Sen. Frank Ciccone

Increases monthly minimum benefit for a spouse, domestic partner, former spouse. Grant a 2.89% COLA for eligible retirees. Provided a modification reducing federal AGI for public pension benefits from the RI employees retirement system.

Ends difference between teachers retired before or after June 30, 2012 for pension adjustments and difference between COLA adjustments between state and municipal pensions.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 140 amends state law regarding the Corrections Department to modify probation sentences. It specifically prohibits individuals serving a probationary period for driving under the influence offenses that result in death from earning "good time" credits. These credits would typically reduce the length of a probation sentence for compliance with court-ordered terms and conditions. This bill ensures that those convicted of driving under the influence death resulting will serve the full term of their court-ordered probation without such reductions.

Maddy summarySB 661 amends the state's retirement system by adding state probation and parole officers to the list of state law enforcement professionals. This change makes probation and parole officers eligible for the same specific retirement benefits and service allowances as other state law enforcement personnel, such as deputy sheriffs and capitol police officers. The bill specifies that service credits earned before January 1, 2026, will be determined by prior laws, with the new provisions taking effect on January 1, 2026.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 184 amends the rules for individuals receiving state retirement benefits who wish to work after retirement. It expands the part-time employment options available to retired state employees and teachers at state colleges and universities. The bill allows these retirees to take on roles such as classroom instruction, academic advising, or coaching, and permits retired nurses to serve as nursing faculty. They can do so without losing their retirement benefits, provided their gross pay for such work does not exceed specified annual limits, such as $18,000 for general instruction. No additional service credits are granted for this post-retirement employment.

Requires the state building commissioner to implement electronic permitting for any category of state or local permit authorized under state law to significantly impact the expediency of construction and development.

Changes the teacher and state employees' retirement benefit calculations' cutoff date from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2012, for all retirement members eligible to and who retire on or after the new July 1, 2012, cutoff date.

Maddy summarySenate Bill 659 proposes to revise how retirement allowances are calculated for teachers, state employees, and municipal employees. The bill introduces new formulas and percentage allowances based on an employee's years of service and the date their membership in the retirement system began. It also modifies the period of compensation used to determine a retirement allowance, shifting between three and five highest consecutive years depending on the employee's retirement eligibility and date. These changes would apply to different groups of employees based on their service dates and retirement timelines, with some provisions taking effect as late as July 1, 2025.

Maddy summarySB 592 authorizes the creation of a special motor vehicle registration plate for the nonprofit organization Real Access Motivates Progress. Drivers can choose to purchase and display this specific plate, which replaces their standard registration plate. The bill establishes a $40 surcharge for the initial issuance of these plates, with $20 going to the state's general fund and $20 to the charity to support accessibility programs. Subsequent annual renewals include a $10 surcharge that goes directly to Real Access Motivates Progress, which is required to use these funds for Rhode Island-based charitable organizations.

Provides that all contractual provisions in a firefighters collective bargaining agreement continue until a successor agreement has been reached or an interest arbitration award has been rendered.