Rhode Island General Laws Title 36. Public Officers and Employees § 36-10.3-1. Definitions

(1) “Compensation” means compensation as defined in § 36-8-1(8).

(2) “Employee” means an employee as defined in §§ 36-8-1(9) and 45-21-2(7) and a teacher as defined in § 16-16-1(12), effective July 1, 2012;  provided however, effective July 1, 2015, “employee” shall not include any employee with twenty (20) or more years of total service as of June 30, 2012, in the employees’ retirement system under chapters 8 through 10 of title 36 or chapter 16 of title 16 (ERS), or the municipal employees’ retirement system under chapter 21 of title 45 (MERS); provided, however, effective January 1, 2025, “employee” shall not include deputy sheriffs, capitol police officers, environmental police officers, juvenile program workers, shift coordinators, firefighters, crew chiefs, assistant chiefs, fire investigators, fire safety inspectors, fire safety training officers, explosives and flammable liquids technicians, and campus police officers employed by the state of Rhode Island.

(3) “Employer” means the state of Rhode Island or the local municipality which employs a member of the employees’ retirement system under chapters 8 through 10 of title 36 or chapter 16 of title 16 (ERS) or the municipal employees’ retirement system under chapters 21 and 21.2 of title 45 (MERS).

(4) “Plan” means the retirement plan established by this chapter.

(5) A “public safety member” shall mean a member of MERS who is a municipal fire fighter or a municipal policeman or policewoman as defined in § 45-21.2-2 who does not participate in Social Security under the federal Old Age, Survivors, and Disability income program.

(6) “Regular member” means:

(7) The “retirement board” or “board” shall mean the retirement board of the employees’ retirement system of Rhode Island as defined in chapter 8 of this title.  The retirement board shall be the plan administrator and plan trustee and shall administer the plan in accordance with § 36-8-4.1.

(8) “State investment commission” or “commission” means the state investment commission as defined in § 35-10-1.

(9) “Supplemental employer” includes any employer that provides supplemental contributions to the defined contribution retirement plan as provided in § 36-10.3-3.

(10) “Supplemental member” is defined in § 36-10.3-3.