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LAWS OF MARYLAND                                      Ch. 92

Sheriff's department which shall include the sheriff and each
sworn employee of the Sheriff's department who is actively
engaged in law enforcement. The pension plan shall provide
eligibility for retirement after [thirty (30)] 30 years of active
service regardless of age, and for early retirement after [twenty
(20)] 20 years of active service reduced by [two per centum (2%)]
2.5 PERCENT for each year less than [thirty (30)] 30. Retirement
income shall be [seventy per centum (70%)] 75 PERCENT of final
average earnings (base salary) for the three years preceding
retirement, with a minimum of [twenty (20)] 20 years and [fifty
per centum (50%)]50 PERCENT of the annual earnings and less
[three quarters (3/4)] THREE-FOURTHS of social security benefits
paid. The plan shall be retroactive to include any living person
who is working in law enforcement at the time of the effective
date of this act or who has been engaged in law enforcement
within the department, and shall apply back to the date of that
employment. The plan shall contain disability provisions and
death benefits for spouse and/or minor children. Employee's
contribution shall not exceed [seven per centum (7%)] 7 PERCENT
on the first $9,000 of annual earnings plus [ten per centum
(10%)] 10 PERCENT on annual earnings in excess of $9,000. There
shall be a cost of living adjustment and a provision for a cash
refund of contributions, plus interest for persons terminating
employment. This pension plan shall become effective on or
before July 1, 1973.

(B) (1) IN CHARLES COUNTY THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHALL
ESTABLISH A SEPARATE PENSION PLAN FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF THE
CHARLES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. THE PLAN MAY INCLUDE THE
SHERIFF AND SWORN EMPLOYEES OF THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT WHO ARE
ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

(2)  THE PENSION PLAN SHALL PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY FOR
RETIREMENT AFTER 30 YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE REGARDLESS OF AGE,
AND FOR EARLY RETIREMENT AFTER 25 YEARS OF ACTIVE SERVICE REDUCED
BY 2.5 PERCENT FOR EACH YEAR LESS THAN 30. RETIREMENT INCOME
SHALL BE 75 PERCENT OF FINAL AVERAGE EARNINGS (BASE SALARY) FOR
THE 3 YEARS PRECEDING RETIREMENT, WITH A MINIMUM OF 25 YEARS AND
62.5 PERCENT OF THE ANNUAL EARNINGS AND LESS THREE-FOURTHS OF
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS PAID.

(3)  THE PLAN SHALL BE RETROACTIVE IN THAT IT MAY
INCLUDE ANY LIVING PERSON WHO IS WORKING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT ON
JULY 1, 1986, AND SHALL APPLY BACK TO THE DATE OF THAT
EMPLOYMENT.

(4)  THE PLAN SHALL CONTAIN DISABILITY PROVISIONS AND
DEATH BENEFITS FOR SPOUSE AND MINOR CHILDREN.

(5)  EMPLOYEE'S CONTRIBUTION MAY NOT EXCEED 7 PERCENT
ON THE FIRST $9,000[.] OF ANNUAL EARNINGS PLUS 10 PERCENT ON
ANNUAL EARNINGS IN EXCESS OF $9,000.