§ 28-30-15.1. Retirement of judges engaged after July 2, 1997. (a) Whenever any person first engaged as a judge:

(1) Subsequent to July 2, 1997 and prior to January 1, 2009, has served as a workers' compensation judge for twenty (20) years, or has so served for ten (10) years and has reached the age of sixty-five (65) years, he or she may retire from active service and subsequently he or she shall receive annually during life a sum equal to three-fourths (3/4) of his or her average highest three (3) consecutive years of compensation;

(2) On or after January 1, 2009 and prior to July 1, 2009, has served as a workers' compensation judge for twenty (20) years or has so served for ten (10) years and reached the age of sixty-five (65) years, he or she may retire from active service and subsequently he or she shall receive annually during life a sum equal to seventy percent (70%) of his or her average highest three (3) consecutive years or compensation.

(3) On or after July 1, 2009, has served as a workers' compensation judge for twenty (20) years, or has served for ten (10) years, and reached the age of sixty-five (65) years, he or she may retire from regular active service and thereafter said justice shall receive annually during his or her life a sum equal to sixty-five (65%) percent of his or her average highest five (5) consecutive years of compensation.

(b) In determining eligibility under this section, any judge who has served as a general officer may include that service as if that service had been on the workers' compensation court. Whenever a judge shall be granted a leave of absence without pay, such absence shall not be credited towards active service time for the purposes of retirement.

(c) Any judge who retires in accordance with the provisions of this section may at his or her own request and at the direction of the chief justice of the supreme court subject to the retiree's physical and mental competence, be assigned to perform those services that a judge on the workers' compensation court as the chief judge prescribes. When so assigned and performing those services, he or she shall have all the powers and authority of a judge. A retired judge shall not be counted in the number of judges provided by law for the workers' compensation court.

History of Section. (P.L. 1997, ch. 93, § 4; P.L. 2007, ch. 126, § 3; P.L. 2007, ch. 179, § 3; P.L. 2008, ch. 100, art. 35, § 3; P.L. 2009, ch. 68, art. 7, § 7; P.L. 2013, ch. 30, § 1; P.L. 2013, ch. 40, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 78, § 2; P.L. 2014, ch. 87, § 2.)