Md. Code, Local Government § 12–203

(a) The County Commissioners of Charles County may provide retirement

funds for employees who reach retirement age before the establishment of a pension

plan under § 12–201 of this subtitle.

(b) (1) The County Commissioners of Charles County shall establish a

separate pension plan for sworn employees of the Charles County Sheriff’s

department who:

(i) are actively engaged in law enforcement; and

(ii) were working in law enforcement within the department

on or before June 30, 1986.

(2) (i) A member may retire if the member has at least 30 years

of active service regardless of age.

(ii) On retirement under this paragraph, a member is entitled

to receive a retirement allowance equal to 80% of the member’s average base salary

for the 3 highest years preceding retirement.

(3) (i) A member may retire with an early retirement allowance

if the member has at least 20 years but less than 30 years of active service.

(ii) On retirement under this paragraph, a member is entitled

to receive a retirement allowance under paragraph (2)(ii) of this subsection, reduced

by 2% for each year that the member’s early retirement date precedes the date the

member would have had 30 years of active service.

(4) The contribution rate of a member may not exceed 8% of the

member’s base salary.

(5) The pension plan shall include disability provisions and death

benefits for the spouse of a member, minor children of a member, or both.

(6) The pension plan shall provide for cost–of–living adjustments and

a cash refund of member contributions, plus interest, for a member who terminates

employment with the Charles County Sheriff’s department before retirement.

(7) The pension plan shall provide for a credit of 2% for each year of

active duty in the armed forces of the United States, for up to 3 years, to be added to

the member’s retirement after reaching minimum retirement.

(8) For each member, the provisions of the pension plan shall apply

retroactively to the member’s original date of employment.

(9) The pension plan is effective on or after July 1, 1995.

(c) (1) The County Commissioners of Charles County shall establish a

separate pension plan for sworn employees of the Charles County Sheriff’s

department who:

(i) are actively engaged in law enforcement; and

(ii) were hired by the Sheriff’s department on or after July 1,

1986.

(2) (i) A member may retire if the member has at least 30 years

of active service regardless of age.

(ii) On retirement under this paragraph, a member is entitled

to receive a retirement allowance equal to 80% of the member’s average base salary

for the 3 highest years preceding retirement.

(3) (i) A member may retire with an early retirement allowance

if the member has at least 25 years but less than 30 years of active service.

(ii) On retirement under this paragraph, a member is entitled

to receive a retirement allowance under paragraph (2)(ii) of this subsection, reduced

by 2% for each year that the member’s early retirement date precedes the date the

member would have had 30 years of active service.

(4) The pension plan shall include provisions for early retirement

after 20 years of service that:

(i) actuarially reduce the retirement allowance depending on

the member’s age at the time of retirement and for each year less than 25 years of

service; and

(ii) are approved by the county commissioners.

(5) The contribution rate of a member may not exceed 8% of the

member’s base salary.

(6) The pension plan shall include disability provisions and death

benefits for the spouse of a member, minor children of a member, or both.

(7) The pension plan shall provide for cost–of–living adjustments and

a cash refund of member contributions, plus interest, for a member who terminates

employment with the Charles County Sheriff’s department before retirement.

(8) The pension plan shall provide for a credit of 2% for each year of

active duty in the armed forces of the United States, for up to 3 years, to be added to

the member’s retirement after reaching minimum retirement.

(9) The provisions of the pension plan may include any member who

was working in law enforcement on July 1, 1986, and shall apply retroactively to the

date of that employment.

(10) The pension plan is effective on or after July 1, 1995.

(d) The pension plan established under subsection (b) or (c) of this section

may include the Charles County Sheriff.

(e) (1) The County Commissioners of Charles County shall establish a

separate pension plan for employees of the Charles County Sheriff’s department who

are classified as correctional officers.

(2) (i) A member may retire if the member has at least 25 years

of active service regardless of age.

(ii) On retirement under this paragraph, a member is entitled

to receive a retirement allowance equal to 2.25% of the member’s average base salary

for the 3 highest years preceding retirement multiplied by each year of the member’s

years of credited service.

(iii) A member’s retirement allowance provided under this

paragraph may not exceed 75% of the member’s average base salary for the 3 highest

years preceding retirement.

(3) (i) A member may retire with an early retirement allowance

if the member has at least 20 years but less than 25 years of active service.

(ii) The pension plan shall include provisions for early

retirement after 20 years of active service that:

1. actuarially reduce the retirement allowance

depending on the member’s age at the time of retirement and for each year less than

25 years of service; and

2. are approved by the county commissioners.

(4) The contribution rate of a member may not exceed 7% of the

member’s base salary.

(5) The pension plan shall include disability provisions and death

benefits for the spouse of a member, minor children of a member, or both.

(6) The pension plan shall provide for cost–of–living adjustments and

a cash refund of member contributions for a member who terminates employment

with the Charles County Sheriff’s department before retirement.

(7) The pension plan shall provide for a credit for each year of active

duty in the armed forces of the United States, for up to 3 years, to be added to the

member’s retirement after reaching minimum retirement.

(8) The provisions of the pension plan may include any member who

was working as a Charles County correctional officer on July 1, 1995, and shall apply

retroactively to the date of that employment.

(9) The pension plan is effective on or after July 1, 1995.

(f) (1) The County Commissioners of Charles County shall establish a

separate pension plan for employees of Charles County who are classified as

communications employees.

(2) (i) A member may retire if the member has at least 25 years

of active service regardless of age.

(ii) On retirement under this paragraph, a member is entitled

to receive a retirement allowance equal to 2% of the member’s average base salary

for the 3 highest years preceding retirement multiplied by each year of the member’s

years of credited service.

(iii) A member’s retirement allowance provided under this

paragraph may not exceed 75% of the member’s average base salary for the 3 highest

years preceding retirement.

(3) (i) A member may retire with an early retirement allowance

if the member has at least 20 years but less than 25 years of active service.

(ii) The pension plan shall include provisions for early

retirement after 20 years of active service that:

1. actuarially reduce the retirement allowance

depending on the member’s age at the time of retirement and for each year less than

25 years of service; and

2. are approved by the county commissioners.

(4) The contribution rate of a member may not exceed 7% of the

member’s base salary.

(5) The pension plan shall include disability provisions and death

benefits for the spouse of a member, minor children of a member, or both.

(6) The pension plan shall provide for cost–of–living adjustments and

a cash refund of member contributions for a member who terminates employment as

a communications employee for Charles County before retirement.

(7) The pension plan shall provide for a credit for each year of active

duty in the armed forces of the United States, for up to 3 years, to be added to the

member’s retirement after reaching minimum retirement.

(8) The provisions of the pension plan may include any member who

was working as a communications employee for Charles County on July 1, 1995, and

shall apply retroactively to the date of that employment.

(9) The pension plan is effective on or after July 1, 1995.