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MarylandSB 03372026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Correctional Officers' Retirement System - Membership - Clarifications

Sponsored By: Karen Lewis Young (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.

Combined service helps covered workers retire

Beginning July 1, 2026, certain vested correctional pension members qualify for normal retirement with 20 years of combined eligibility service. Service can come from the Correctional Officers’ Retirement System and the Employees’ Retirement System or Employees’ Pension System. Members must have served in a § 25–201(a)(14) position by June 30, 2025, or an (a)(15) position by June 30, 2026. They must apply in writing to the Board of Trustees and state their planned retirement date. Their correctional pension allowance is based on creditable service in the Correctional Officers’ Retirement System.

Correctional pension coverage for health specialists

Beginning July 1, 2026, specified Maryland Department of Health specialists must join the Correctional Officers’ Retirement System. This covers CAMH Specialist I – CI and CAMH Specialist II – CI positions. Employees must work at a facility listed in State Personnel and Pensions Article § 25–201(a)(13)(i).

Higher disability pensions for transferred workers

Beginning July 1, 2026, qualifying transferred workers receive the higher of two ordinary disability benefit calculations. Their Employees’ Retirement System or Employees’ Pension System service must have transferred into the correctional system under this law. They must be granted an ordinary disability benefit under Title 29, Subtitle 1. The Board of Trustees must calculate benefits under §§ 29–106 and 29–108 and award the larger amount.

Former pension keeps workers’ sick-leave credit

Beginning July 1, 2026, qualifying workers receive a former-pension adjustment for unused sick leave earned before joining the correctional system. A membership change must have forced them out of the Employees’ Pension System or Employees’ Retirement System. They must leave their service credit there and retire with a vested benefit from that former system. They must also earn correctional service on or after July 1, 2026, in a position covered by § 25–201(a)(15). They must not qualify for a benefit for that correctional service.

Pension transfers change workers’ service placement

The law sets transfer rules for affected workers employed on July 1, 2026. Those without Employees’ Pension System service before July 1, 2008, must transfer and combine that system’s credit with correctional service. Those with earlier service receive an automatic transfer on June 30, 2027, unless they opt out. To opt out, they must submit the State Retirement Agency form to the Board of Trustees by June 1, 2027. For this earlier-service group, applying to retire before June 30, 2027, triggers transfer before retirement unless they opt out. The temporary earlier-service transfer rule ends after June 30, 2027; no specific benefit increase or decrease is stated.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Karen Lewis Young

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 171 • No: 0

House vote • 4/10/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 128 • No: 0 • Other: 8

Senate vote • 3/5/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 43 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by the Governor - Chapter 294

    4/28/2026

  2. Returned Passed

    4/10/2026Senate

  3. Third Reading Passed (128-0)

    4/10/2026House

  4. Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed

    4/8/2026House

  5. Favorable Report by Appropriations

    4/8/2026House

  6. Hearing 4/07 at 1:30 p.m.

    4/7/2026House

  7. Hearing canceled

    4/7/2026House

  8. Hearing 4/07 at 1:15 p.m.

    4/7/2026House

  9. Hearing canceled

    4/7/2026House

  10. Hearing 4/07 at 1:00 p.m.

    3/26/2026House

  11. Referred Appropriations

    3/6/2026House

  12. Third Reading Passed (43-0)

    3/5/2026Senate

  13. Second Reading Passed with Amendments

    3/3/2026Senate

  14. Favorable with Amendments {633421/1 Adopted

    3/3/2026Senate

  15. Favorable with Amendments Report by Budget and Taxation

    3/2/2026Senate

  16. Hearing 2/05 at 9:30 a.m.

    1/28/2026Senate

  17. First Reading Budget and Taxation

    1/23/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Enacted

    4/28/2026

    PDF

  • Third Reading

    3/3/2026

    PDF

  • First Reading

    1/23/2026

    PDF

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