attained an age of fifty-five (55) years and has completed at least ten (10) years of total service, and notwithstanding that the member may have separated from service.
(3) Any member may retire pursuant to this subdivision upon written application to the board stating at what time the member desires to retire; provided, that the member at the specified time for retirement has completed at least twenty-five (25) years of total service, and notwithstanding that the member may have separated from service.
(4) Any member may retire pursuant to this subdivision upon written application to the board stating at what time the member desires to retire; provided, that the member at the specified time for retirement has attained an age of fifty (50) years and has completed at least twenty (20) years of total service, notwithstanding that the member may have separated from service; provided, that the service retirement allowance, as determined according to the formula provided in § 45- 21.2-6, is reduced one-half of one percent (1/2%) for each month that the age of the member is less than fifty-five (55) years.
(5) Any member of the South Kingstown police department may retire pursuant to this subdivision upon written application to the board stating at what time the member desires to retire; provided, that the member at the specified time for retirement has earned a service retirement allowance of fifty percent (50%) of final compensation pursuant to § 45-21.2-6.1.
(6) Any member of the Johnston police department may retire pursuant to this subdivision upon written application to the board stating at what time the member desires to retire; provided, that the member at the specified time for retirement has earned a service retirement allowance of fifty percent (50%) of final compensation pursuant to § 45-21.2-6.2.
(7) Any member of the Cranston fire department hired after July 1, 1995, or any member of the Cranston fire department with five (5) years or less of service effective July 1, 1995, may retire pursuant to this subdivision upon written application to the board stating at what time the member desires to retire; provided, that the member at the specified time for retirement has earned a service retirement allowance of fifty percent (50%) of final compensation for at least twenty (20) years service; final compensation for Cranston fire department members is based on the compensation components of weekly salary, longevity and holidays with longevity of the members highest year of earnings and members shall receive a three percent (3%) escalation of their pension payment compounded each year on January 1st following the year of retirement and continuing on an annual basis on that date; further, any illness or injury not covered in title 45 relating to the presumption of disability is governed by the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Cranston and members of the Cranston fire department.
(8) Any member of the Cranston police department hired after July 1, 1995, or any member of the Cranston police department with five (5) years or less of service effective July 1, 1995, may retire pursuant to this subdivision upon written application to the board stating at what time the member desires to retire; provided, that the member at the specified time for retirement has earned a service retirement allowance of fifty percent (50%) of final compensation for at least twenty (20) years service; final compensation for Cranston police department members is based on the LC004010 - Page 2 of 6 compensation components of weekly salary, longevity and holidays with longevity of the members highest year of earnings and members shall receive a three percent (3%) escalation of their pension payment compounded each year on January 1st following the year of retirement and continuing on an annual basis on that date; further, any illness or injury not covered in title 45 relating to the presumption of disability is governed by the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Cranston and members of the Cranston police department.
(9) Any member of the Hopkinton police department may retire pursuant to this subdivision upon written application to the board stating at what time the member desires to retire; provided, that the member at the specified time for retirement has earned a service retirement allowance of fifty percent (50%) of final compensation for at least twenty (20) years service; final compensation for Hopkinton police department members is based on the compensation components of weekly salary, longevity and holidays with longevity of the members highest year of earnings and members shall receive a three percent (3%) escalation of their pension payment compounded each year on January 1st following the year of retirement and continuing on an annual basis on that date.
(10) Any member of the Richmond police department may retire pursuant to this subdivision upon written application to the board stating at what time the member desires to retire; provided, that the member at the specified time for retirement has earned a service retirement allowance of fifty percent (50%) of final compensation for at least twenty-two (22) years’ service pursuant to § 45-21.2-6.3.
(11) Notwithstanding any provision in this section to the contrary, for any service on or after July 1, 2012, final compensation shall be defined in accordance with § 45-21.2-2, and no benefit adjustments shall be provided except as set forth in §  45-21-52(c).
(12) Notwithstanding any provisions of this section to the contrary, with respect to police officers employed by the town of Johnston, only those police officers hired on or after July 1, 2010, shall be eligible to be members of the Municipal Employees’ Retirement System of the state of Rhode Island in accordance with this chapter.
(b) Retirement of a member on a service retirement allowance eligible to retire on and after July 1, 2012, shall be made by the retirement board as follows:
(1) Any member may retire pursuant to this subdivision upon written application to the board stating at what time the member desires to retire; provided, that the member at the specified time for retirement attained the age of at least fifty-five (55) years and has completed at least twenty-five (25) years of total service, and notwithstanding that the member may have separated from service; or
(2) Effective July 1, 2015, the member makes contributions to the plan effective July 1, LC004010 - Page 3 of 6 2015, in accordance with § 45-21.2-14, and (i) The member at the specified time for retirement attained the age of at least fifty (50) years and has completed at least twenty-five (25) years of total service; or (ii) The member has completed at least twenty-seven (27) years of total service regardless of the member’s attained age, and notwithstanding that the member may have separated from service.
(3) Any member with contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, who has completed at least five (5) years of contributory service but who has not completed twenty-five (25) years of service, shall be eligible to retire upon the attainment of the member’s Social Security retirement age.
(4) If a member had ten (10) or more years of contributory service and attained age forty- five (45) prior to July 1, 2012, and would have been eligible to retire at or prior to age fifty-two (52) in accordance with the rules in effect prior to July 1, 2012, the member may retire upon attainment of age fifty-two (52).
(5) Effective July 1, 2015, a member who has completed twenty (20) or more years of total service who has attained an age within five (5) years of the eligible retirement age under subparagraphs (b)(1) or (b)(2) or (b)(3) or (b)(4) above, may elect to retire provided that the retirement allowance shall be reduced actuarially for each month that the age of the member is less than the eligible retirement age under subparagraphs (b)(1) or (b)(2) or (b)(3) or (b)(4) above in accordance with the following table: Year Preceding Retirement Cumulative Annual Reduction Cumulative Monthly Reduction
For Year 1 9% .75%
For Year 2 8% .667%
For Year 3 7% .583%
For Year 4 7% .583%
For Year 5 7% .583%
(6) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, a member on June 30, 2012, may elect to retire at his or her eligible retirement date as determined under the rules in effect on June 30, 2012, provided that a member making an election under this paragraph shall receive the member’s retirement benefit determined and calculated based on the member’s service and final compensation as of June 30, 2012. This provision shall be interpreted and administered in a manner to protect a member’s accrued benefit on June 30, 2012.
(7) Effective July 1, 2027, a member who has attained age fifty-seven (57) or more, with at least twenty (20) years of service, may elect to retire, without a reduction, as set forth in LC004010 - Page 4 of 6 subsection (b)(5) of this section.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
45-21.2-5. Retirement on service allowance.
(a) Retirement of a member on a service retirement allowance for members eligible to retire on or before June 30, 2012, shall be made, subject to paragraph (a)(11) below, by the retirement board as follows:
(1) Any member who has attained or attains age seventy (70) shall be retired as stated in §  45-21-16 subject to the discretions contained in that section; provided, that any member who is a member of the Woonsocket fire department who has attained or attains an age of sixty-five (65) years shall be retired. Retirement occurs on the first day of the next succeeding calendar month in which the member has attained the age of sixty-five (65) years.
(2) Any member may retire pursuant to this subdivision upon written application to the board stating at what time the member desires to retire; provided, that the member at the specified time for retirement has attained an age of fifty-five (55) years and has completed at least ten (10) years of total service, and notwithstanding that the member may have separated from service.
(3) Any member may retire pursuant to this subdivision upon written application to the board stating at what time the member desires to retire; provided, that the member at the specified time for retirement has completed at least twenty-five (25) years of total service, and notwithstanding that the member may have separated from service.
(4) Any member may retire pursuant to this subdivision upon written application to the board stating at what time the member desires to retire; provided, that the member at the specified time for retirement has attained an age of fifty (50) years and has completed at least twenty (20) years of total service, notwithstanding that the member may have separated from service; provided, that the service retirement allowance, as determined according to the formula provided in § 45- 21.2-6, is reduced one-half of one percent (1/2%) for each month that the age of the member is less than fifty-five (55) years.
(5) Any member of the South Kingstown police department may retire pursuant to this subdivision upon written application to the board stating at what time the member desires to retire; provided, that the member at the specified time for retirement has earned a service retirement allowance of fifty percent (50%) of final compensation pursuant to § 45-21.2-6.1.
(6) Any member of the Johnston police department may retire pursuant to this subdivision upon written application to the board stating at what time the member desires to retire; provided, that the member at the specified time for retirement has earned a service retirement allowance of fifty percent (50%) of final compensation pursuant to § 45-21.2-6.2.
(7) Any member of the Cranston fire department hired after July 1, 1995, or any member of the Cranston fire department with five (5) years or less of service effective July 1, 1995, may retire pursuant to this subdivision upon written application to the board stating at what time the member desires to retire; provided, that the member at the specified time for retirement has earned a service retirement allowance of fifty percent (50%) of final compensation for at least twenty (20) years service; final compensation for Cranston fire department members is based on the compensation components of weekly salary, longevity and holidays with longevity of the members highest year of earnings and members shall receive a three percent (3%) escalation of their pension payment compounded each year on January 1st following the year of retirement and continuing on an annual basis on that date; further, any illness or injury not covered in title 45 relating to the presumption of disability is governed by the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Cranston and members of the Cranston fire department.
(8) Any member of the Cranston police department hired after July 1, 1995, or any member of the Cranston police department with five (5) years or less of service effective July 1, 1995, may retire pursuant to this subdivision upon written application to the board stating at what time the member desires to retire; provided, that the member at the specified time for retirement has earned a service retirement allowance of fifty percent (50%) of final compensation for at least twenty (20) years service; final compensation for Cranston police department members is based on the LC004010 - Page 2 of 6 compensation components of weekly salary, longevity and holidays with longevity of the members highest year of earnings and members shall receive a three percent (3%) escalation of their pension payment compounded each year on January 1st following the year of retirement and continuing on an annual basis on that date; further, any illness or injury not covered in title 45 relating to the presumption of disability is governed by the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Cranston and members of the Cranston police department.
(9) Any member of the Hopkinton police department may retire pursuant to this subdivision upon written application to the board stating at what time the member desires to retire; provided, that the member at the specified time for retirement has earned a service retirement allowance of fifty percent (50%) of final compensation for at least twenty (20) years service; final compensation for Hopkinton police department members is based on the compensation components of weekly salary, longevity and holidays with longevity of the members highest year of earnings and members shall receive a three percent (3%) escalation of their pension payment compounded each year on January 1st following the year of retirement and continuing on an annual basis on that date.
(10) Any member of the Richmond police department may retire pursuant to this subdivision upon written application to the board stating at what time the member desires to retire; provided, that the member at the specified time for retirement has earned a service retirement allowance of fifty percent (50%) of final compensation for at least twenty-two (22) years’ service pursuant to § 45-21.2-6.3.
(11) Notwithstanding any provision in this section to the contrary, for any service on or after July 1, 2012, final compensation shall be defined in accordance with § 45-21.2-2, and no benefit adjustments shall be provided except as set forth in §  45-21-52(c).
(12) Notwithstanding any provisions of this section to the contrary, with respect to police officers employed by the town of Johnston, only those police officers hired on or after July 1, 2010, shall be eligible to be members of the Municipal Employees’ Retirement System of the state of Rhode Island in accordance with this chapter.
(b) Retirement of a member on a service retirement allowance eligible to retire on and after July 1, 2012, shall be made by the retirement board as follows:
(1) Any member may retire pursuant to this subdivision upon written application to the board stating at what time the member desires to retire; provided, that the member at the specified time for retirement attained the age of at least fifty-five (55) years and has completed at least twenty-five (25) years of total service, and notwithstanding that the member may have separated from service; or
(2) Effective July 1, 2015, the member makes contributions to the plan effective July 1, LC004010 - Page 3 of 6 2015, in accordance with § 45-21.2-14, and (i) The member at the specified time for retirement attained the age of at least fifty (50) years and has completed at least twenty-five (25) years of total service; or (ii) The member has completed at least twenty-seven (27) years of total service regardless of the member’s attained age, and notwithstanding that the member may have separated from service.
(3) Any member with contributory service on or after July 1, 2012, who has completed at least five (5) years of contributory service but who has not completed twenty-five (25) years of service, shall be eligible to retire upon the attainment of the member’s Social Security retirement age.
(4) If a member had ten (10) or more years of contributory service and attained age forty- five (45) prior to July 1, 2012, and would have been eligible to retire at or prior to age fifty-two (52) in accordance with the rules in effect prior to July 1, 2012, the member may retire upon attainment of age fifty-two (52).
(5) Effective July 1, 2015, a member who has completed twenty (20) or more years of total service who has attained an age within five (5) years of the eligible retirement age under subparagraphs (b)(1) or (b)(2) or (b)(3) or (b)(4) above, may elect to retire provided that the retirement allowance shall be reduced actuarially for each month that the age of the member is less than the eligible retirement age under subparagraphs (b)(1) or (b)(2) or (b)(3) or (b)(4) above in accordance with the following table: Year Preceding Retirement Cumulative Annual Reduction Cumulative Monthly Reduction
For Year 1 9% .75%
For Year 2 8% .667%
For Year 3 7% .583%
For Year 4 7% .583%
For Year 5 7% .583%
(6) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, a member on June 30, 2012, may elect to retire at his or her eligible retirement date as determined under the rules in effect on June 30, 2012, provided that a member making an election under this paragraph shall receive the member’s retirement benefit determined and calculated based on the member’s service and final compensation as of June 30, 2012. This provision shall be interpreted and administered in a manner to protect a member’s accrued benefit on June 30, 2012.
(7) Effective July 1, 2027, a member who has attained age fifty-seven (57) or more, with at least twenty (20) years of service, may elect to retire, without a reduction, as set forth in LC004010 - Page 4 of 6 subsection (b)(5) of this section.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.