§ 12-203. Charles County pension plans

   (a) Retirement funds before pension plan. -- The County Commissioners of Charles County may provide retirement funds for employees who reach retirement age before the establishment of a pension plan under § 12-201 of this subtitle.

(b) Sworn employees of Sheriff's department hired on or before June 30, 1986. --

   (1) The County Commissioners of Charles County shall establish a separate pension plan for sworn employees of the Charles County Sheriff's department who:

      (i) are actively engaged in law enforcement; and

      (ii) were working in law enforcement within the department on or before June 30, 1986.

   (2) (i) A member may retire if the member has at least 30 years of active service regardless of age.

      (ii) On retirement under this paragraph, a member is entitled to receive a retirement allowance equal to 80% of the member's average base salary for the 3 highest years preceding retirement.

   (3) (i) A member may retire with an early retirement allowance if the member has at least 20 years but less than 30 years of active service.

      (ii) On retirement under this paragraph, a member is entitled to receive a retirement allowance under paragraph (2)(ii) of this subsection, reduced by 2% for each year that the member's early retirement date precedes the date the member would have had 30 years of active service.

   (4) The contribution rate of a member may not exceed 8% of the member's base salary.

   (5) The pension plan shall include disability provisions and death benefits for the spouse of a member, minor children of a member, or both.

   (6) The pension plan shall provide for cost-of-living adjustments and a cash refund of member contributions, plus interest, for a member who terminates employment with the Charles County Sheriff's department before retirement.

   (7) The pension plan shall provide for a credit of 2% for each year of active duty in the armed forces of the United States, for up to 3 years, to be added to the member's retirement after reaching minimum retirement.

   (8) For each member, the provisions of the pension plan shall apply retroactively to the member's original date of employment.

   (9) The pension plan is effective on or after July 1, 1995.

(c) Sworn employees of Sheriff's department hired on or after July 1, 1986. --

   (1) The County Commissioners of Charles County shall establish a separate pension plan for sworn employees of the Charles County Sheriff's department who:

      (i) are actively engaged in law enforcement; and

      (ii) were hired by the Sheriff's department on or after July 1, 1986.

   (2) (i) A member may retire if the member has at least 30 years of active service regardless of age.

      (ii) On retirement under this paragraph, a member is entitled to receive a retirement allowance equal to 80% of the member's average base salary for the 3 highest years preceding retirement.

   (3) (i) A member may retire with an early retirement allowance if the member has at least 25 years but less than 30 years of active service.

      (ii) On retirement under this paragraph, a member is entitled to receive a retirement allowance under paragraph (2)(ii) of this subsection, reduced by 2% for each year that the member's early retirement date precedes the date the member would have had 30 years of active service.

   (4) The pension plan shall include provisions for early retirement after 20 years of service that:

      (i) actuarially reduce the retirement allowance depending on the member's age at the time of retirement and for each year less than 25 years of service; and

      (ii) are approved by the county commissioners.

   (5) The contribution rate of a member may not exceed 8% of the member's base salary.

   (6) The pension plan shall include disability provisions and death benefits for the spouse of a member, minor children of a member, or both.

   (7) The pension plan shall provide for cost-of-living adjustments and a cash refund of member contributions, plus interest, for a member who terminates employment with the Charles County Sheriff's department before retirement.

   (8) The pension plan shall provide for a credit of 2% for each year of active duty in the armed forces of the United States, for up to 3 years, to be added to the member's retirement after reaching minimum retirement.

   (9) The provisions of the pension plan may include any member who was working in law enforcement on July 1, 1986, and shall apply retroactively to the date of that employment.

   (10) The pension plan is effective on or after July 1, 1995.

(d) Sheriff. -- The pension plan established under subsection (b) or (c) of this section may include the Charles County Sheriff.

(e) Correctional officers. --

   (1) The County Commissioners of Charles County shall establish a separate pension plan for employees of the Charles County Sheriff's department who are classified as correctional officers.

   (2) (i) A member may retire if the member has at least 25 years of active service regardless of age.

      (ii) On retirement under this paragraph, a member is entitled to receive a retirement allowance equal to 2.25% of the member's average base salary for the 3 highest years preceding retirement multiplied by each year of the member's years of credited service.

      (iii) A member's retirement allowance provided under this paragraph may not exceed 75% of the member's average base salary for the 3 highest years preceding retirement.

   (3) (i) A member may retire with an early retirement allowance if the member has at least 20 years but less than 25 years of active service.

      (ii) The pension plan shall include provisions for early retirement after 20 years of active service that:

         1. actuarially reduce the retirement allowance depending on the member's age at the time of retirement and for each year less than 25 years of service; and

         2. are approved by the county commissioners.

   (4) The contribution rate of a member may not exceed 7% of the member's base salary.

   (5) The pension plan shall include disability provisions and death benefits for the spouse of a member, minor children of a member, or both.

   (6) The pension plan shall provide for cost-of-living adjustments and a cash refund of member contributions for a member who terminates employment with the Charles County Sheriff's department before retirement.

   (7) The pension plan shall provide for a credit for each year of active duty in the armed forces of the United States, for up to 3 years, to be added to the member's retirement after reaching minimum retirement.

   (8) The provisions of the pension plan may include any member who was working as a Charles County correctional officer on July 1, 1995, and shall apply retroactively to the date of that employment.

   (9) The pension plan is effective on or after July 1, 1995.

(f) Communications employees. --

   (1) The County Commissioners of Charles County shall establish a separate pension plan for employees of Charles County who are classified as communications employees.

   (2) (i) A member may retire if the member has at least 25 years of active service regardless of age.

      (ii) On retirement under this paragraph, a member is entitled to receive a retirement allowance equal to 2% of the member's average base salary for the 3 highest years preceding retirement multiplied by each year of the member's years of credited service.

      (iii) A member's retirement allowance provided under this paragraph may not exceed 75% of the member's average base salary for the 3 highest years preceding retirement.

   (3) (i) A member may retire with an early retirement allowance if the member has at least 20 years but less than 25 years of active service.

      (ii) The pension plan shall include provisions for early retirement after 20 years of active service that:

         1. actuarially reduce the retirement allowance depending on the member's age at the time of retirement and for each year less than 25 years of service; and

         2. are approved by the county commissioners.

   (4) The contribution rate of a member may not exceed 7% of the member's base salary.

   (5) The pension plan shall include disability provisions and death benefits for the spouse of a member, minor children of a member, or both.

   (6) The pension plan shall provide for cost-of-living adjustments and a cash refund of member contributions for a member who terminates employment as a communications employee for Charles County before retirement.

   (7) The pension plan shall provide for a credit for each year of active duty in the armed forces of the United States, for up to 3 years, to be added to the member's retirement after reaching minimum retirement.

   (8) The provisions of the pension plan may include any member who was working as a communications employee for Charles County on July 1, 1995, and shall apply retroactively to the date of that employment.

   (9) The pension plan is effective on or after July 1, 1995.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 25, § 3(g), (g-1); 2013, ch. 119, § 2.