PARRIS N. GLENDENING, Governor

Ch. 736

WHEREAS, It is important to ensure that all employees who involuntarily lost their
State position due to the closure of a State facility are treated the same regardless of the
method of their separation from employment; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - State Personnel and Pensions

21-304.

(d) (4) If the accrued liability is increased by legislation that provides for early
retirement of state employees, the additional liability shall be funded over a period of 5
years beginning on:

(I) July 1, 1997 FOR LEGISLATION EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 1996; AND

(II) JULY 1, 1998 FOR LEGISLATION EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 1997.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That:

(1) A member or former member of the Employees' Retirement System or
the Employees' Pension System may retire if the individual:

(i) Submits a written application to the Board of Trustees from June
1, 1997 through July 1 June 30, 1997, both inclusive;

(ii) Was Received a notice from the Department of Budget and
Management certifying that the individual was laid off as a result of the closure of a State
facility at any time after December 31, 1995 and before July 1, 1997, and was not
reemployed by the State in another position, as certified by the Department of Budget
and Management; and

(iii) Met the eligibility criteria for retiring under Section 2(2) of
Chapter 353 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1996, except for the requirement that
the employee be separated from employment as a result of the elimination of the
employee's position in the State budget or by budget amendment;

(2) An employee who elects the early retirement incentive under this section
of this Act shall retire on July 1, 1997;

(3) (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, an
application to retire under this section of this Act is irrevocable;

(ii) The Secretary of Budget and Management may allow a member to
revoke an application if that member has experienced extenuating circumstances since
submitting the application, and the member submits a written request to the Secretary for
a revocation of the member's application; and

(iii) If a member revokes an application for retirement that is allowed
under subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the Secretary of Budget and Management shall
notify the Board of Trustees of the revocation not later than 2 weeks after the revocation;

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