AN ACT RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- WORKERS' COMPENSATION COURT

This bill modifies retirement benefits for judges who served on Rhode Island's Workers' Compensation Court. It replaces fixed 3% annual cost-of-living adjustments with a new formula tied to the retirement system's five-year investment returns, capped at $35,000 (adjusted for inflation) for retirees who retired before 2009. The changes apply to retired judges and their surviving spouses or domestic partners, with different rules for those retiring before or after 2009. The new calculation affects how retirement payments increase each year, using a formula that considers investment performance rather than a fixed percentage.