(a)  In determining the creditable service of any certified nurse teacher employed by the state or by any city or town for the purpose of retirement or a service retirement allowance (not including a deferred retirement allowance), there may be added to, and included in, total service as defined in this chapter not more than four (4) years of “appropriate work experience.” The service shall not be counted as creditable service unless the member shall pay into the retirement system a contribution equal to the full actuarial costs for each year of the service for which the member claims credit.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 16-16-6.4

  • Member: means any person included in the membership of the retirement system under the provisions of this chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 16-16-1
  • Service: means service as a teacher as described in subdivision (12) of this section. See Rhode Island General Laws 16-16-1
  • system: means the employees' retirement system of the state of Rhode Island created by chapter 8 of Title 36, and "retirement board" means the board established under that chapter. See Rhode Island General Laws 16-16-1
  • Teacher: means a person required to hold a certificate of qualification issued by or under the authority of the board of regents for elementary and secondary education and who is engaged in teaching as his or her principal occupation and is regularly employed as a teacher in the public schools of any city or town in the state, or any formalized, commissioner approved, cooperative service arrangement. See Rhode Island General Laws 16-16-1
  • Teaching: includes teaching, supervising, and superintending or assistant superintending of schools. See Rhode Island General Laws 16-16-1
  • Total service: means prior service as defined in subdivision (6) of this section, plus service rendered as a member of the system on or after the first day of July, 1949. See Rhode Island General Laws 16-16-1
  • town: may be construed to include city; the words "town council" include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9

(b)  Credit for “appropriate work experience” which is purchased under paragraph (a) above may also be used for retirement purposes under the provisions of subsection (a) for certified nurse teachers who retire on ordinary disability under § 36-10-13 or § 16-16-14, provided the certified nurse teachers have at least ten (10) years’ creditable service.

(c)  The term “appropriate work experience” for the purposes of a certified nurse teacher means service in any industry, business, or other appropriate enterprise where a member has worked as a registered nurse and for which no credit for the purposes of retirement has been granted for either teaching in a school of nursing or for any other appropriate work experience; provided, however, that no member shall be allowed credit for more than a total of four (4) years of service credit.

History of Section.
P.L. 1987, ch. 591, § 1; P.L. 1989, ch. 538, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 86, § 36; P.L. 2011, ch. 408, § 10; P.L. 2011, ch. 409, § 10.