Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-21-1 (2026)

Purpose of chapter

✓ current as of July 2026
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It is the express intention of the legislature by the passage of this chapter to provide an actuarially financed retirement system for municipal employees, properly integrated with the federal Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 301 et seq., to the end that adequate benefits may be established for the employees of any municipality who become superannuated or otherwise incapacitated while in service, and whereby the employees may be assisted in accumulating reserves for themselves and their dependents to satisfactorily meet the conditions incident to old age, death, disability, and termination of the employees, in the interest of maintaining and promoting efficiency and economy in the administration of government.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1974–2026 · leading case: McGrath v. Rhode Island Ret. Bd., 88 F.3d 12 (1st Cir. 1996).
McGrath v. Rhode Island Ret. Bd., 88 F.3d 12 (1st Cir. 1996). “2784 (codified at R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 45-21-1 to 45-21-62 (1991 Reenactment & Supp.”
Elliott v. Town of Warren, 818 A.2d 652 (R.I. 2003). · cites it 3× “Section 45-21-1 explicitly sets forth the purpose of the act as intended to provide “an actuarially financed retirement system for municipal employees,” in which adequate benefits are available “for the employees of any municipality who become superannuated or otherwise…”
McGrath v. Rhode Island Ret. Bd. Ex Rel. Mayer, 906 F. Supp. 749 (D.R.I. 1995). · cites it 3× “Laws §§ 36-8-1 to -10-38 (1990), and a second for municipal employees, governed by R.I.Gen.Laws §§ 45-21-1 to -62 (1991 & Supp.”
Lanni v. Ferrante, 688 A.2d 865 (R.I. 1997). · cites it 3× “On September 22, 1971, plaintiff applied for accidental disability retirement benefits from the Municipal Employees’ Retirement System created pursuant to G.L. § 45-21-1 et seq. after sustaining career-ending injuries during the course of his employment.”
Roselli v. Affleck, 373 F. Supp. 36 (D.R.I. 1974). · cites it 2× “own behalf and, pursuant to Rule 23, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, on behalf of all other Rhode Island recipients of financial assistance under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program, “AFDC”, who are residing in and obligated to pay for housing other than that…”
Cranston Firefighters, IAFF Local 1363 v. Raimondo, 880 F.3d 44 (1st Cir. 2018). “2784 (codified as amended at 45 R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-21-1 , et seq, (2017)).”
Sean M. O'Connell v. Employees' Ret. Sys. of Rhode Island (R.I. 2026). · cites it 2× “” G.L. 1956 § 45-21-1. The General Assembly also established within MERS the “Optional Retirement for Members of Police Force and Firefighters” (the Optional Plan) to provide “municipalities with an alternate retirement plan for police and fire fighters * * *.”
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