Table of Contents
Sec. 7-407. Method of adoption.
Sec. 7-408. Civil service board; appointment; terms of office; removal.
Sec. 7-409. Purpose of part. Rules.
Sec. 7-410. Civil service board; president; chief examiner.
Sec. 7-411. Classification of officers and employees.
Sec. 7-412. Publication of rules.
Sec. 7-413. Examination of applicants. Certification.
Sec. 7-414. Classified service; eligible list; promotion.
Sec. 7-415. Credit allowances to veterans in examinations for original appointment.
Sec. 7-416. Appointments.
Sec. 7-417. Probation; notice of appointment or of creation or abolition of office.
Sec. 7-418. Inmates of institutions excepted.
Sec. 7-419. Removal of officers or employees.
Sec. 7-420. Interference with or false grading of applicants.
Sec. 7-421. Political activities of classified municipal employees. Candidacy of municipal employees for elective office. Leaves of absences. Service on governmental bodies of
the town in which the employee resides.
Sec. 7-421a. Inconsistent statutory or charter provisions.
Sec. 7-421b. Limitation on restrictions of political rights of municipal employees.
Sec. 7-422. Personnel appeals board. Appeal to Superior Court.
Sec. 7-423. Technical services by state Department of Administrative Services.
Sec. 7-424. Penalty.
Sec. 7-425. Definitions.
Sec. 7-426. Separate funds. Retirement rate.
Sec. 7-427. Participation by municipalities.
Sec. 7-427a. Enrollment procedures for employees of regional work force development
boards. Rights of previously retired members unaffected. Transfer of contributions.
Sec. 7-427b. Credit for prior service with private industry council or regional work
force development board.
Sec. 7-428. Retirement on account of length of service and age.
Sec. 7-429. Retirement of elective officers.
Sec. 7-430. Involuntary retirement; temporary retention.
Sec. 7-431. Separation from service before voluntary retirement age.
Sec. 7-432. Retirement for disability.
Secs. 7-433 and 7-433a. Disability or death of firemen or policemen caused by hypertension or heart disease.
Sec. 7-433b. Survivors' benefits for firemen and policemen. Maximum cumulative payment.
Sec. 7-433c. Benefits for policemen or firemen disabled or dead as a result of hypertension or heart disease.
Sec. 7-433d. Injury or death of fireman while engaged in fire duties with another
company.
Sec. 7-434. Continuity of service.
Sec. 7-434a. Continuation of membership during service as elected official.
Sec. 7-435. Retirement benefits for members of fund A.
Sec. 7-436. Retirement benefits for members of fund B.
Sec. 7-436a. Exclusion of period when service was eligible for special act pension system
in computation of retirement credit. Inclusion of certain periods of such service.
Sec. 7-436b. Credit for military service for members of fund B.
Sec. 7-437. Retirement allowance and Social Security benefits to equal sum payable under
retirement system alone, when.
Sec. 7-438. Continuation of retirement allowance upon other public employment. Participation in state retirement system. Reemployment by participating municipality.
Secs. 7-439 and 7-439a. Optional form of retirement allowance. Survivorship benefits for
spouses of certain employees who had not exercised the option.
Sec. 7-439b. Cost of living adjustment to retirement allowance.
Sec. 7-439c. Discharge of liability for increases of retirement allowance.
Sec. 7-439d. Cost of living adjustment not limited by subsection (a) of section 7-436.
Sec. 7-439e. Actuarial study by retirement board to determine cost impact of increases.
Sec. 7-439f. Study concerning restructuring of fund.
Sec. 7-439g. Optional forms of retirement income. Preretirement death benefit.
Sec. 7-439h. Erroneous payments; adjustment; waiver of repayment; regulations.
Sec. 7-440. Contributions by members; interest; refunds to municipalities; payment to
beneficiaries.
Sec. 7-441. Contributions by municipalities.
Sec. 7-441a. Contributions to remain at level in effect on June 30, 1980.
Sec. 7-442. Transfer from fund A to fund B.
Sec. 7-442a. Transfer of retirement credit between municipalities.
Sec. 7-442b. Transfer of retirement credit between municipal and state systems. Purchase
of credit for prior state service.
Sec. 7-442c. Credit for prior service with redevelopment agency.
Sec. 7-442d. Transfer of members of fund A to fund B by resolution of legislative body.
Effective date. Transfer of assets by State Treasurer.
Sec. 7-442e. Credit for prior service with Connecticut Housing Authority.
Sec. 7-443. Initial rates of contribution by municipality.
Sec. 7-444. Withdrawal by a municipality.
Sec. 7-445. Liability of municipality.
Sec. 7-446. Assignments prohibited.
Sec. 7-447. Custody and investment of funds.
Sec. 7-448. Administration of part. Penalty for failure to provide necessary information
to Retirement Commission.
Sec. 7-449. Effect of amendment or repeal of part.
Sec. 7-450. Establishment of pension and retirement systems; amendment of system established by special act.
Sec. 7-450a. Actuarial evaluation of municipal pension systems.
Sec. 7-450b. Cost of living allowance.
Sec. 7-451. Retroactive coverage.
Sec. 7-452. Participation in federal Old Age and Survivors Insurance System. Definitions.
Sec. 7-453. Membership in system. Contributions.
Sec. 7-454. Employees not included.
Sec. 7-455. Referendum.
Sec. 7-456. Deductions from wages.
Sec. 7-457. Agreement between commission and municipality.
Sec. 7-458. Refund of amounts recovered from federal government.
Sec. 7-459. Retroactivity.
Sec. 7-459a. Survivors' benefits authorized.
Sec. 7-459b. Deferred retirement option plan. Adoption.
Sec. 7-460. Compensation of officials and employees.
Sec. 7-460a. Sick leave pay exclusion from social security contributions.
Sec. 7-460b. Residency requirements.
Sec. 7-460c. Compensatory time in lieu of overtime pay.
Sec. 7-461. Leave of absence for reserve corps field training.
Sec. 7-461a. Leave of absence for specialized disaster relief services.
Sec. 7-462. Reinstatement of employees after military leave.
Sec. 7-463. Interest of state in employees' bonds.
Sec. 7-464. Group insurance benefits. Age discrimination.
Sec. 7-464a. Deferred compensation plan for municipal employees. Administration.
Sec. 7-465. Assumption of liability for damage caused by employees or members of local
emergency planning districts. Joint liability of municipalities in district department of
health or regional planning agency.
Sec. 7-466. Collective bargaining authorized.
Sec. 7-467. Collective bargaining. Definitions.
Sec. 7-467a. Qualification of employee organization.
Sec. 7-468. Rights of employees and representatives. Duty of fair representation.
Sec. 7-469. Duty to bargain collectively.
Sec. 7-470. Prohibited acts of employers and employee organizations.
Sec. 7-471. Powers of State Board of Labor Relations.
Sec. 7-471a. Supervisory employees not required to form employees association.
Sec. 7-472. Mediation by State Board of Mediation and Arbitration.
Sec. 7-473. Petition to State Board of Mediation and Arbitration for fact finding. Fact
finder's report and appearance before parties. Procedure for acceptance or rejection of
report.
Sec. 7-473a. Notice of expiration date of collective bargaining agreement. Notice of
newly certified or recognized municipal employee organization. Filing; form.
Sec. 7-473b. Mandatory timetable for negotiations. Appointment of mediator.
Sec. 7-473c. Neutral Arbitrator Selection Committee. Panel of neutral arbitrators. Mandatory binding arbitration; procedure; apportionment of costs. Rejection of award by legislative body of the municipal employer. Second arbitration format.
Sec. 7-474. Negotiations and agreements between municipality and employee representatives. Federal approval. Elective binding arbitration; procedure; apportionment of costs.
Sec. 7-475. Strikes prohibited.
Sec. 7-476. Existing bargaining unit not altered during term of agreement.
Sec. 7-477. Payroll deductions of union dues authorized.
Sec. 7-478. Municipal employee member of civil service board or commission not to participate in certain matters.
Sec. 7-478a. Municipalities participating in interlocal agreements deemed a municipal employer subject to collective bargaining.
Sec. 7-478b. Collective bargaining agreement provision re closing of nonmunicipal offices
on Martin Luther King Day.
Sec. 7-478c. Reopening of certain collective bargaining agreements for compensation or
exchange of benefits for observance of Martin Luther King Day.
Sec. 7-478d. Duties of State Board of Mediation and Arbitration if no resolution.
Sec. 7-478e. Mandatory binding arbitration for issues re observance of Martin Luther King
Day. Panel of neutral arbitrators. Procedure. Criteria for decision. Apportionment of
costs.
Sec. 7-478f. Rejection of award by legislative body. Second arbitration format.
Sec. 7-479. Conflicts of interest.
MERIT SYSTEM
Sec. 7-407. Method of adoption. Any political subdivision of this state may adopt
the provisions of this part in the manner hereinafter provided. The legislative body or,
if there is no such body, the administrative officers of such political subdivision may
and, upon petition of electors of such subdivision in number not less than ten per cent
of the total number of votes cast therein at the election last preceding, shall submit the
question of adopting the provisions of this part in such departments of such political
subdivision as such body or officers determine or as such petition requests, as the case
may be, to a vote of the electors thereof at the next regular election, or at a special meeting
called for such purpose, in the manner provided in section 9-369. The designation of
such question upon the voting machine ballot label shall be "Shall a Merit System for
selecting and promoting public employees be adopted?". Sec. 7-408. Civil service board; appointment; terms of office; removal. Within
thirty days after such official determination, the chief executive officer of such political
subdivision shall appoint three persons as civil service commissioners to hold office,
one for two years, one for four years and one for six years, and until their respective
successors are appointed and have qualified, which commissioners shall constitute the
civil service board; and, biennially thereafter, such chief executive officer shall appoint
one commissioner to serve for six years and until his successor is appointed and has
qualified. Two commissioners shall constitute a quorum. All appointments to said board,
both original and to fill vacancies, shall be so made that not more than two members
shall, at the time of appointment, be members of the same political party, and no such
commissioner shall, during his term of office, hold any other lucrative office or employment under the United States or the state or any political subdivision thereof having
employees classified under the provisions of this part. Each commissioner, before entering upon the duties of his office, shall take the oath prescribed for executive officers.
The chief executive officer may remove any commissioner appointed by him, for lack
of moral character, incompetency, neglect of duty, malfeasance or partisan activity while
in office, but he shall, at the same time, file with the clerk of the superior court for the
appropriate judicial district a report, in writing, of such removal, with his reasons therefor. In case of any vacancy, the unexpired portion of the term shall be filled by appointment by such chief executive officer. Sec. 7-409. Purpose of part. Rules. The purpose of this part is to provide means
for selecting and promoting each public official and employee upon the sole basis of
his proven ability to perform the duties of his office or employment more efficiently
than any other candidate therefor, and such board shall make rules to carry out such
purpose, shall investigate the enforcement and effect of such rules and shall have power
to secure, by subpoena, the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production
of books and papers relevant to such investigation. Sec. 7-410. Civil service board; president; chief examiner. The board shall select one of its members as president and shall, after holding a competitive test therefor,
employ a chief examiner whose duty it shall be, under the direction of the board, to
superintend tests. The chief examiner shall be, ex officio, secretary of the board and
shall, under the direction of the board, keep the minutes of all its proceedings, preserve
all reports made to it, keep a record and index of all tests held under its direction and
perform such other like duties as the board prescribes. The files and records of the board
shall be open at all reasonable hours to inspection by the public. The board may incur
necessary expenses for travel, compensation of secretary, clerk hire, stationery and other
incidental expenses. Sec. 7-411. Classification of officers and employees. Such civil service board
shall, within ninety days after the initial appointment of such commissioners, classify
all the officers and employees in the departments for which the merit system has been
adopted, except elective officers, as provided in section 7-407; and the board may also,
in its discretion, exempt from test and competition the officer responsible for the policy
of any department, and one deputy, private secretary or other confidential employee of
such officer. The officers and employees so classified by such board shall constitute the
classified civil service, and no appointment of any such officer or employment of any
such employee shall be made except in accordance with the rules hereinafter provided for. Sec. 7-412. Publication of rules. All rules made as herein provided and all changes
therein shall be printed forthwith for distribution by such board, and the board shall give
public notice of the place or places where copies of such rules may be obtained. In each
such publication shall be specified the date, not less than ten days subsequent to the date
of such publication, when such rules shall take effect. The rules affecting any test shall
in no case be changed after the publication of notice of such test. Sec. 7-413. Examination of applicants. Certification. Each applicant for an office or employment in such classified service, except those exempted by or as provided
by this part, shall be subjected to a test, which shall be public and competitive, subject
to limitations specified in the rules of the board as to residence, age, health, habits and
moral character. Such tests shall be practical in their character and shall relate to those
matters which will fairly disclose the relative capacity of the persons tested to discharge
the duties of the position to which they seek to be appointed, and may include tests
of mental qualification, of physical qualification and health and, when appropriate, of
manual or technical skill. No questions in any test shall relate to political or religious
opinions or affiliations. When a training school has been established in any institution,
the pupils thereof may be classified, under the rules of the commission, as apprentices,
subject to promotion to higher grades in the service as provided in this part. The rating
of apprentices, unskilled laborers and domestic servants need not relate to more than
capacity and fitness for labor, habits of industry and sobriety and honesty. The board
shall control all tests and may, whenever a test is to be made, designate a suitable number
of persons to be examiners or the commissioners may, at any time, act as such examiners
without appointing other examiners. Notice of the time, place and general scope of each
test shall be given by the board, by ample publication for three weeks preceding such
test, and such notice shall also be posted by such board in a conspicuous place in its
office for three weeks before such test. Such further written or printed notice of tests
may be given as the board prescribes. Application for tests shall be made in writing, to
the board, on a form prescribed by the board, not less than forty-eight hours before the
test is to take place. The board may refuse to certify an applicant who is found to lack
any preliminary requirement, established by its rules, for the test or position for which
he applies, or who is found physically unfit to perform the duties attaching to such
position, or who is addicted to the use of intoxicating beverages to excess, or who has
been guilty of a crime or of infamous or notoriously disgraceful conduct, or who has,
within two years, been dismissed from the public service for delinquency or misconduct,
or who has intentionally made a false statement of any material fact or practiced or
attempted to practice any deception or fraud in his application or in his test or in securing
his eligibility to appointment. Sec. 7-414. Classified service; eligible list; promotion. The board shall, from the
returns or reports of the tests, prepare a register or eligible list, for each grade or class
of positions in the classified service, of the persons who attain such minimum mark as
may be fixed by the board for any part of such test as fixed by the rules of such board
and who are otherwise eligible. Such persons shall take rank as candidates upon such
register or list in the order of their relative excellence as determined by test, without
reference to priority of time of test. The board shall provide by its rules for promotions
in such classified service on a basis of ascertained merit in service, seniority in service
and special test. The board shall submit to the appointing power for each promotion the
names of not more than three applicants having the highest rating. The method of testing
and the rules governing the same and the method of certifying shall, as far as possible,
be the same as provided for applicants for original appointment. Sec. 7-415. Credit allowances to veterans in examinations for original appointment. Any veteran who served in time of war, if he is not eligible for disability compensation or pension from the United States through the Veterans' Administration and if he
has attained at least the minimum earned rating on any examination held for the purpose
of establishing an employment list for original appointment shall have five points added
to his earned rating. Any such veteran, if he is eligible for such disability compensation
or pension and if he has attained at least the minimum earned rating on any such examination, shall have ten points added to his earned rating. Names of veterans shall be placed
on the list of eligibles in the order of such augmented rating. Credits shall be based upon
examinations with a possible rating of one hundred points. No such points shall be added
to any earned rating in any civil service or merit examination except as provided in this
section, the provisions of any municipal charter or special act notwithstanding. Sec. 7-416. Appointments. The appointing officer under whom a position classified under the provisions of this part is to be filled shall notify the board of that fact,
and the board shall certify to him the names and addresses of a limited number of candidates, as provided in its rules, who stand highest upon the register for the class or grade
to which such position belongs, and the appointing officer shall select one of the persons
so certified. After a candidate has been certified three times by the board and has not
been accepted, the name of such candidate may be stricken from the register. Emergency
lists of persons who have passed the required tests may be maintained for any grade or
class in which the numbers employed vary so greatly, in short intervals of time, that
certification after notice would be impracticable, and such list may stand as a call list
for positions in such grade or class only; but no appointment from an emergency list,
except from the persons having the highest ratings thereon and eligible to permanent
appointment, shall stand for more than sixty days or be subject to renewal within fifteen
days thereafter, except from a list of unskilled laborers or domestics actually employed
and paid as laborers or domestics. Sec. 7-417. Probation; notice of appointment or of creation or abolition of office. Appointments shall be on probation for a period to be fixed by the rules of the
board. At the expiration of such period of probation, the appointing officer may discharge
a candidate at will, but, if he is not then discharged, the appointment shall be deemed
complete. The board may strike from any eligible list the name of any candidate which
has remained thereon more than one year. After one-third of an eligible list has been
drawn, the board may hold another examination to obtain a new list. Any person remaining on the eligible list may retain his rating or, at his option, may enter the test and
obtain a new rating which shall supersede his former rating. Immediate notice in writing
shall be given by the appointing power to the board of all appointments, permanent or
temporary, made in the classified civil service and of all transfers, promotions, resignations or vacancies from any cause in such service, and of the date thereof, and a record
of the same shall be kept by the board. When any office or employment is created or
abolished or the compensation attached thereto altered, the officer or board making such
change shall report it immediately in writing to the board. Sec. 7-418. Inmates of institutions excepted. Inmates of any institution, supported in and by any political subdivision of the state, in which the merit system is
adopted and a civil service board appointed, may be assigned, by the lawful authorities
thereof, without test or registration, to such minor duties, in such institution, as they are
fitted to perform, but without pay or compensation other than privileges or liberties of
the institution, except by special permission of the civil service board. Sec. 7-419. Removal of officers or employees. No officer or employee in the
classified civil service shall be removed, discharged or reduced in rank or pay because of
religious or political opinion or affiliation. No removal from the classified civil service,
except at the expiration of the period of probation, shall be made by any appointing
power except for reasons given in writing to the board, and a copy of such reasons shall
be furnished to the person removed. Such person may thereupon file with the board in
writing any proper answer to such reasons. A copy of such reasons and answer and of
the order of removal shall be made a part of the records of the board and of the proper
department or office; and the reasons for any change in rank or compensation within
the classified service shall also be made a part of the records of the board and of the
proper department or office. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be so construed as
to require the examination of witnesses or any trial or hearing before or after reduction
or removal. Sec. 7-420. Interference with or false grading of applicants. No person shall,
either by himself or in cooperation with any other person or persons, wilfully or corruptly
defeat, deceive or obstruct any person in relation to his right of test under the provisions
of this part, or falsely mark, grade, estimate or report upon the test or standing of any
person so tested hereunder, or aid in so doing, or furnish to any person any special or
secret information for the purpose of either improving or injuring the rating of any
person so tested, or to be tested, or the prospects of any such person for appointment,
employment or promotion. Sec. 7-421. Political activities of classified municipal employees. Candidacy of
municipal employees for elective office. Leaves of absences. Service on governmental bodies of the town in which the employee resides. (a) No person employed in the
classified civil service may (1) use his official authority or influence for the purpose of
interfering with or affecting the result of an election or a nomination for office; (2)
directly or indirectly coerce, attempt to coerce, command or advise a state or local
officer or employee to pay, lend or contribute anything of value to a party, committee,
organization, agency or person for political purposes. Sec. 7-421a. Inconsistent statutory or charter provisions. Notwithstanding any
general statute, special act or local law, ordinance or charter to the contrary, the provisions of section 7-421 shall apply to all municipal employees in the classified service. Sec. 7-421b. Limitation on restrictions of political rights of municipal employees. Notwithstanding any general statute, special act or local law, ordinance or charter
to the contrary, any municipality which has not adopted a merit system shall not impose
restrictions on the political rights of its employees other than those provided in section
7-421. Sec. 7-422. Personnel appeals board. Appeal to Superior Court. Any town, city
or borough may, by ordinance, create a personnel appeals board which shall consist of
five members who shall be electors of such municipality holding no salaried municipal
office and whose term of office and method of election or appointment shall be fixed
in the ordinance. Not more than three members shall be members of the same political
party. The terms of office shall be arranged so that not more than one of such terms
shall expire in any one year. Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the
term in the manner fixed in the ordinance. Three members shall constitute a quorum.
Said board shall hear and determine any grievance, as defined in such ordinance, of any
employee or group of employees of such town, city or borough. It shall adopt rules of
procedures which shall insure any aggrieved employee a prompt and fair hearing and
an opportunity to be heard in person or by a representative of his choosing. The decision
of said board may be appealed to the Superior Court within ninety calendar days from
the date such board renders its decision. Sec. 7-423. Technical services by state Department of Administrative Services. Any municipality or other political subdivision of the state may enter into an
agreement with the state Commissioner of Administrative Services to procure the technical services available in the state Department of Administrative Services for the establishment or continuation of local administration of a merit system. Any such agreement
shall provide for the reimbursement of the state for the actual cost of such services and
overhead, as determined by the commissioner. Sec. 7-424. Penalty. Any person who, wilfully or through culpable negligence,
violates any rule promulgated in accordance with the provisions of this part shall be
fined not less than the amount of one month's salary of the office or position, or offices
or positions, affected by such violation, nor more than the amount of two years' salary
thereof, or, in case no office or position is directly affected, shall be fined not less than
fifty dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than six months
or be both fined and imprisoned. Sec. 7-425. Definitions. The following words and phrases as used in this part,
except as otherwise provided, shall have the following meanings: Sec. 7-426. Separate funds. Retirement rate. Section 7-426 is repealed. Sec. 7-427. Participation by municipalities. (a) Any municipality except a housing authority, which is governed by subsection (b) of this section or a regional work
force development board established under section 31-3k, which is governed by section
7-427a, may, by resolution passed by its legislative body and subject to such referendum
as may be hereinafter provided, accept this part as to any department or departments of
such municipality as may be designated therein, including elective officers if so specified, free public libraries which receive part or all of their income from municipal appropriation, and the redevelopment agency of such municipality whether or not such municipality is a member of the system, as defined in section 7-452, but such acceptance shall
not repeal, amend or replace, or affect the continuance of, any pension system established
in such municipality by or under the authority of any special act and all such special
acts shall remain in full force and effect until repealed or amended by the General Assembly or as provided by chapter 99. The acceptance of this part as to any department or
departments of a municipality shall not affect the right of such municipality to accept
it in the future as to any other department or departments. In any municipality other
than a district department of health, housing authority, flood commission or authority,
regional planning agency or supervision district board of education, such resolution
shall not take effect until it has been approved by a majority of the electors of the municipality voting thereon at the next regular election or meeting or at a special election or
meeting called for the purpose. The effective date of participation shall be at least ninety
days subsequent to the receipt by the Retirement Commission of the certified copy of
such resolution. The Retirement Commission shall furnish to any municipality contemplating acceptance of this part, at the expense of such municipality, an estimate of the
probable cost to such municipality of such acceptance as to any department or departments thereof. Sec. 7-427a. Enrollment procedures for employees of regional work force development boards. Rights of previously retired members unaffected. Transfer of
contributions. If the majority of the members of a regional work force development
board vote to participate in this part, employees of a regional work force development
board who are eligible under section 7-425, and who are not members of the Municipal
Employees Retirement Fund B shall become members thereof on July 1, 1998. Membership in any other retirement system shall terminate on said date. The members of a
regional work force development board shall arrange for termination of such systems,
which arrangements shall include provision that the rights of members who retired prior
to July 1, 1998, under such system shall not be affected and provision that any refunds
of employee contributions made to such other retirement system shall be transferred to
the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund B and the appropriate amount credited to
the account of each transferring employee's benefit. Each employee of the regional
work force development board shall pay his pro rata share of the actual cost of such
transfer at no additional cost to the municipality or board. Sec. 7-427b. Credit for prior service with private industry council or regional
work force development board. (a) Any employee of a regional work force development board which has voted to participate in this part who previously was an employee
of a private industry council shall receive credit for the purposes of retirement under
the provisions of this part for the period of his service with the private industry council
upon payment to the Municipal Employees Retirement Fund of a sum equal to that
which he would have paid had such service been covered by the provisions of this part,
provided such sum is paid within one year of the date of such board's first participation
in this part. Sec. 7-428. Retirement on account of length of service and age. Any member
of fund B shall be eligible for retirement and to receive a retirement allowance upon
completing twenty-five years of aggregate service in a participating municipality or
upon attaining the age of fifty-five years, provided such employee has had ten years of
continuous service or fifteen years of active aggregate service in a participating municipality. Sec. 7-429. Retirement of elective officers. If any member of a participating municipality who is an elective officer is separated from the service of the municipality by
which he is employed, except for cause or by resignation, after attaining the age of sixty
years and after completing at least twenty years of continuous service but before reaching
the voluntary retirement age, he shall be entitled to a retirement allowance upon reaching
the voluntary retirement age; provided, at the option of the elective officer, the retirement
allowance may commence on the date of such separation and be payable in such an
amount as may be determined by the Retirement Commission to be the actuarial equivalent of the retirement allowance that would have been payable except for the election
of such option. Sec. 7-430. Involuntary retirement; temporary retention. Any member, other
than an elective officer, shall be retired at any time after such member has become
eligible for retirement upon the recommendation of the legislative body of the municipality by which he is employed. Any member, except an elective officer, who has attained
the age of sixty-five years if employed as a policeman or fireman shall be retired on the
day following the attainment of such age, except that any such member, at his request
and with the annual approval of the legislative body, may be retained in the employ of
the participating municipality, but such person shall receive no pension payments during
the period he is so retained; provided, for any member, except an elective officer, who
at or before the end of three years after the effective date of participation has attained
the age of sixty-five years if employed as a policeman or fireman, the compulsory retirement date shall be the end of such three years after such effective date, unless application
for retirement is made before such compulsory date by the legislative body of the municipality. Sec. 7-431. Separation from service before voluntary retirement age. Any
member of fund B separated from the service of the municipality by which he is employed, except for cause, after completing at least ten years of continuous service but
before reaching the voluntary retirement age, shall be entitled to a retirement allowance
upon reaching the voluntary retirement age; provided, at the option of the member, the
retirement allowance may commence on the date of such separation and be payable in
such an amount as may be determined by the Retirement Commission to be the actuarial
equivalent of the retirement allowance that would have been payable except for the
election of such option. Sec. 7-432. Retirement for disability. Any member shall be eligible for retirement
and for a retirement allowance who has completed at least ten years of continuous service
if he becomes permanently and totally disabled from engaging in any gainful employment in the service of the municipality. If such disability is shown to the satisfaction of
the Retirement Commission to have arisen out of and in the course of his employment
by the municipality, as defined by the Workers' Compensation Act, he shall be eligible
for retirement irrespective of the duration of his employment. Such retirement allowance
shall continue during the period of such disability. The existence and continuance of
disability shall be determined by the Retirement Commission upon such medical evidence and other investigation as it requires. No such allowance shall be paid if the
disability has been caused by the wilful misconduct or intoxication of the disabled member. In order to obtain a retirement allowance under this section a member shall apply
in writing for such allowance to the Retirement Commission within one year after incurring the disability, and the allowance may be made retroactive to the date at which the
pay of the disabled member ceased. Secs. 7-433 and 7-433a. Disability or death of firemen or policemen caused by
hypertension or heart disease. Sections 7-433 and 7-433a are repealed. Sec. 7-433b. Survivors' benefits for firemen and policemen. Maximum cumulative payment. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of any general statute, charter or
special act to the contrary affecting the noncontributory or contributory retirement systems of any municipality of the state, or any special act providing for a police benefit
fund or other retirement system, the survivors of any uniformed or regular member of
a paid fire department or any regular member of a paid police department whose death
has been suffered in the line of duty shall be eligible to receive such survivor benefits
as are provided for in the Workers' Compensation Act, and, in addition, they shall
receive such survivor benefits as may be provided for in the retirement system in which
such department member was a participant at the time of his death; provided such pension
benefits shall be adjusted so that the total weekly benefits received by such survivors
shall not exceed one hundred per cent of the weekly compensation being paid, during
their compensable period, to members of such department in the same position which
was held by such deceased at the time of his death. Nothing contained herein shall
prevent any town, city or borough from paying money from its general fund to any such
survivors, provided total weekly benefits paid shall not exceed said one hundred per
cent of the weekly compensation. Sec. 7-433c. Benefits for policemen or firemen disabled or dead as a result of
hypertension or heart disease. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 568 or
any other general statute, charter, special act or ordinance to the contrary, in the event
a uniformed member of a paid municipal fire department or a regular member of a paid
municipal police department who successfully passed a physical examination on entry
into such service, which examination failed to reveal any evidence of hypertension or
heart disease, suffers either off duty or on duty any condition or impairment of health
caused by hypertension or heart disease resulting in his death or his temporary or permanent, total or partial disability, he or his dependents, as the case may be, shall receive
from his municipal employer compensation and medical care in the same amount and
the same manner as that provided under chapter 568 if such death or disability was
caused by a personal injury which arose out of and in the course of his employment and
was suffered in the line of duty and within the scope of his employment, and from the
municipal or state retirement system under which he is covered, he or his dependents,
as the case may be, shall receive the same retirement or survivor benefits which would
be paid under said system if such death or disability was caused by a personal injury
which arose out of and in the course of his employment, and was suffered in the line of
duty and within the scope of his employment. If successful passage of such a physical
examination was, at the time of his employment, required as a condition for such employment, no proof or record of such examination shall be required as evidence in the maintenance of a claim under this section or under such municipal or state retirement systems.
The benefits provided by this section shall be in lieu of any other benefits which such
policeman or fireman or his dependents may be entitled to receive from his municipal
employer under the provisions of chapter 568 or the municipal or state retirement system
under which he is covered, except as provided by this section, as a result of any condition
or impairment of health caused by hypertension or heart disease resulting in his death
or his temporary or permanent, total or partial disability. As used in this section, the
term "municipal employer" shall have the same meaning and shall be defined as said
term is defined in section 7-467. Sec. 7-433d. Injury or death of fireman while engaged in fire duties with another company. Any uniformed member of a paid fire department who offers his services to an officer or person in charge of another fire company which is actively engaged
in fire duties, and whose services are accepted by such officer or person, shall be entitled
to receive benefits under chapter 568, and under the contributory or noncontributory
retirement system of the municipality for which such services were performed, in the
event of his injury or death arising out of such services, as if he were a member of the
fire department of such municipality. Sec. 7-434. Continuity of service. Periods of absence of not more than ninety days
in any one calendar year shall not be considered as breaking continuity of service. Periods
of absence of more than ninety days by reason of a leave of absence granted by the
appropriate authority of the municipality or where the absence is occasioned by disability
necessitating the regular attendance of a physician, unless such attendance is declared
unnecessary by medical authority satisfactory to the Retirement Commission, or by
reason of layoff, shall not be considered as breaking continuity of service, but such
periods shall not be included in determining the amount of the retirement allowance.
Any member who entered any branch of the armed forces of the United States between
September 16, 1940, and July 26, 1945, or who enters any of said services while the
United States is at war, or engaged in any hostilities or during times of national emergency, whether declared or undeclared, or any acts incident thereto, and who is reemployed by the municipality within six months following the termination of such service,
unless this period is further extended by reason of disability incurred in the course of
such service, shall be credited with the period of such service to the same extent as
though he had been continuously employed by the municipality and shall be considered
to have made the contributions required by this part based on his regular rate of pay at
the time of the commencement of such service. The period of service of any member
as a full-time employee of any municipality merged or consolidated either before or
after the acceptance of this part with a participating municipality shall be counted for
the purpose of qualifying such member for retirement and for the purpose of computing
the amount of his retirement allowance, provided such combined services shall have
been continuous as defined above. Sec. 7-434a. Continuation of membership during service as elected official.
Any member of the municipal employees' retirement system elected to serve as an
official of the state or any political subdivision of the state during the 1988 calendar
year or thereafter may elect, during the time he so serves, but no longer than ten years,
to continue his membership in said system. Any such member shall continue to make
contributions to said system and shall be ineligible for membership in any other state
or municipal retirement system during such time. Sec. 7-435. Retirement benefits for members of fund A. Section 7-435 is repealed. Sec. 7-436. Retirement benefits for members of fund B. (a) After retirement, in
accordance with the provisions of this part, each member of fund B shall receive, during
his lifetime, a retirement allowance payable in monthly installments at an annual rate
equal to the sum of (1) and (2) as follows: (1) To the extent that his average annual rate
of pay for the last ten years of service, including service credited under the provisions
of sections 7-442a and 7-442b, is derived from pay with respect to which contributions
have been deducted under section 7-453 or would have been deducted had such member
been included in such system during the entire ten years, one-twelfth of one and one-
sixth per cent of such average annual pay, multiplied by the number of months of his
service; (2) to the extent that his average annual rate of pay for the three highest-paid
years of service exceeds the average obtained in subdivision (1), one-twelfth of two per
cent of such average annual pay, multiplied by the number of months of his service;
provided such allowance for permanent and total disability arising out of and in the
course of his employment, as defined in the Workers' Compensation Act, shall not be
less than one-twelfth of one-half of the member's annual pay at the time his disability
was incurred. Any amount or amounts received under the Workers' Compensation Act
shall be deducted from such allowance, except that any member who has received a
specific indemnity award under section 31-307 or 31-308 shall not have the amount of
such indemnity award deducted from his allowance. The retirement allowance herein
provided shall be reduced by the amount of any retirement allowance concurrently payable under the provisions of section 7-431, and by the amount of any retirement allowance concurrently payable by the state employees' retirement system or the retirement
system of any municipality not participating under the provisions of this part, on account
of a period of service for which credit has been transferred to the Municipal Employees'
Retirement Fund under the provisions of section 7-442b, or the monthly equivalent
thereof if payable other than monthly. No retirement allowances under this section,
before the reduction prescribed in the preceding sentence plus workers' compensation
payments and benefits under the Old Age and Survivors Insurance System on account of
service in a participating municipality, if any, shall exceed one-twelfth of the member's
average annual pay during the three highest-paid years of municipal service, and, subject
to the foregoing maximum limit, no such allowance plus payments shall be less than
one thousand dollars annually. (2) The limitation of the maximum retirement allowance provided in subsection (a)
shall not be applicable to increases under this subsection. Sec. 7-436a. Exclusion of period when service was eligible for special act pension system in computation of retirement credit. Inclusion of certain periods of
such service. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, in computing the
length of service for municipal retirement in accordance with the provisions of section
7-436, no period of employment during which a member was eligible for membership
in any pension system established by or under the authority of any special act shall be
counted as service with respect to the computation of his retirement allowance. Sec. 7-436b. Credit for military service for members of fund B. (a) Any member
of fund B of the municipal employees' retirement system, who, prior to his date of
employment with a municipality which is participating in said fund B, served in any
branch of the armed forces of the United States during the times set forth in section
27-103 shall be credited with the period of such service to the extent that he makes
contributions to said fund for all or any part of the period of such service, except that
any veteran who becomes a member on or after October 1, 1984, shall not receive credit
for such war service if he has received or is entitled to receive any retirement allowance
for the same years of service from the federal government. Such contributions shall be
computed at a rate of two per cent of his first year's salary as such employee, with
interest at five per cent per annum, payable within one year of such employment, or on
or before January 1, 1992, whichever is later, provided such contributions are made
prior to his date of retirement. The period of such service for which contributions to
said fund are made shall be counted for the purpose of computing the amount of his
retirement allowance, provided such member shall have completed ten years of continuous service or fifteen years of active aggregate service with a participating municipality
or shall be retired prior thereto due to disability incurred in the course of his employment.
Any member who purchases credit pursuant to this section and who later receives a
retirement allowance for permanent and total disability under this part shall, upon his
written request, be refunded all such contributions paid under this section, provided
such military service credit did not serve to increase the amount of disability retirement
benefits for which he was eligible. Sec. 7-437. Retirement allowance and Social Security benefits to equal sum
payable under retirement system alone, when. If the commission finds that the sum
of (a) any retirement allowance payable to a member under section 7-436 and (b) any
concurrent benefit payable to such member under the Old Age and Survivors Insurance
System on account of service in a participating municipality is less than the allowance
that would have been payable if the member were not participating in such system, his
allowance shall be increased accordingly during the period when the lower sum would
otherwise be payable. When any person retires under the terms of section 7-436 prior
to the age at which he would be eligible to receive an old age insurance benefit under
the system, he shall be entitled to receive an additional temporary retirement allowance
payable to the age at which he would be so eligible, or payable until he qualifies for a
social security disability allowance, if earlier. The total retirement allowance payable
during the temporary period shall be computed as if such person was not covered by
the Old Age and Survivors Insurance System. The first sentence of this section shall
not apply to any employee who was hired by a municipality after the date when the
municipality included its employees in such system, or to any employee who transfers
from a nonparticipating department to a participating department of a municipality after
said date, or to any employee of a municipality which had included its employees in
such system not later than the effective date of participation as defined in section 7-427. Sec. 7-438. Continuation of retirement allowance upon other public employment. Participation in state retirement system. Reemployment by participating
municipality. (a) Any member retired under this part who again accepts employment
from this state or from any municipality of this state other than a participating municipality, shall continue to receive his retirement allowance while so employed, and shall be
eligible to participate, and shall be entitled to credit, in the state retirement system for
the period of such state employment, but any such member shall not be eligible to
participate or be entitled to credit in any municipal retirement system for the period of
such municipal employment. Secs. 7-439 and 7-439a. Optional form of retirement allowance. Survivorship
benefits for spouses of certain employees who had not exercised the option. Sections
7-439 and 7-439a are repealed. Sec. 7-439b. Cost of living adjustment to retirement allowance. On July 1, 1986,
and on July first of each subsequent year the State Retirement Commission shall adjust
the retirement allowance of each member of the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund
and any annuitant who is receiving benefits under the provisions of this part to include
a cost of living increase. There shall be an annual actuarial determination of the increase
by determining the annual yield on the assets of the fund. In determining the yield, the
actuary shall use an adjusted asset value, such that the market values of assets are adjusted
to recognize a portion of realized and unrealized gains or losses each year until fully
recognized. The amount of the increase, as a percentage of retirement allowance, shall
be the excess of the annual yield over a six per cent yield, provided no increase granted
under the provisions of this section shall be less than three per cent nor more than five
per cent. Each such member shall receive the increases beginning on the first July first
following the member's sixty-fifth birthday. Each such annuitant shall receive the increases beginning on the first July first following the date the deceased member would
have reached the age of sixty-five. Any member who retired for disability under the
provisions of section 7-432 shall receive the increases beginning July 1, 1986. Sec. 7-439c. Discharge of liability for increases of retirement allowance. The
liability for the increase in benefits provided by sections 7-439b to 7-439e, inclusive,
for retirement allowances based on service rendered before July 1, 1979, shall be discharged by extending the period required for the annual amortization payments being
made by the municipality under section 7-441 before July 1, 1977, until the date when
the total past service liability shall be discharged. Such date shall not be subject to the
limits provided in subsection (a) of section 7-441. The proportion of contributions paid
to the Retirement Commission monthly under the terms of subsection (b) of said section
shall, effective July 1, 1979, include the cost of applying the adjustments of sections 7-
439b to 7-439e, inclusive, to retirement allowances credited for service rendered after
July 1, 1979. Sec. 7-439d. Cost of living adjustment not limited by subsection (a) of section
7-436. The limitation of the maximum retirement allowance provided in subsection (a)
of section 7-436 shall not be applicable to increases under sections 7-439b to 7-439e,
inclusive. Sec. 7-439e. Actuarial study by retirement board to determine cost impact of
increases. The retirement board shall conduct a complete actuarial study to determine
the cost impact on the municipalities of a three per cent cost of living allowance increase
over a period of twenty-five years and shall report its findings to the General Assembly
on or before January 1, 1979. Sec. 7-439f. Study concerning restructuring of fund. The State Retirement
Commission shall conduct a study to determine the cost impact of restructuring the
Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund to better reward career employees. Such restructuring would include, but not be limited to, providing a permanent three per cent cost
of living increase in retirement allowances without appreciably increasing the financial
burden on municipal employers. Said commission shall report its findings to the General
Assembly on or before January 1, 1980. Sec. 7-439g. Optional forms of retirement income. Preretirement death benefit. (a) On and after July 1, 1986, a member of the Municipal Employees' Retirement
Fund may elect one of the following optional forms for retirement income by filing with
the Retirement Commission a written election on a form provided by the commission.
A member who has been married at least one year shall be presumed to have elected
the option provided in subdivision (1) of this subsection unless a contrary election is
made by the member. All other members will be presumed to elect the option provided
in subdivision (4) of this subsection unless a contrary election is made by the member.
Any election or change of election must be filed before retirement income payments
begin. Any election of the options provided in subdivision (2), if, under said subdivision
the member's spouse is not named as contingent annuitant, subdivision (3) or subdivision
(4) of this subsection by a member who has been married at least one year shall not be
effective unless the member's spouse consents in writing to the election and such written
consent acknowledges the effect of the election and is witnessed by a representative of
the municipality or a notary public; or unless it is established to the satisfaction of the
Retirement Commission that such consent cannot be obtained because the spouse cannot
be located or due to such other circumstances as the commission may prescribe by
regulations adopted in accordance with chapter 54. Any such consent or determination
that consent cannot be obtained shall be effective only with respect to the spouse who
has given such consent or from whom consent cannot be obtained. No option shall be
effective until a member has retired, and in the event a member dies prior to the effective
date of commencement of benefits, any election of an option shall be deemed cancelled
except as provided in subsection (d) of this section. Any reduced retirement allowance
under this subsection shall be in such amount as the Retirement Commission determines
to be the actuarial equivalent of the retirement allowance that would have been payable
had the election not been made. The retirement income options are as follows: Sec. 7-439h. Erroneous payments; adjustment; waiver of repayment; regulations. (a) Should any change or error in records result in any member or beneficiary
receiving from the municipal employees' retirement system more or less than he would
have been entitled to receive had the records been correct, then upon discovery of any
such error the Retirement Commission shall notify the member or beneficiary affected
and correct the same, and as far as practicable shall adjust the payments in such manner
that the actuarial equivalent of the benefit to which such member or beneficiary was
correctly entitled shall be paid, provided if such change or error results in any member
or beneficiary receiving less than he would have been eligible to receive, such member
or beneficiary may elect to have such benefit paid in a single payment. Sec. 7-440. Contributions by members; interest; refunds to municipalities;
payment to beneficiaries. Each member shall contribute to the fund five per cent of
his pay as to that portion of pay with respect to which contributions are not to be deducted
under section 7-453 and two and one-quarter per cent as to that portion of pay with
respect to which contributions are to be so deducted, to be deducted from such pay by
the municipality and forwarded not less frequently than once a month to the Retirement
Commission to be credited to the fund. In the case of members serving with the armed
forces of the United States in time of war, hostilities or national emergency or any acts
incident thereto, as provided in section 7-434, the municipality shall forward to the
Retirement Commission to be credited to the fund a like contribution on behalf of such
member based upon his pay at the time of entering such service. Any member leaving
the employment of the municipality before becoming eligible for retirement may withdraw on request to the Retirement Commission the total of all contributions made by
him, including contributions made to another system and transferred to the Municipal
Employees' Retirement Fund under the provisions of section 7-442b, less any retroactive
contributions payable by such member under section 7-453 to the Old Age and Survivors
Insurance System which have been paid from the fund under the provisions of section
7-451, provided, if no request is made within ten years, such contributions shall revert
to the fund. The withdrawal of contributions shall include interest credited from July 1,
1983, or the first of the fiscal year following the date of actual contribution, whichever
is later, to the first of the fiscal year coincident with or preceding the date the employee
leaves municipal service. Such interest shall be credited at the rate of five per cent per
year. In addition, for the partial year during which the employee leaves municipal service
or withdraws his contributions, whichever is later, interest shall be credited at the rate
of five-twelfths of one per cent multiplied by the full number of months completed
during that year, such interest rate to be applied to the value of contributions including
any prior interest credits as of the first day of that year. Any employee who withdraws
his contributions from the fund and is subsequently reinstated shall not receive credit
for service for such prior employment in the computation of his eventual retirement
allowance unless the withdrawn contributions plus interest, if any, have been repaid
with additional interest at a rate to be determined by the commission. Any municipality
which has made contributions on behalf of any member serving in the armed forces who
is not reemployed by the municipality within six months following the termination of
such service, unless this period is further extended by reason of disability incurred in
such service, shall be entitled to receive from the fund on application to the Retirement
Commission the amount of such contributions. Any municipality which has made contributions in accordance with subsection (b) of section 7-436b on behalf of any member
who leaves the employment of the municipality and withdraws from the municipal
employees' retirement system before becoming eligible for retirement shall be entitled
to receive from the fund on application to the Retirement Commission the amount of
such contributions. In case of the death of a member before retirement, who has not
elected a retirement income option in accordance with the provisions of this part or who
has made such election but has not completed the age and service requirements that
would permit him to retire on his own application, or after retirement without having
made such election, or in case of the death of the survivor of a member who has made
such election and his spouse after a retirement allowance has become payable, his contributions to the fund plus such five per cent interest, if any, less any retirement allowance
paid to him or his spouse, and less any retroactive contributions paid by such member
to the Old Age and Survivors Insurance System which have been paid from the fund
under the provisions of section 7-451, shall be paid from the fund on the order of the
Retirement Commission to the beneficiary or beneficiaries, if any, named by such member. If no named beneficiaries survive the member, or the survivor of the member and
his spouse, payment shall be made to the executors or administrators of such member
or his spouse, as the case may be, except that, if the amount is less than five hundred
dollars, the refund may be made, at the option of the Retirement Commission, in accordance with the terms of section 45a-273.
(1949 Rev., S. 869; 1953, S. 399d; P.A. 86-170, S. 7, 13.)
History: P.A. 86-170 required that designation on ballot label be in form of question.
See Sec. 9-1 for applicable definitions.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 870; P.A. 78-280, S. 2, 127.)
History: P.A. 78-280 substituted "judicial district" for "county".
Causes for removal of member are listed and local ordinance purporting to prohibit members of board from engaging
in political activity is void. 22 CS 110, 111.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 871.)
Cited. 185 C. 88, 100. Cited. 202 C. 28, 38.
Cited. 39 CS 123, 126.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 872.)
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 873.)
Cited. 162 C. 492, 495.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 874; P.A. 78-280, S. 2, 127; P.A. 00-191, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 78-280 substituted "judicial district" for "county"; P.A. 00-191 deleted provision requiring that copies
of rules and changes be filed with court clerk and preserved and indexed by clerk.
Cited. 162 C. 492, 496, 501.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 875.)
Cited. 147 C. 290.
It is the function of the civil service agency to determine fitness for position and its judgment will not be interfered
with by courts in absence of proof of its bad faith or arbitrary, capricious or illegal action. 27 CS 1.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 876.)
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 877; 1957, P.A. 163, S. 13; 1959, P.A. 688, S. 3; 1971, P.A. 551, S. 1.)
History: 1959 act deleted reference to definition of veteran in Sec. 27-103, but see Sec. 5-29a; 1971 act specified
employment lists for "original employment" rather than lists "as provided in section 7-414" and prohibited adding points
except as provided in section.
Cited. 185 C. 445, 449, 460, 462.
Cited. 10 CA 209, 211.
Cited. 41 CS 548, 556.
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(1949 Rev., S. 878.)
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 879.)
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 880.)
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 881.)
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(1949 Rev., S. 882.)
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(b) A person employed in said classified service retains the right to vote as he
chooses and to express his opinions on political subjects and candidates and shall be
free to participate actively in political management and campaigns. Such activity may
include, but shall not be limited to, membership and holding of office in a political party,
organization or club, campaigning for a candidate in a partisan election by making
speeches, writing on behalf of the candidate or soliciting votes in support of or in opposition to a candidate and making contributions of time and money to political parties,
committees or other agencies engaged in political action, except that no classified employee shall engage in such activity while on duty or within any period of time during
which such employee is expected to perform services for which he receives compensation from the municipality, and no such employee shall utilize municipal funds, supplies,
vehicles or facilities to secure support for or oppose any candidate, party, or issue in a
political partisan election. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, any municipal employee may be a candidate for a federal, state or municipal elective office in a
political partisan election and no municipality or any officer or employer thereof shall
take or threaten to take any personnel action against any such employee due to such
candidacy. No person seeking or holding state or municipal office in accordance with
the provisions of this subsection shall engage in political activity or in the performance
of the duties of such office while on municipal duty or within any period of time during
which such person is expected to perform services for which such person receives compensation from the municipality.
(c) Any municipal employee who leaves his municipal employment to accept a full-
time elective municipal office shall be granted a personal leave of absence without pay
from his municipal employment for not more than two consecutive terms of such office
or for a period of four years, whichever is shorter. Upon reapplication for his original
position at the expiration of such term or terms of office, such person shall be reinstated
in his most recent municipal position or a similar position with equivalent pay or to a
vacancy in any other position such person is qualified to fill. If no such positions are
available, such person's name shall be placed on all reemployment lists for classes for
which he is eligible. Such person shall give notice in writing to his municipal employer
that he is a candidate for a full-time elective municipal office within thirty days after
nomination for that office.
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, upon the request
of any municipal employee to whom a personal leave of absence has been granted
pursuant to said subsection, his municipal employer may, in its sole discretion, determine
whether to extend such leave of absence beyond the period permitted in said subsection
and, if extended, what terms and conditions shall pertain to such extension. As part of any
such extension, rights of reinstatement with equivalent pay or benefits may be granted to
such employee.
(e) Any municipal employee shall have the right to serve on any governmental body
of the town in which he resides except any body which has responsibility for direct
supervision of such employee. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, no
such employee shall serve on any of the following unless such employee is permitted
to serve pursuant to the provisions of a municipal charter or home rule ordinance or
serves because of membership on the legislative body of the municipality: (1) Any board
of finance created pursuant to chapter 106 or any special act or municipal charter; (2) any
body exercising zoning powers pursuant to chapter 124 or any special act or municipal
charter; (3) any body exercising land use powers pursuant to chapter 125a or any special
act or municipal charter; (4) any body exercising planning powers pursuant to chapter
126 or any special act or municipal charter; or (5) any body regulating inland wetlands
and watercourses pursuant to chapter 440 or any special act or municipal charter.
(1949 Rev., S. 883; P.A. 76-424, S. 1, 4; P.A. 84-532, S. 2, 3; P.A. 87-75, S. 1, 2; P.A. 90-123, S. 1, 3; P.A. 93-103.)
History: P.A. 76-424 replaced former provisions re political activities of municipal and state employees; P.A. 84-532
provided that any municipal employee may be a candidate for municipal elective office, provided political activity may
not be engaged in during working hours and added Subsec. (c), granting such employees the right to a leave of absence
upon taking full-time elective office, with specified rights to reinstatement; P.A. 87-75 added Subsec. (d), permitting
municipal employers to grant extensions of leaves of absence given to employees who have taken full-time elective office;
P.A. 90-123 amended Subsec. (b) to include candidacies for federal and state office and to prohibit the taking of any
personnel action against employee candidates and added Subsec. (e) concerning service on governmental bodies by municipal employees; P.A. 93-103 amended Subsec. (e) to clarify the right of a municipal employee to serve on a governmental body.
Cited. 192 C. 399, 404.
Cited. 39 CS 123, 126. Cited. 41 CS 295, 299, 300.
Subsec. (a):
Cited. 39 CS 123, 126.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 192 C. 399, 403.
Cited. 39 CS 123, 125−128. Cited. 41 CS 295, 299, 300.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(P.A. 76-424, S. 2, 4; P.A. 80-325, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 80-325 specified employees in the classified service.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(P.A. 80-325, S. 2.)
Cited. 41 CS 295, 299, 300.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1953, S. 401d; P.A. 73-654; P.A. 76-436, S. 416, 681.)
History: P.A. 73-654 allowed appeal from decision of board to court of common pleas, replacing former provision that
board decisions were to be final and binding upon the parties; P.A. 76-436 substituted superior court for court of common
pleas, effective July 1, 1978.
Cited. 8 CA 165, 166. Cited. 26 CA 45, 47.
Allows but does not require any town, city or borough to create a personnel appeals board. 35 CS 645, 653. Cited. Id.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1953, S. 402d; P.A. 77-614, S. 66, 610.)
History: P.A. 77-614 substituted commissioner and department of administrative services for personnel commissioner
and department.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1949 Rev., S. 884.)
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
RETIREMENT
(1) "Municipality" means any town, city, borough, school district, taxing district,
fire district, district department of health, probate district, housing authority, regional
work force development board established under section 31-3k, regional emergency
telecommunications center, tourism district established under section 32-302, flood
commission or authority established by special act or regional planning agency;
(2) "Participating municipality" means any municipality which has accepted this
part, as provided in section 7-427;
(3) "Legislative body" means, for towns having a town council, the council; for
other towns, the selectmen; for cities, the common council or other similar body of
officials; for boroughs, the warden and burgesses; for district departments of health, the
board of the district; in the case of a probate district, the judge of probate; for regional
planning agencies, the regional planning board; for regional emergency telecommunications center, a representative board; for tourism districts, the board of directors of such
tourism district; and in all other cases the body authorized by the general statutes or by
special act to make ordinances for the municipality;
(4) "Retirement Commission" means the State Retirement Commission created by
chapter 66;
(5) "Member" means any regular employee or elective officer receiving pay from
a participating municipality, and any regular employee of a free public library which
receives part or all of its income from municipal appropriation, who has been included
by such municipality in the pension plan as provided in section 7-427, but shall not
include any person who customarily works less than twenty hours a week if such person
entered employment after September 30, 1969, any police officer or firefighter who will
attain the compulsory retirement age after less than ten years of continuous service in
fund B, any teacher who is eligible for membership in the state teachers retirement
system, any person eligible for membership in any pension system established by or
under the authority of any special act or of a charter adopted under the provisions of
chapter 99, or any person holding a position funded in whole or in part by the federal
government as part of any public service employment program, on-the-job training
program or work experience program, provided persons holding such federally funded
positions on July 1, 1978, shall not be excluded from membership but may elect to
receive a refund of their accumulated contributions without interest;
(6) "Pay" means the salary, wages or earnings of an employee, including any payments received pursuant to chapter 568 and the money value as determined by the Retirement Commission of any board, lodging, fuel or laundry provided for such employee
by the municipality but not including any fees or allowances for expenses;
(7) "Fund" and "fund B" means the Connecticut Municipal Employees' Retirement
Fund B;
(8) "Continuous service" and "service" means active service as a member, or active
service prior to becoming a member if such service (A) was in a department for which
participation was subsequently accepted and not subsequently withdrawn, (B) was continuous to the date of becoming a member except service for which credit is granted
pursuant to section 7-436a, and (C) would have been as a member if the department had
then been participating, all subject to the provisions of section 7-434;
(9) "System" means the Old Age and Survivors Insurance System under Title II of
the Social Security Act, as amended;
(10) "Social Security Act" means the Act of Congress, approved August 14, 1935,
Chapter 531, 49 Stat. 620, officially cited as the Social Security Act, including regulations and requirements issued pursuant thereto, as such act has been and may from time
to time be amended;
(11) "Regional emergency telecommunications center" means an entity authorized
by the Department of Public Safety as the public safety answering point responsible for
the receipt and processing of 9-1-1 calls for at least three municipalities.
(1949 Rev., S. 885; 1951, S. 403d; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 45; 447, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 152, S. 17; 360; 612, S. 1; 1963, P.A.
344, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 549, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 402, S. 1; 408; P.A. 73-302; P.A. 75-293, S. 1; P.A. 78-118, S. 1, 2;
P.A. 80-100, S. 2; P.A. 86-243, S. 2, 10; P.A. 89-46, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-356, S. 1; P.A. 97-152, S. 1; P.A. 00-162.)
History: 1959 acts deleted references relating to counties, redefined "continuous service", and included probate districts
in definitions of "municipality" and "legislative body"; 1963 act included district departments of health in definitions of
"municipality" and "legislative body"; 1965 act included regional planning agencies in definitions of "municipality" and
"legislative body"; 1969 acts divided section into subdivisions, excluded persons working less than twenty hours a week
employed after September 30, 1969, from consideration as "members" and redefined "service"; P.A. 73-302 distinguished
between members of fund A and fund B in definition of "member"; P.A. 75-293 specified "active" service in definition
of "continuous service"; P.A. 78-118 redefined "member" to include employees in public service, on-the- job training or
work experience programs funded partly or wholly by federal government; P.A. 80-100 added exception to Subpara. (b)
in definition of "continuous service"; P.A. 86-243 amended Subdiv. (6) to include workers' compensation payments within
the definition of "pay"; P.A. 89-46 redefined "member" to mean only police officers or firefighters who will attain the
compulsory retirement age after less than fifteen years of service in fund A or after less than ten years in fund B; P.A. 93-
356 redefined "member" to exclude police officers and firefighters who reach compulsory retirement age after less than
fifteen years of participation in fund A, deleted the definition of "fund A", redefined "fund" to refer exclusively to fund
B, and renumbered remaining Subdivs. accordingly; P.A. 97-152 redefined "municipality" to include regional work force
development boards; P.A. 00-162 added provisions re regional emergency telecommunications centers and tourism districts
in Subdivs. (1) and (3) and added new Subdiv. (11) defining "regional emergency telecommunications center".
Cited. 148 C. 233.
Vote of board of police commissioners not effective to accept provisions of this part. 18 CS 8. "Continuous service"
defined as used in retirement act established by special act. 21 CS 116.
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(1957, P.A. 447, S. 2; September, 1957, P.A. 10, S. 5; P.A. 93-356, S. 15.)
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(b) Unless the board of commissioners of a housing authority votes against such
participation, employees of housing authorities who are eligible under section 7-425
and who are not members of the Municipal Employees Retirement Fund B shall become
members thereof on July 1, 1972, and membership in any other retirement fund, except
the federal old age and survivors insurance, shall terminate on said date. Housing authorities whose employees are enrolled on or before May 21, 1971, in any other retirement
system shall arrange for termination of such system on July 1, 1972, which arrangements
shall include provision that the rights of members who retired prior to July 1, 1972,
under such system shall not be affected and provision that any refunds of employee
contributions made to such other retirement system shall be transferred to the Municipal
Employees' Retirement Fund B and the appropriate amount credited to the account of
each transferring employee's benefit.
(1949 Rev., S. 886; 1951, S. 404d; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 46; 447, S. 3; 1959, P.A. 152, S. 18; 1963, P.A. 344, S. 2; February,
1965, P.A. 549, S. 2; 1969, P.A. 402, S. 2; 725, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 268; 1972, P.A. 71, S. 1; P.A. 84-90; P.A. 93-356, S. 2;
P.A. 97-152, S. 2.)
History: 1959 act deleted county provisions; 1963 act added district department of health provisions; 1965 act added
provisions re regional planning agencies; 1969 acts deleted provisions regarding district departments of health and regional
planning agencies and included redevelopment agencies; 1971 act added Subsec. (b) re employees of housing authorities;
1972 act amended Subsec. (b) to specify that credit be transferred to account of each employee earning credit rather than
simply to housing authority's account; P.A. 84-90 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that employees of any supervision
district board of education may become eligible for membership in the municipal employees retirement system without
the need of a referendum; P.A. 93-356 amended Subsec. (a) to delete a provision requiring municipalities electing membership in the municipal employees retirement system to specify whether participation is in fund A or fund B and to delete a
provision requiring that such membership begin on the first day of July; P.A. 97-152 amended Subsec. (a) by adding
reference to regional work force development boards established under Sec. 31-3k.
See Sec. 7-188 re initiation of action for adoption, revision or repeal of charter or home rule ordinance.
Cited 175 C. 174, 179.
Where town meeting accepted provisions of this part and two months later another town meeting voted to rescind the
earlier vote, held town did not become participating municipality in retirement system. 18 CS 8.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(P.A. 97-152, S. 3.)
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(b) Any employee of a regional work force development board which has voted
to participate in this part shall receive credit for the purposes of retirement under the
provisions of this part for the period of his service with such board when such board
was not participating under the provisions of this part upon payment to the Municipal
Employees Retirement Fund of a sum equal to that which he would have paid had such
service been covered by the provisions of this part, provided such sum is paid within
one year of the date of such board's first participation in this part.
(P.A. 97-152, S. 4.)
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(1949 Rev., S. 887; 1957, P.A. 447, S. 4; March, 1958, P.A. 16, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 346, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 816;
P.A. 75-293, S. 2; P.A. 93-356, S. 3.)
History: 1965 act authorized retirement of Fund A members after thirty- five years of aggregate service; 1967 act
reduced requirement for thirty years' service under fund B to twenty-five years' service; P.A. 75-293 allowed retirement
under fund B at age fifty-five with ten years' continuous service in addition to retirement at fifty-five with fifteen years'
active aggregate service; P.A. 93-356 deleted provisions re retirement for fund A members.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1957, P.A. 130.)
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(1949 Rev., S. 889; 1953, S. 405d; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 47; P.A. 89-162, S. 1, 3; P.A. 93-356, S. 4.)
History: P.A. 89-162 allowed policemen and firemen to work after the age of sixty-five with the annual approval of
the legislative body of the employing municipality; P.A. 93-356 deleted a provision prohibiting police officers and firefighters from retaining active membership in the municipal employees' retirement system upon attaining age sixty-five.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(1955, S. 406d; 1957, P.A. 447, S. 5; 1967, P.A. 815; P.A. 93-356, S. 5.)
History: 1967 act changed years of service from fifteen to ten re fund B employees; P.A. 93-356 deleted provisions re
fund A members separated from municipal service prior to reaching voluntary retirement age.
Cited. 178 C. 23, 25, 31.
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(1949 Rev., S. 888; P.A. 79-376, S. 11.)
History: P.A. 79-376 substituted "workers' compensation" for "workmen's compensation".
Cited. 144 C. 322.
Cited. 12 CA 138, 147.
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(1951, 1953, 1955, S. 407d; 1959, P.A. 366; 1961, P.A. 330, S. 1, 2; 1967, P.A. 770, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 380, S. 1; P.A.
92-81, S. 2, 3.)
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(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any general statute, charter or special act to
the contrary affecting the noncontributory or contributory retirement systems of any
municipality of the state, or any special act providing for a police or firemen benefit
fund or other retirement system, the cumulative payments, not including payments for
medical care, for compensation and retirement or survivors benefits under section 7-
433c shall be adjusted so that the total of such cumulative payments received by such
member or his dependents or survivors shall not exceed one hundred per cent of the
weekly compensation being paid, during their compensable period, to members of such
department in the same position which was held by such member at the time of his death
or retirement. Nothing contained herein shall prevent any town, city or borough from
paying money from its general fund to any such member or his dependents or survivors,
provided the total of such cumulative payments shall not exceed said one hundred per
cent of the weekly compensation.
(1959, P.A. 604; P.A. 77-520, S. 2, 3; P.A. 79-376, S. 12.)
History: P.A. 77-520 added Subsec. (b) for bidding payment of benefits which would exceed 100 per cent of weekly
compensation of workers in same position as member; P.A. 79-376 substituted "workers' compensation" for "workmen's
compensation".
See Sec. 7-323a et seq. re Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund.
Cited. 177 C. 456, 462. Cited. 194 C. 139, 142, 146, 147. Cited. 204 C. 563, 567, 569. Cited. 208 C. 576, 580. Cited.
214 C. 189, 194. Cited. 224 C. 441, 444.
Cited. 2 CA 255, 259. Cited. 12 CA 138, 141, 147. Cited. 26 CA 194, 199.
Subsec. (b):
Cited. 194 C. 139, 146. Cited. 214 C. 181, 184, 187. Ceiling imposed on award of benefits applies at time of retirement.
Id., 189, 191−195. "Weekly compensation" includes overtime as well as base salary. Id., 552−559. "Ceiling" on benefits
applies to total payments composed of heart and hypertension disability payments and retirement pension payments not
related to Sec. 7-433c. 243 C. 747.
Interpretation of the statute focuses on amount of compensation that recipient would have received if he continued
working. 12 CA 138−142, 144 −153. Cited. 26 CA 194, 196. Section not applicable where pension was not awarded under
Sec. 7-433c but was a regular pension for long years of service. 43 CA 773.
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(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, those persons
who began employment on or after July 1, 1996, shall not be eligible for any benefits
pursuant to this section.
(1971, P.A. 524, S. 1; P.A. 77-520, S. 1, 3; P.A. 92-81, S. 1, 3; P.A. 96-230, S. 2, 3; 96-231, S. 1, 2.)
History: P.A. 77-520 provided that benefits under section be in lieu of others except as specified; P.A. 92-81 added
Subsec. (b) re benefits for police officers and firefighters who begin employment on or after July 1, 1992; P.A. 96-230
amended Subsec. (b) to read "Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, those persons who began
employment on or after the effective date of this act (July 1, 1996) shall not be eligible for any benefits pursuant to this
section.", effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 96-231 deleted legislative finding from Subsec. (a) and amended Subsec. (b) to read
"Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, only those persons employed on the effective date of
this act (July 1, 1996) shall be eligible for any benefits provided by this section.", effective July 1, 1996 (Revisor's note:
Pursuant to the provisions of Sec. 2-30b the amendment to Subsec. (b) of this section contained in P.A. 96-231 did not
take effect since it was deemed repealed by the conflicting amendment to said Subsec. (b) contained in P.A. 96-230 which
passed the General Assembly later than P.A. 96-231).
Only procedure mentioned for bringing claims under this section is the Workmen's Compensation Act. 165 C. 615.
This statute serves a public purpose and is constitutional despite its conferring a direct benefit on a certain class of individuals. 168 C. 84. Cited. 177 C. 456, 457, 459−461, 463. Statute is neither a workers' compensation law nor occupational
disease law within meaning of insurance contract. 178 C. 664−674. Workers' compensation statutes are not the exclusive
remedy for injuries arising out of and in the course of employment where injuries claimed are compensable under this
statute. 193 C. 59−64, 67−70. Benefits under this statute may be taken into account in determining maximum amount
payable from pension plan; history and interpretation discussed. 194 C. 139−152. "...Purpose not to remove benefits from
realm of arm's-length collective bargaining but merely to ensure that they are provided for members of police and fire
departments..." 201 C. 577−580, 584, 587, 588, 590, 591. Cited. 204 C. 563−571. Cited. 207 C. 665, 667−669, 673. Does
not require payment of benefits to estate of a deceased recipient. 208 C. 576, 577, 579−586, 589. Use of words "hypertensive"
and "heart disease" on claim form sufficient to invoke award under this section. 210 C. 423−432. Does not preclude award
of special benefits under Sec. 31-308. 214 C. 181−188. Cited. Id., 189−194. Economic benefits qualified as "compensation"
under this section may include fringe benefits in certain circumstances. Id., 394, 396−399. Cited. Id., 552, 553, 555, 557 −
559. Heart and hypertension act also cited. Id. Cited. 217 C. 50, 52. Heart and hypertension act cited. Id. Cited. 220 C.
721, 730. Cited. 222 C. 62, 68. Cited. 224 C. 441, 443, 445. Cited. 231 C. 287, 299, 300.
Pension benefits payable under the city's ordinances must be reduced by benefits awarded under this statute. 1 CA 58−
63, 65, 66. Purpose of statute is to protect firemen and policemen from economic loss; measure of the loss must be determined
by extent to which claimant is precluded from rejoining work force in his former capacity or any other reasonable occupation
due to his disability. 2 CA 255−260. Benefits not retroactively applied; also not applicable to those no longer in active
service, either on or off duty. 4 CA 226−233. Cited. 6 CA 265−267. Cited. 7 CA 142, 143. Cited. 12 CA 138−144, 148−
150, 152, 153. No requirement than an appointment be "permanent". 13 CA 566, 568, 570, 571. Cited. 17 CA 633−635.
Cited. 21 CA 28, 30. Cited. 26 CA 194−199. In order to be eligible for any benefits for either hypertension or heart disease,
plaintiff must have successfully passed a preemployment physical showing no evidence of either hypertension or heart
disease. 28 CA 754, 756−759. Cited. 34 CA 307, 309, 311, 315. Cited. 37 CA 835−837, 839−845. Without evidence
establishing claimant's injury is result of an occupational disease one-year statute of limitations applies. 38 CA 1−7. Cited.
43 CA 773.
Plaintiff not required to assume burden of proving compensability under chapter 568 where he brought action under
both chapter 568 and this statute. 38 CS 359, 361−363. Town must have organized police department under Sec. 7-274 in
order for this statute to be operative. Id., 419−421. Cited. 39 CS 321−325. Claims under this statute are subject to procedural
requirements of Workers' Compensation Act. Id., 403−407.
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(1971, P.A. 520.)
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(1949 Rev., S. 890; 1967, P.A. 853; P.A. 84-106, S. 1.)
History: 1967 act qualified members joining armed forces when country is "engaged in any hostilities or during times
of national emergency", etc. for credit for service; P.A. 84-106 provided that absence from employment by reason of layoff
shall not be considered a break in the continuity of service of the member.
See Sec. 7-425 for applicable definitions.
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(P.A. 90-308, S. 13, 15.)
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(1949 Rev., S. 891; 1957, P.A. 447, S. 6; 1959, P.A. 471, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 547, S. 2; 1971, P.A. 644, S. 1; P.A. 79-376,
S. 13; P.A. 84-106, S. 2; P.A. 93-356, S. 15.)
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) Each employee or spouse of a deceased employee retired under the Municipal
Employees' Retirement Act Fund B prior to July 1, 1971, shall be entitled, in addition
to his original monthly retirement allowance, to an additional cost of living monthly
allowance computed on the basis of his monthly retirement allowance, less any prior
cost of living increases to which he was previously entitled, using the table in subdivision
(1) of this section.
(1) Such cost of living allowances shall commence on July 1, 1973, and shall be
computed at the rates set forth in the following table:
Fiscal
Year of
Retirement
Year Ending
June 30thRates
% of
Increase
1949 40.0 1950 42.7 1951 41.2 1952 33.9 1953 30.9 1954 30.4 1955 30.0 1956 30.4 1957 28.3 1958 24.8 1959 21.9 1960 21.1 1961 19.5 1962 18.1 1963 16.8 1964 15.1 1965 14.6 1966 14.1 1967 12.9 1968 6.0 1969 4.0 1970 4.0 1971 4.0
(c) Each retired member of fund B shall have his allowance increased to the amount
which would be payable based on his annual rate of pay for the three highest-paid years
of service.
(d) For purposes of determining eligibility for retirement benefits for part-time employees under this section, a member's part-time service shall be payable to a member
whose service consists solely of part-time service without variation in the number of
hours worked during all periods of his municipal service, such member's service shall
be treated as full-time service. For purposes of computing the retirement benefit payable
to a member whose service consists of part-time and full-time service or whose service
consists of part-time service rendered in different proportions to a full-time schedule,
such member's years of service and average salary shall be proportionately adjusted to
produce a retirement benefit equivalent to that payable if his service had been rendered
at an unvarying rate. As used in this subsection, "part-time service" means service by
a member who customarily works less than a full-time schedule but no less than twenty
hours per week.
(1957, P.A. 447, S. 7; 1959, P.A. 316; 471, S. 2; 1967, P.A. 547, S. 1; 722, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 406; 1971, P.A. 644, S. 2;
P.A. 73-619, S. 1, 3; P.A. 75-293, S. 5; P.A. 76-314; P.A. 77-102, S. 1, 2; P.A. 79-376, S. 14; P.A. 84-106, S. 3; P.A. 86-
243, S. 1, 10; P.A. 93-356, S. 6.)
History: 1959 acts provided for computation of retirement benefits on basis of five highest-paid years of municipal
service rather than five years immediately preceding retirement and included benefits under old age and survivors insurance
system in restriction on maximum allowance payable; 1967 acts based calculations on three highest-paid years rather than
five highest-paid years and added provision concerning benefits for fund B members retired before January 1, 1960; 1969
act deleted provisions concerning temporary retirement allowances; 1971 act simplified description of formula; P.A. 73-
619 added Subsecs. (b) and (c) re cost-of-living increases and benefits for retirees whose municipalities later join fund B;
P.A. 75-293 replaced "three highest-paid years of service" in Subdiv. (1) with "last ten years of service"; P.A. 76-314
amended Subsec. (c) to include members of fund B as well as retirees whose municipality transfers to fund B and added
reference to Sec. 7-436a; P.A. 77-102 amended Subsec. (a) replacing "is not so derived" with "exceeds the average obtained
in Subdivision (1)"; P.A. 79-376 substituted "workers' compensation" for "workmen's compensation"; P.A. 84-106
amended Subsec. (a) to provide that any workers' compensation specific indemnity award shall not be deducted from the
member's retirement allowance; P.A. 86-243 amended Subsec. (a) to equalize the percentage of pay used to calculate
benefits for all service years and to provide that a member's retirement allowance, plus workers' compensation and Social
Security benefits, may not exceed one hundred per cent, instead of seventy-five per cent, of his average annual pay and
added Subsec. (d), establishing how part-time service shall be treated for benefit eligibility and calculation purposes; P.A.
93-356 amended Subsec. (c) to exclude retirees whose municipality transfers to fund B.
Does not apply to pensions derived from other than Municipal Employees' Retirement Act benefits. 175 C. 174, 175,
176, 181. Cited. 178 C. 23, 24.
Subsec. (a):
Where retirement is based on age and length of employment benefits should not have been reduced by amount of
workers' compensation award received for an injury. 178 C. 23, 25, 26, 30−32.
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(b) A member may receive retirement credit for a period of employment described
in subsection (a) of this section if (1) such member is not receiving or entitled to receive
a retirement benefit based on such employment, (2) such employment was in a municipality or department for which participation under this part has subsequently been accepted and (3) such member contributes an amount determined by the Retirement Commission to be necessary to fund any increase in benefits resulting from receipt of such
credit to the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund.
(1959, P.A. 238; P.A. 80-100, S. 1; P.A. 93-356, S. 7.)
History: P.A. 80-100 added Subsec. (b) re credit for period of employment during which membership in system established under special act was held; P.A. 93-356 amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to Sec. 7-435 re computation of
retirement credit for fund A members.
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(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the municipal
employer of any member who applies on or after July 1, 1986, for such military service
credit shall pay all contributions required under said subsection which are attributable
to that portion of the member's military service time during which he was a prisoner of
war, provided such member submits with his application for such credit sufficient proof
from the Veterans' Administration of the United States that he is a former prisoner of war.
Any municipal employer which pays the contributions required under this subsection for
a member who later receives a retirement allowance for permanent and total disability
under this part shall, upon its written request, be refunded all such contributions paid
under this subsection, provided such military service credit did not serve to increase the
amount of disability retirement benefits for which the member was eligible.
(1969, P.A. 770; P.A. 75-293, S. 3; P.A. 83-16; P.A. 84-106, S. 4; 84-157, S. 1; P.A. 86-243, S. 8, 10; P.A. 88-141;
88-149, S. 1, 5; P.A. 91-213, S. 1, 8.)
History: P.A. 75-293 replaced requirement for twenty-five years of employment with requirement for ten years' continuous service or fifteen years' active aggregate service; P.A. 83-16 extended the time period for the purchase of military
service credit to October 1, 1984, or within one year of employment, whichever is later and specified that contributions
must be made prior to retirement date; P.A. 84-106 provided that veterans who become members on or after October 1,
1984, shall not receive war service credit if they are otherwise eligible for retirement benefits from the federal government
for such service years; P.A. 84-157 provided that any member on disability retirement whose previous purchase of military
service credit did not increase his disability allowance shall be refunded all contributions made for such credit; P.A. 86-
243 added Subsec. (b), requiring the municipal employer to pay for any military service credit attributable to the time the
member was a prisoner of war; P.A. 88-141 extended the time period for the purchase of military service credit to October
1, 1989; P.A. 88-149 amended Subsec. (b) to provide that any municipal employer who made contributions under this
section for a member on disability retirement shall be refunded all contributions made for such credit if the purchased
credit does not increase the member's disability allowance; P.A. 91-213 amended Subsec. (a) by changing payment date
from October 1, 1989, to January 1, 1992.
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(1957, P.A. 447, S. 8; 1959, P.A. 319; February, 1965, P.A. 559, S. 1; P.A. 84-157, S. 2; P.A. 93-356, S. 8.)
History: 1959 act included reference to Sec. 7-436 in Subdiv. (a), added provisions re additional temporary retirement
allowance to Subdiv. (b) and added provisions re employees who transferred from nonparticipating to participating departments and employees of municipalities which had included their employees in the system not later than the effective date
of participation as defined in Sec. 7-427; 1965 act provided restrictions in last sentence apply only to first sentence of
section; P.A. 84-157 provided that the temporary retirement allowance shall be computed as if the person were not covered
by the Old Age and Survivors Insurance System, instead of calculating the allowance in accordance with the law prior to
May 28, 1957; P.A. 93-356 deleted references to Sec. 7-435 re calculation of retirement allowance for fund A members.
(Return to TOC) (Return to Chapters) (Return to Titles)
(b) If a member is retired under this part and again accepts employment from the
same municipality from which he was retired or any other participating municipality, he
shall be eligible to participate, and shall be entitled to credit, in the municipal employees'
retirement system for the period of such municipal employment. Such member shall
receive no retirement allowance while so employed except if his services are rendered
for not more than ninety working days in any one calendar year, provided that any
member reemployed for a period of more than ninety working days in one calendar year
shall reimburse the municipal retirement fund for retirement income payments received
during such ninety working days.
(1949 Rev., S. 892; P.A. 73-519; P.A. 77-122; P.A. 86-243, S. 6, 10; P.A. 87-83, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 73-519 permitted retirees resuming employment with state or municipality to continue to receive benefits if
not employed by same department or agency from which they retired, reversing previous provisions and deleting restriction
concerning number of months to be employed, and excluded resumed work period from credit in system or contributions;
P.A. 77-122 added Subsec. (b) re reemployment in same department or agency; P.A. 86-243 permitted retired members
who become employed by the state to participate in the state retirement system for the period of state service; P.A. 87-83
amended Subsec. (a) to be applicable to retired members who are employed by a nonparticipating municipality or the state
and amended Subsec. (b) to provide that any retired member employed by a participating municipality shall be entitled to
retirement credit for such service.
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(1949 Rev., S. 893; 1959, P.A. 273; 1967, P.A. 812; 1971, P.A. 622, S. 1; P.A. 86-243, S. 9, 10.)
See Sec. 7-439g for successor provisions.
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(P.A. 77-584, S. 1, 5; P.A. 79-305, S. 1, 4; P.A. 80-37, S. 1, 3; P.A. 81-112; P.A. 82-472, S. 19, 182, 183; P.A. 83-3,
S. 2, 5; 83-383, S. 1, 2; P.A. 86-243, S. 4, 10; P.A. 88-149, S. 2, 5; P.A. 93-356, S. 9.)
History: P.A. 79-305 added Subsec. (b) re adjustments in benefits to provide three per cent cost-of-living increase; P.A.
80-37 added reference to July 1, 1981; P.A. 81-112 added Subsec. (c) re annual cost of living increases beginning July 1,
1982; P.A. 82-472 repealed P.A. 81-112 (which was codified as Subsec. (c)) re cost-of-living increases effective on July
1, 1982 and thereafter; P.A. 83-3 inserted new Subsec. (c) re cost-of-living adjustments in retirement allowances, incorrectly
repealed by authority of P.A. 82-472; P.A. 83-383 amended Subsec. (c) to provide for a mandatory annual cost-of- living
adjustment for all recipients, beginning July 1, 1983, replacing former limited applicability, and imposed three per cent
minimum for increase amount; P.A. 86-243 deleted obsolete language, clarified the procedure for calculating the cost-of-
living adjustment annually, and specifically provided for the funding of any liability caused by the payment of the mandatory
minimum adjustment; P.A. 88-149 substituted "annuitant" for "spouse"; P.A. 93-356 deleted provisions re adjustments
to municipalities' past service amortizations to fund liability resulting from cost-of-living increases provided to members
receiving retirement allowances.
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(P.A. 77-584, S. 2, 5.)
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(P.A. 77-584, S. 3, 5; P.A. 93-356, S. 10.)
History: P.A. 93-356 deleted a reference to Sec. 7-435 re cost-of-living adjustments for fund A members.
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(P.A. 77-584, S. 4, 5.)
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(P.A. 79-305, S. 2, 4.)
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(1) A reduced amount payable to the member for his lifetime, with the provision
that after his death his spouse, if surviving, shall be entitled to receive a lifetime income
equal to fifty per cent of the reduced monthly amount payable to the member;
(2) A reduced amount payable to the member for his lifetime, with the provision
that after his death, his contingent annuitant shall be entitled to receive a lifetime income
equal to either fifty or one hundred per cent of the reduced amount payable to the
member;
(3) A reduced amount payable to the member for his lifetime, with the provision that
if he shall die within either a ten or twenty-year period following the date his retirement
income commences, whichever is selected by the member, the reduced amount continues to his contingent annuitant for the balance of the ten or twenty-year period; or
(4) An amount payable to the member for his lifetime, with no payments continuing
after the member's death, except for a lump sum death benefit as provided in section
7-440.
(b) If a member who is continuing to accrue municipal service or who is on a leave
authorized by the municipality, dies on or after July 1, 1985, and (1) after completion
of the age and service requirements for retirement under section 7-428, 7-431 or 7-
432 or, (2) after completing twenty-five years of service, his spouse, provided they are
lawfully married at the time of the member's death and have been lawfully married for
at least twelve months preceding his death, shall receive a lifetime income in an amount
equal to fifty per cent of the average of the retirement income that the member would
have been entitled to if he had retired the day he died had his benefits been paid under
the option specified in subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section and the retirement
income that the member would have been entitled to if he had retired the day he died
and had his benefit been paid under the option specified in subdivision (1) of said subsection. The spouse's eligibility for such benefits shall commence from the day next following the member's date of death. If such member was not eligible to retire at the time of
his death, such benefit shall be calculated as if he had reached age fifty-five, but based
on his service and final average earnings at his date of death.
(c) If a member who has terminated with at least twenty-five years of service or
retired pursuant to section 7-428, 7-431 or 7-432, but whose benefits in either event are
not yet being paid, dies prior to the commencing date of his benefits, his spouse, provided
they have been lawfully married for at least the twelve months preceding his death, shall
receive a lifetime income equal to fifty per cent of the average of the retirement income
that the member would have been entitled to if his benefits had commenced the date he
died had his benefit been paid under the option specified in subdivision (4) of subsection
(a) of this section and the retirement income that the member would have been entitled
to with such benefits being paid under the option specified in subdivision (1) of said
subsection. If such member was not eligible to retire at the time of his death, such benefit
shall be calculated as if he had reached age fifty-five. The spouse's eligibility for such
benefits shall commence from the day next following the member's date of death.
(d) On and after July 1, 1986, if a member who has completed the age and service
requirements for retirement under section 7-428, 7-431 or 7-432, and who has elected
to receive his retirement benefits under subdivision (2) or (3) of subsection (a) of this
section, dies prior to the effective date of commencement of benefits but within ninety
days after he first elects to receive his retirement benefits under subdivision (2) or (3)
of said subsection (a), then his beneficiary or contingent annuitant shall receive an income in an amount equal to the benefit that would have been payable to the survivor
had the member retired the day he died and had his benefit been paid under the option
he had elected at the time of his death. This subsection shall not apply after ninety days
after the date the member first elects to receive his benefit under subdivision (2) or
(3) of subsection (a) of this section. In the event that income payments to a surviving
beneficiary or contingent annuitant are payable under this subsection, such payments
shall be in lieu of payments under subsections (b) and (c) of this section.
(P.A. 86-243, S. 3, 10; P.A. 87-83, S, 1; P.A. 88-186; P.A. 91-86; P.A. 93-356, S. 14.)
History: P.A. 87-83 amended Subsecs. (b) and (c) to specify that the spouse's eligibility for death benefits commences
on the day after the members' death, and to include spouses of members who retired or who were eligible to retire pursuant
to Sec. 7-431 within its provisions; P.A. 88-186 added Subsec. (d) providing an additional retirement income option; P.A.
91-86 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provisions re spousal consent; P.A. 93-356 amended Subdiv. (2) of Subsec. (b) to
make a spouse eligible for death benefits if the spouse is married to a member at the time of his death and had been
married to the member for a total of twelve months, and not necessarily the twelve consecutive months, preceding the
member's death.
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(b) If a member or beneficiary has been overpaid through no fault of his own, and
he could not reasonably have been expected to detect the error, the Retirement Commission may waive any repayment which it believes would cause hardship.
(c) The Retirement Commission shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 establishing criteria for the waiver of repayment.
(P.A. 88-144.)
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(1949 Rev., S. 894; 1957, P.A. 447, S. 9; 1959, P.A. 310; 1967, P.A. 399; 1969, P.A. 244; P.A. 84-106, S. 5, 8; P.A.
86-243, S. 5, 10; P.A. 87-72; P.A. 88-149, S. 3, 5.)
History: 1959 act added provision re service credit for reemployed member who had withdrawn his contributions
and added qualification re nonelection of option in providing for disposition of contributions where member dies before
retirement; 1967 act allowed refunds to beneficiaries of deceased members who have not completed age and service
requirements; 1969 act allowed withdrawal of contributions originally made to another system and transferred to municipal
employees retirement fund; P.A. 84-106 provided that interest at the rate of five per cent per year shall be credited to
contributions withdrawn from the fund, and to contributions paid to eligible beneficiaries of deceased members and that
such interest shall be repaid by members attempting to reinstate previous service credits in the system; P.A. 86-243 provided
that upon withdrawal of contributions, interest shall be included and shall be calculated from July 1, 1983, instead of July
1, 1984; P.A. 87-72 provided that members who leave municipal service but do not immediately withdraw their contributions shall continue to earn interest on such contributions until they are withdrawn; P.A. 88-149 provided for the refund
of contributions made by a municipal employer for the purchase of wartime military service credit for an employee who
leaves the employment of the municipality and withdraws from the municipal retirement system.
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