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SB 2545

AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- RETIREMENT SYSTEM -- CONTRIBUTIONS AND BENEFITS

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Thomas Paolino and 2 co-sponsors

Extends Rhode Island retirement coverage to two new public-safety roles and allows combining different service credits to optimize retirement eligibility and benefits.

05/14/2026 Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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Bill Summary · SB 2545

Summary of SB 2545 (2026) – Rhode Island

Purpose and intent

  • An Act relating to Public Officers and Employees — Retirement System — Contributions and Benefits.
  • Primary aim: revise retirement provisions for certain correctional and related state employees and extend retirement system coverage to specific additional positions within the Department of Corrections.
  • Takes effect upon passage.

Key provisions and changes

  • Adds new classifications to Rhode Island’s retirement system:
    • Administrator of Community Confinement
    • Home Confinement Coordinator

  • Existing listed positions within the Department of Corrections also covered by the statute (e.g., assistant director (adult services), assistant deputy director, chief of inspection, associate directors, correctional officer, chief of security, and others) remain subject to retirement rules in this section.

  • Retirement eligibility and benefit rules for correctional employees (Section 36-10-9.2) are maintained and clarified with specific milestones:

    • Prior to Oct 1, 2009: retirement availability at age 50 with at least 20 years of service, for those who retired before Oct 1, 2009 or who were eligible as of Sept 30, 2009.
    • On and after Oct 1, 2009: retirement eligibility at age 55 with at least 25 years of total contributory service. For members who were eligible to retire by Sept 30, 2009 but not yet retired and who are eligible to retire by June 30, 2012, a proportional downward adjustment applies to the minimum retirement age based on service as of Sept 30, 2009.
    • For members with contributory service since July 1, 2012, who have at least 5 years but fewer than 25 years of service, retirement eligibility is governed by:
    • Eligibility at Social Security retirement age, or
    • From July 1, 2015 onward, the earliest retirement date is the earlier of: (a) age 65 with 30 years, (b) age 64 with 31 years, (c) age 63 with 32 years, (d) age 62 with 33 years, or (2) retirement eligibility date under the earlier statute (specific conditions).

  • Service consolidation option (elective combination of service):

    • Members who have service as a state employee under § 36-10-9, service as a teacher under § 16-16-12, and service under subsection (a) may elect to combine these service credits to determine a single retirement eligibility date under § 36-10-9 or § 16-16-12.
    • The combined benefit would equal the sum of accrued benefits under the respective sections:
    • One component under § 36-10-10.2
    • Plus accrued benefit under § 36-10-10 and/or § 16-16-13

  • Prospective-only adjustments:

    • The election to combine service and the resulting benefit are prospective from the date the retirement board receives the written request.

Who is affected

  • Employees occupying positions within the Rhode Island Department of Corrections listed in the statute (various senior leadership roles and correctional staff).
  • Newly included roles: Administrator of Community Confinement and Home Confinement Coordinator.
  • Members with contributory service overlapping these positions, particularly those who may seek to adjust retirement eligibility through service combination.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction date: February 13, 2026.
  • Referred to Senate Finance; scheduled for hearing/consideration (noted: May 14, 2026).
  • Effective date: the act takes effect upon passage (immediate effect, not a delayed or phased implementation).

Practical impact

  • Expands retirement system coverage to two additional public-safety-related roles.
  • Maintains and clarifies age/years-of-service requirements for certain correctional employee retirements.
  • Provides a mechanism for eligible members to optimize retirement timing through combining multiple service credits, potentially altering retirement eligibility dates and benefit calculations in a favorable manner for those with multi-sector service histories.

If you’d like, I can extract specific numeric examples or create a side-by-side comparison of current law versus the proposed changes.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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