HARRY HUGHES, Governor

3575

31.

(a) Whenever any of the employees of the Department of
Maryland State Police, who have elected not to become
members of the State Police Retirement System of the State
of Maryland, and any of the license examiners of the
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall have given meritorious
service as an employee for a period of fifteen continuous
years, and shall have reached the age of 55 years, excepting
the physician of the Department who shall have reached the
age of 65 years, the employees shall be eligible for
retirement forthwith upon his or her voluntary application
or may be retired by the Superintendent of the Department of
Maryland State Police. These employees shall retire
forthwith upon reaching the age of 64, excepting the
physician of the Department who shall be retired forthwith
upon reaching the age of 70. In all retirements under the
provisions of this section the employee in question shall be
paid during the remainder of his or her natural life a
salary or pension, payable monthly, equal to fifty percent
(50%) of his or her annual remuneration, the annual
remuneration to be taken as of the year immediately
preceding the granting of his or her application for
retirement; provided, however, that any employee who is
retired and is receiving retirement benefits under the
provisions of this section and § 31A and such benefits in
the aggregate are less than $200.00 per month, shall receive
an additional sum so that the amount received as benefit is
in no event less than $200.00. Any employee who is retired
and who is receiving retirement benefits under the
provisions of this section and is also receiving benefits
from the federal old age and survivors insurance system,
when the benefits in the aggregate are less than $200.00 per
month shall receive an additional sum equal to the
difference. No money payable under this subtitle shall,
prior to issuance and delivery of the warrant or voucher
therefor, be capable of being assigned, charged or taken in
execution or attachment. All employees subject to the
provisions of this subtitle shall contribute to the pension
fund, hereinafter provided for, a sum equal to the
contribution which the employees would have paid to the
State Police Retirement System for all benefits thereunder
had they elected to become members thereof. The amount of
the contribution of each of the employees subject to the
provisions of this subtitle shall be fixed annually in
advance by the board of trustees of the retirement and
pension system of the Maryland State Police and shall be
deducted monthly from the remuneration of the employees and
paid in lieu thereof to the board to be placed by it
forthwith in the pension fund. [The fund shall also consist
of all fines imposed upon members of the Maryland State
Police by way of discipline, donations, all lost, abandoned,
unclaimed or stolen money, which may remain in the
possession of the Department for the space of three years