State Retirement and Pension System - Military Service Credit - Eligibility

This Maryland bill removes a previous restriction that prevented certain state employees from earning pension credit for specific periods of service with the Public Health Service, NOAA, or the Coast and Geodetic Survey. Under the new rules, members of the State Retirement and Pension System can now receive military service credit for active duty with these agencies if they separated from their jobs on or after July 1, 1991, regardless of whether their service occurred during the historically recognized war periods. The legislation defines military service broadly to include active duty in the armed forces, reserve components, the Maryland National Guard, and the specified federal health and survey corps. Effective July 1, 2024, this change allows eligible employees to count this time toward their state retirement benefits, expanding the scope of service recognized for pension purposes.