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MaineLD 1947132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)HouseWALLET

An Act to Amend the Laws Pertaining to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System

Sponsored By: Amy Roeder (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEMSTATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM - ADMINISTRATION

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 3 costs, 3 mixed.

Option to keep old special-plan rules

If a law change moved your job between special retirement plans, you can choose to retire under the former qualification and benefit rules. You must stay in the job until you would have met those old requirements.

Protection after enrollment and recovery errors

Your employer must enroll you in the correct retirement plan. If you were mis‑enrolled through no fault of your own, you keep your retirement benefits. School districts, towns, or counties must pay any missed employer contributions and interest. If the system tries to recover money without going to court, you can appeal that decision.

Stricter disability retirement and earnings checks

Members with under 5 years of recent service are not eligible for disability retirement if the condition existed before membership, unless it came from or was made worse by a line‑of‑duty injury. The chief executive officer can require an annual earnings statement. If your earnings plus your disability allowance exceed your last salary, the excess is recovered. If you do not send the statement in 30 days, payments stop; after one year, rights to future benefits end. If total compensation is over your adjusted final compensation, the excess is deducted from future disability or service retirement under section 17054(3).

What counts toward your pension pay

Some payments do not count as earnable compensation, like pay not tied to actual work or not paid at the time of service, and items the board excludes by rule. Limits on payouts for unused sick and vacation leave continue unless a rule says otherwise. For part‑time, seasonal, or temporary work, pay is adjusted to a full‑time equivalent at your rate, unless the board sets a different method to avoid overlapping reductions.

Faster pension payments after you leave

The law removes the old 22-day wait. After you leave your job, the system pays within 60 days after it gets your application and your last payroll. You can also make direct payments as one lump sum or yearly installments under section 18301(4).

30-day break before returning to work

If you retire, you must stop work under state and federal rules. You may not return to the same employer for at least 30 days after you leave. You also may not return before your retirement becomes effective.

Some coaches not in teacher retirement

A public school coach who is not already in the State Employee and Teacher Retirement Program is not treated as a teacher for retirement. Your coverage and benefits follow the correct program, not the teacher rules.

Clearer rules for beneficiaries and survivors

You must file beneficiary choices on the system’s form. Acknowledgment replaces notarization, and electronic acknowledgment is allowed. The system honors a designation only if it is received or postmarked before death. Only a spouse, child, or next of kin who survives qualifies, and a survivor must live at least 120 hours after the member’s death.

Two MPERS sections repealed as cleanup

The law repeals section 17107(2)(F) and section 18662(1). The text here does not show what those sections said, so the practical effect depends on the prior language.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Amy Roeder

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

Actions Timeline

  1. Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 221

    6/9/2025

  2. PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.

    6/2/2025Senate

  3. PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    5/29/2025House

  4. Report READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.READ ONCEUnder suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED, in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith.

    5/28/2025Senate

  5. CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAYUnder suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    5/27/2025House

  6. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on LABOR in concurrence

    5/7/2025Senate

  7. Committee on Labor suggested and ordered printed. The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on LABOR.Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.

    5/7/2025House

Bill Text

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