(2) Service credit purchased other than as provided under subparagraph (1), including but not limited to service credit for military service, is not included.

Sec. 5. 5 MRSA §17851-A, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1999, c. 731, Pt. CC, §§5 and 6, is repealed.

Sec. 6. 5 MRSA §17851-A, sub-§4-A is enacted to read:

4-A.__Computation of benefits.__Except as provided in paragraphs A and B, the amount of the service retirement benefit for members qualified under subsection 2 must be computed as provided in section 17852, subsection 1, paragraph A.

A.__If the member had 10 years of creditable service on July 1, 1993, the benefit under subsection 2, paragraph B must be reduced as provided in section 17852, subsection 3, paragraphs A and B.

B.__If the member had fewer than 10 years of creditable service on July 1, 1993, the benefit under subsection 2, paragraph B must be reduced by 6% for each year that the member's age precedes 55 years of age.

Sec. 7. Revisor's review; cross-references. The Revisor of Statutes shall review the Maine Revised Statutes and include in the errors and inconsistencies bill submitted to the Second Regular session of the 120th Legislature pursuant to Title 1, section 94 any sections necessary to correct and update any cross-references in the statutes to provisions of law repealed in this Act.

SUMMARY

The bill adds direct care mental health workers in the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services to the 1998 Special Retirement Plan. Under that existing plan a member qualifies for a service retirement benefit

if that worker is at least 55 years of age and has completed at least 10 years of creditable service in a covered capacity. A reduced retirement benefit is available before age 55 if the member has completed at least 25 years of creditable service. The bill makes coverage of eligible mental health workers employed on or after January 1, 2002 retroactive to their date of hire.