MarylandHB 06782026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Correctional Officers' Retirement System - Membership - Clarifications

Sponsored By: Catherine M. Forbes (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Pensions and RetirementCorrectional OfficersHealth, Department ofRetirement -see also- Mandatory RetirementSunsetWork, Labor, and Employment -see also- JobTrn; Leave; etc.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Hospital specialists gain correctional retirement coverage

Beginning July 1, 2026, specified Maryland Department of Health specialists join the Correctional Officers’ Retirement System. Coverage applies to CAMH Specialist I–CI and II–CI employees serving at seven listed facilities. These are Eastern Shore Hospital Center, Thomas B. Finan Center, Potomac Center/Secure Evaluation and Therapeutic Treatment Program, Spring Grove Hospital Center, Springfield Hospital Center, Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents–Baltimore, and John L. Gildner Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents. This changes their retirement coverage, but does not establish a specific pension increase.

State workers can combine retirement eligibility

The law provides a special retirement path for members who held a position listed in §25-201(a)(15) by June 30, 2026. They must be vested in the Correctional Officers’ Retirement System and have at least 20 years of combined eligibility service. Service in that system and the Employees’ Retirement System or Employees’ Pension System counts toward the requirement. The allowance under this path is based only on creditable service in the Correctional Officers’ Retirement System.

Transferred workers get higher disability calculation

The law protects qualifying transferred workers who are granted an ordinary disability benefit. Their Employees’ Retirement or Pension System service must have been transferred into the Correctional Officers’ Retirement System under this law. The Board must calculate their benefit under both §29-106 and §29-108 and pay the greater amount. The provided information does not establish an individual payment amount.

Transferred workers keep sick leave credit

The law protects unused sick leave for some workers moved into the Correctional Officers’ Retirement System by a membership change. They must serve in a position listed in §25-201(a)(15) on or after July 1, 2026. They must have kept their former-system service credit and have a vested benefit in the Employees’ Retirement or Pension System. They also must have correctional retirement service that does not qualify them for a benefit. Their former-system benefit must include unused sick leave earned there before they joined the correctional system.

State workers face pension transfer deadlines

The transfer rules cover workers employed in affected positions on July 1, 2026. For workers with Employees’ Pension System service before July 1, 2008, the Board transfers qualifying prior service on June 30, 2027. They can opt out by filing the State Retirement Agency form by June 1, 2027. For earlier retirement, the transfer occurs before retirement unless the worker opts out. Workers without pension-system service before July 1, 2008, must have their pension service transferred and combined with correctional retirement service. This temporary transfer authority expires June 30, 2027.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Catherine M. Forbes
Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 168 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/8/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 43 • No: 0 • Other: 2

House vote • 3/21/2026