1.
Member in service; 10 years of creditable service on July 1, 1993.
1-A.
Member in service; less than 10 years creditable service on July 1, 1993.
1-B.
Member in service at retirement; 10 years of creditable service on July 1, 1993.
A member who on July 1, 1993, had 10 years of creditable service and who is in service at retirement, or a member who on July 1, 1993 had reached 60 years of age and had been in service for a minimum of one year immediately before July 1, 1993 and has been in service for a minimum of one year immediately before retirement, qualifies for a service retirement benefit if the member retires upon or after reaching 60 years of age. For the purpose of determining completion of the 10-year requirement, the 10 years of creditable service may include creditable service as a member of the Legislative Retirement Program under Title 3, section 701, subsection 8.
1-C.
Member in service at retirement; fewer than 10 years creditable service on July 1, 1993.
A member who on July 1, 1993, had neither 10 years of creditable service nor had reached 60 years of age with one year of creditable service immediately before July 1, 1993 who is in service at retirement, qualifies for a service retirement benefit if the member retires upon or after reaching 62 years of age and:
1-D.
Member in service at retirement; at least 5 years creditable service on July 1, 2011.
Eligibility for retirement for a member who on July 1, 2011 had at least 5 years of creditable service is governed by subsection 1‑B if the member had 10 years of creditable service on July 1, 1993 or was 60 years of age and had been in service for a minimum of one year immediately before July 1, 1993 or by subsection 1‑C if the member had less than 10 years of creditable service on July 1, 1993 and had not reached 60 years of age with one year of creditable service immediately before July 1, 1993. For the purpose of calculating creditable service under this subsection only, creditable service includes:
1-E.
Member in service at retirement; fewer than 5 years creditable service on July 1, 2011.
A member who on July 1, 2011 had neither 5 years of creditable service nor had reached 62 years of age with one year of creditable service immediately before July 1, 2011 who is in service at retirement qualifies for a service retirement benefit if the member retires upon or after reaching 65 years of age.
2.
Member not in service; 10 years of creditable service on July 1, 1993.
2-A.
Member not in service; less than 10 years creditable service on July 1, 1993.
2-B.
Member not in service at retirement; 10 years of creditable service on July 1, 1993.
A member who on July 1, 1993 had 10 years of creditable service and who is not in service at retirement qualifies for a service retirement benefit upon or after reaching 60 years of age. For the purpose of determining completion of the 10-year requirement, the 10 years of creditable service may include creditable service as a member of the Legislative Retirement Program under Title 3, section 701, subsection 8.
2-C.
Member not in service at retirement; fewer than 10 years creditable service on July 1, 1993.
A member who on July 1, 1993, did not have 10 years of creditable service and who is not in service at retirement qualifies for a service retirement benefit if the member retires upon or after reaching 62 years of age and:
2-D.
Member not in service at retirement; at least 5 years creditable service on July 1, 2011.
Eligibility for retirement for a member who is not in service at retirement and who on July 1, 2011 had at least 5 years of creditable service is governed by subsection 2‑B if the member had 10 years of creditable service on July 1, 1993 or by subsection 2‑C if the member had less than 10 years of creditable service on July 1, 1993. For the purpose of calculating creditable service under this subsection only, creditable service includes:
2-E.
Member not in service at retirement; fewer than 5 years creditable service on July 1, 2011.
A member who on July 1, 2011 did not have 5 years of creditable service and who is not in service at retirement qualifies for a service retirement benefit if the member retires upon or after reaching 65 years of age.
3.
Member with creditable service of 25 years or more whether or not in service at retirement.
A member, whether or not in service at retirement, who has completed 25 or more years of creditable service qualifies for a service retirement benefit if the member retires at any time after completing 25 years of service, which may include, for the purpose of determining completion of the 25-year requirement, creditable service as a member of the Legislative Retirement Program under Title 3, section 701, subsection 8.
3-A.
Five-year minimum creditable service requirement for eligibility to receive a service retirement benefit at the applicable age; applicability.
The minimum requirement of 5 years of creditable service for eligibility to receive service retirement benefits under subsection 1‑C, paragraph B, subsection 2‑C, paragraph B and subsections 2‑D and 2‑E applies only to:
4.
State police.
A state police officer or other employee of the Bureau of State Police qualifies for a service retirement benefit if that state police officer or employee:
5.
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife officers.
Except as provided in section 17851‑A, a law enforcement officer in the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife qualifies for a service retirement benefit if the officer:
5-A.
Inland Fisheries and Wildlife officers after August 31, 1984; option.
Except as provided in section 17851‑A, a law enforcement officer in the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife who was first employed in that capacity after August 31, 1984 or who, if employed in that capacity before August 31, 1984, ceased to be employed in that capacity on or before that date and who subsequently became reemployed in that capacity after that date qualifies for a service retirement benefit upon reaching 55 years of age after completing at least 25 years of creditable service in that capacity if notice of election of the option and payment of employee contributions and actuarial costs are made as provided in section 17852, subsection 5‑A.
5-B.
Inland fisheries and wildlife officers after August 31, 1984.
Beginning September 1, 2002 and subject to subsection 5‑C, a law enforcement officer in the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife who was first employed in that capacity after August 31, 1984 or who, if employed in that capacity before August 31, 1984, ceased to be employed in that capacity on or before that date and who subsequently became reemployed in that capacity after that date qualifies for a service retirement benefit after completing at least 25 years of creditable service in that capacity.
5-C.
Inland fisheries and wildlife officers; contingent qualification for benefits.
Notwithstanding subsection 5‑A and section 17851‑A, subsection 1, paragraph B, the qualification for a service retirement benefit for a law enforcement officer in the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife who was first employed after August 31, 1984 is governed by the provisions of subsection 5‑B for all service earned in a covered capacity upon certification by the chief executive officer of the retirement system to the Governor and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife that all liabilities associated with that service have been paid in full by the State to the system.
6.
Marine Resources officers.
Except as provided in section 17851‑A, a law enforcement officer in the Department of Marine Resources qualifies for a service retirement benefit if the officer:
6-A.
Marine resources officers after August 31, 1984; option.
Except as provided in section 17851‑A, a law enforcement officer in the Department of Marine Resources who was first employed in that capacity after August 31, 1984 or who, if employed in that capacity before August 31, 1984, ceased to be employed in that capacity on or before that date and who subsequently became reemployed in that capacity after that date qualifies for a service retirement benefit upon reaching 55 years of age after completing at least 25 years of creditable service in that capacity if notice of election of the option and payment of employee contributions and actuarial costs are made as provided in section 17852, subsection 6‑A.
6-B.
Marine resources officers after August 31, 1984.
Beginning September 1, 2002 and subject to subsection 6‑C, a law enforcement officer in the Department of Marine Resources who was first employed in that capacity after August 31, 1984 or who, if employed in that capacity before August 31, 1984, ceased to be employed in that capacity on or before that date and who subsequently became reemployed in that capacity after that date qualifies for a service retirement benefit after completing at least 25 years of creditable service in that capacity.
6-C.
Marine resources officers; contingent qualification for benefits.
Notwithstanding subsection 6‑A and section 17851‑A, subsection 1, paragraph A, the qualification for a service retirement benefit for a law enforcement officer in the Department of Marine Resources who was first employed after August 31, 1984 is governed by the provisions of subsection 6‑B for all service earned in a covered capacity upon certification by the chief executive officer of the retirement system to the Governor and the Commissioner of Marine Resources that all liabilities associated with that service have been paid in full by the State to the system.
7.
Department of Marine Resources commissioner or deputy.
A commissioner or deputy commissioner of the Department of Marine Resources qualifies for a service retirement benefit if the commissioner or deputy commissioner:
8.
Forest rangers.
Except as provided in section 17851‑A, a forest ranger in the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry qualifies for a service retirement benefit if the forest ranger:
8-A.
Forest rangers after August 31, 1984; option.
Except as provided in section 17851‑A, a forest ranger in the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry who was first employed in that capacity after August 31, 1984 or who, if employed in that capacity before August 31, 1984, ceased to be employed in that capacity on or before that date and who subsequently became reemployed in that capacity after that date qualifies for a service retirement benefit upon reaching 55 years of age after completing at least 25 years of creditable service in that capacity if notice of election of the option and payment of employee contributions and actuarial costs are made as provided in section 17852, subsection 7‑A.
9.
Airplane pilots.
Except as provided in section 17851‑A, an airplane pilot employed by the State qualifies for a service retirement benefit if that pilot:
10.
Liquor inspectors.
Except as provided in subsection 10‑A and in section 17851‑A, a liquor inspector, including the chief inspector, qualifies for a service retirement benefit if that inspector:
10-A.
Liquor inspectors laid off pursuant to public law.
This subsection applies to any liquor inspector, including the chief inspector, who:
11.
Maine State Prison employees.
Except as provided in section 17851‑A, the warden or deputy warden of the Maine State Prison, any officer or employee of the Maine State Prison employed as a guard or in the management of prisoners or any person employed as the supervising officer of those officers or employees or as an advocate at the Maine State Prison qualifies for a service retirement benefit if that person:
12.
Baxter State Park Authority rangers; option.
Except as provided in section 17851‑A, a law enforcement officer in the employment of the Baxter State Park Authority qualifies for a service retirement benefit upon reaching 55 years of age after completing at least 25 years of creditable service in that capacity if notice of election of the option and payment of employee contributions and actuarial costs are made as provided in section 17852, subsection 11.
13.
Fire marshals; option.
Except as provided in section 17851‑A, a state fire marshal, state fire marshal investigator or state fire marshal inspector qualifies for a service retirement benefit upon reaching 55 years of age after completing at least 25 years of creditable service in that capacity if notice of election of the option and payment of employee contributions and actuarial costs are made as provided in section 17852, subsection 13.
14.
Motor vehicle detectives; option.
Except as provided in section 17851‑A, a motor vehicle detective, senior motor vehicle detective, principal motor vehicle detective or chief motor vehicle detective qualifies for a service retirement benefit upon reaching 55 years of age after completing at least 25 years of creditable service in that capacity if notice of election of the option and payment of employee contributions and actuarial costs are made as provided in section 17852, subsection 15.
15.
Limitation to increases in creditable service or age requirements.
Effective October 1, 1999, whether or not the member is in service on October 1, 1999, the creditable service requirement, or combined age and creditable service requirement, for eligibility to receive a service retirement benefit under subsections 4 to 14 may not be increased for a member who on October 1, 1999 or thereafter meets the creditable service requirements under subsections 4 to 14, respectively.
16.
Member whose position is moved from one special plan to another special plan.
A member whose position is subject to subsection 4, 5‑B, 6‑B or 7 or section 17851‑A, 17851‑B or 17851‑C and, due to a change in law, becomes subject to different benefit qualification requirements may retire under the former benefit qualification requirements and the associated benefit computation provisions if the member remains in the position until the former requirements would have been met had the change in law not occurred.
17.
Member eligible to retire from plans with different normal retirement ages.
A member who meets eligibility requirements to retire from plans with different normal retirement ages may retire and, at the election of the member, defer initiation of service retirement benefits from any plan in which the benefits would be reduced because the member has not reached normal retirement age. The deferral ends when the member reaches normal retirement age for the plan. The election to defer is irrevocable and must be made before payment of a service retirement benefit begins. Service retirement benefits deferred under this subsection must be paid by the retirement system without an early retirement reduction and without any retroactive payment for the deferral period. If the member dies before the end of the deferral period, the deferral of benefits applies to any continuing beneficiary payments for the same deferral period that would have been applicable to the member. This subsection applies to a member with service credit from a participating local district who retires under a plan in this chapter.
PL 1985, c. 801, §§5,7 (NEW). PL 1987, c. 256, §§12-14 (AMD). PL 1987, c. 670 (AMD). PL 1987, c. 739, §§26,48 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 78, §§1,2 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 528, §§EEE5-8 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 528, §§EEE18,RRR (AFF). PL 1991, c. 591, §§EEE5-8 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 591, §EEE18 (AFF). PL 1991, c. 857, §2 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 410, §§L32-35 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 466, §§A2,B3,C2 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 624, §§2-4 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 401, §2 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 740, §3 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 740, §6 (AFF). PL 1997, c. 769, §§2-9 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 769, §10 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 127, §§A12,B1 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 489, §§5-13 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 493, §§1-3 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 731, §§CC3,CCC1 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 756, §§10-15 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 181, §7 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 559, §§RR3,4 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 559, §RR17 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 451, §§GG1,2 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 693, §§4-6 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 58, §3 (REV). PL 2007, c. 491, §§147-156 (AMD). RR 2011, c. 1, §8 (COR). PL 2011, c. 380, Pt. T, §§12-16 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 657, Pt. W, §5 (REV). PL 2017, c. 148, §1 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 229, §2 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 541, §1 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 548, §28 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 548, §45 (REV). PL 2023, c. 208, §1 (AMD). RR 2023, c. 1, Pt. A, §3 (COR). RR 2023, c. 2, Pt. B, §117 (COR). PL 2025, c. 12, §1 (AMD). PL 2025, c. 221, §23 (AMD).