§17801. Commitment to members and limitations

1.  Commitment as to certain provisions and limitations.  The following provisions govern the commitment as to certain provisions and limitations.

A. The commitment set out in paragraph B is effective October 1, 1999, for members who, on October 1, 1999 or thereafter, meet the creditable service requirement for eligibility to receive a service retirement benefit, at the applicable age if so required, under section 17851 or section 17851-A, subsection 2.   [PL 1999, c. 489, §3 (NEW).]

B. The protections established under the provisions listed in subparagraph (1) constitute solemn contractual commitments of the State protected under the contract clauses of the Constitution of Maine, Article I, Section 11 and the United States Constitution, Article I, Section 10, under the terms and conditions set out in subparagraph (2).

(1) The commitment provided by this section applies to the protections established under the specific following provisions:

(a) Section 17001, subsection 4; and subsection 13, paragraph B, subparagraph (1) and paragraph C, subparagraph (2);

(b) Section 17806, subsection 4;

(c) The subsection of section 17851, that is applicable to each member;

(d) The paragraph of subsection 2 of section 17851-A, that is applicable to each member;

(e) The paragraph of subsection 4 of section 17851-A, that is applicable to each member; and

(f) The subsection of section 17852, that is applicable to each member.

(2) The commitment established in this paragraph attaches to a given provision of those specified in subparagraph (1) when the member in question has met the creditable service requirement set out in the given provision, on the basis of which the protection established by the provision becomes effective.   [PL 1999, c. 489, §3 (NEW).]

[PL 1999, c. 489, §3 (NEW).]

2.  Provisions not covered by subsection 1.  Subsection 1 does not apply to any provision of this Part not specifically identified in subsection 1. Any provision not specifically identified in subsection 1 may be increased, decreased, otherwise changed or eliminated by the Legislature as to any member regardless of whether the member has or has not met any creditable service requirement for eligibility to receive a service retirement benefit.

[PL 1999, c. 489, §3 (NEW).]

3.  Employee contribution rate.  Effective October 1, 1999, for members who, on October 1, 1999 or thereafter, meet the creditable service requirement for eligibility to receive a service retirement benefit under section 17851 or section 17851-A, subsection 2, the employee contribution rate required to be paid at the time the service was rendered under the provision of section 17851 or 17851-A that is applicable to each member may be increased for members who have met the requirements only to:

A. Pay the cost, in whole or in part, of an improvement to a benefit that exists at the time the increase becomes effective and that is then or may in the future be applicable to members to whom the increase applies or provide a new benefit that is then or may in the future be applicable to members to whom the increase applies, and only to the extent of the cost of the improved or new benefit, provided that nothing in this paragraph may be construed to require that the employee contribution rate must be increased to pay the cost, in whole or part, of the improved or new benefit; or   [PL 1999, c. 489, §3 (NEW).]

B. Maintain actuarial soundness as required by the Constitution of Maine, Article IX, Section 18-A and this Part, as determined to be necessary by the board on recommendation of the system's actuary.   [PL 1999, c. 489, §3 (NEW).]

For members to whom section 17851-A applies, the phrase "the employee contribution rate required to be paid" includes contribution rates as made applicable under section 17851-A, subsections 5 and 6.

[PL 1999, c. 489, §3 (NEW).]

4.  Limitations on subsections 1 and 3.  Subsections 1 and 3 do not apply to any member until the member has met the creditable service requirement for eligibility to receive a service retirement benefit under section 17851 or 17851-A, subsection 2. For members to whom subsections 1 and 3 do not apply as provided in this subsection, the Legislature may increase, decrease, otherwise change or eliminate any provisions of this Part.

[PL 1999, c. 489, §3 (NEW).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1985, c. 801, §§5,7 (NEW). PL 1987, c. 739, §§25,48 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 489, §3 (RPR).