Vermont H 519: An act relating to indemnification of employee legal expenses

Bill Text

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No. 95. An act relating to Vermont State Employees’ Retirement System
Group G membership.
(H.519)
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Sec. 1. 3 V.S.A. § 455 is amended to read:
§ 455. DEFINITIONS
(a) As used in this subchapter:
* * *
(11) “Member” means any employee included in the membership of the
Retirement System under section 457 of this title.
* * *
(F) “Group G member” means:
(i) the following employees who are first employed in the
positions listed in this subdivision (F)(i) on or after July 1, 2023, or who are
members of the System as of June 30, 2022 2023, and make an irrevocable
election to prospectively join Group G on or before June 30, 2023, pursuant to
the terms set by the Board: facility employees of the Department of
Corrections, as Department of Corrections employees who provide direct
security and treatment services to offenders under supervision in the
community, employees of a facility for justice-involved youth, and employees
of the Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital or its successor in interest, who
provide direct patient care; and

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(ii) the following employees who are first employed in the
positions listed in this subdivision (F)(ii) or first included in the membership of
the System on or after January 1, 2025, or who are members of the System as
of December 31, 2024, and make an irrevocable election to join Group G on or
before December 31, 2024, pursuant to the terms set by the Board:
(I) all sheriffs; and
(II) deputy sheriffs who:
(aa) are employed by county sheriff’s departments that
participate in the Vermont Employees’ Retirement System;
(bb) have attained Level II or Level III law enforcement
officer certification from the Vermont Criminal Justice Council;
(cc) are required to perform law enforcement duties as the
primary function of their employment; and
(dd) are not full-time deputy sheriffs compensated by the
State of Vermont whose primary function is transports as defined in 24 V.S.A.
§ 290(b) and eligible for Group C pursuant to subdivision (9)(B) of this
subsection (a); and
(iii) the following employees who are first employed in the
positions listed in this subdivision (F)(iii) or first included in the membership
of the System on or after January 1, 2027, or who are members of the System
as of December 31, 2026, and make an irrevocable election to join Group G on
or before December 31, 2026, pursuant to the terms set by the Board and who:

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(I) are employed by a municipal employer that participates in
the Vermont Employees’ Retirement System;
(II) have attained Level II or Level III law enforcement officer
certification from the Vermont Criminal Justice Council; and
(III) are required to perform law enforcement duties as the
primary function of their employment.
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(13) “Normal retirement date” means:
* * *
(E) with respect to a Group G member:
(i) for facility employees of the Department of Corrections,
Department of Corrections employees who provide direct security and
treatment services to offenders under supervision in the community, employees
of a facility for justice-involved youth, or employees of the Vermont
Psychiatric Care Hospital or its predecessor or successor in interest, who
provide direct patient care, who were first included in the membership of the
System on or before June 30, 2008, who were employed as of June 30, 2022
2023, and who made an irrevocable election to prospectively join Group G on
or before July 1, 2023, pursuant to the terms set by the Board, the first day of
the calendar month next following the earlier of:
(I) 62 years of age and following completion of five years of
creditable service;

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(II) completion of 30 years of creditable service; or
(III) 55 years of age and following completion of 20 years of
creditable service;
(ii) for facility employees of the Department of Corrections,
Department of Corrections employees who provide direct security and
treatment services to offenders under supervision in the community, as
employees of a facility for justice-involved youth, or employees of the
Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital or its predecessor or successor in interest,
who provide direct patient care, who were first included in the membership of
the System on or after July 1, 2008, who were employed as of June 30, 2022
2023, and who made an irrevocable election to prospectively join Group G on
or before July 1, 2023, pursuant to the terms set by the Board, the first day of
the calendar month next following the earlier of:
(I) 65 years of age and following completion of five years of
creditable service;
(II) attainment of 87 points reflecting a combination of the age
of the member and number of years of service; or
(III) 55 years of age and following completion of 20 years of
creditable service;
(iii) for facility employees of th