As used in this chapter, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 1983, c. 853, Pt. C, §§ 15, 18 (NEW).]
1. Accumulated contributions. "Accumulated contributions" means the sum of all the amounts credited to a member's individual account, together with regular interest thereon.
[PL 1983, c. 853, Pt. C, §§ 15, 18 (NEW).]
2. Actuarial equivalent. "Actuarial equivalent" means an amount of equal value when computed at the discount rate contained in actuarial assumptions adopted by the board of trustees.
[PL 2021, c. 548, §2 (AMD).]
3. Average final compensation. "Average final compensation" means:
A. The average annual rate of earnable compensation of a member during the 3 years of creditable service as a judge, not necessarily consecutive, in which the member's annual rate of earnable compensation is highest; or [PL 1989, c. 133, §15 (NEW).]
B. The average annualized rate of earnable compensation of a member during the entire period of creditable service if that period is less than 3 years. [PL 1989, c. 133, §15 (NEW).]
If a member took one or more days off without pay during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2002, as authorized by the State Court Administrator, and the member elects to make the contribution provided for in section 1306, the average final compensation must be determined as if the member had not taken those days off without pay.
[PL 2003, c. 486, §1 (AMD).]
4. Beneficiary. "Beneficiary" means any person who receives or is designated to receive a benefit provided by this chapter.
[PL 1983, c. 853, Pt. C, §§ 15, 18 (NEW).]
5. Board of trustees. "Board of trustees" means the board provided for in section 1231.
[PL 1983, c. 863, Pt. B, §§ 8, 45 (AMD).]
6. Child or children.
[PL 1989, c. 133, §16 (RP).]
6-A. Dependent child. "Dependent child" means:
A. Any unmarried, natural or legally adopted, born or unborn member's progeny, who is:
(1) Under 18 years of age; or
(2) Under 22 years of age and a full-time student; or [PL 1989, c. 133, §17 (NEW).]
B. Regardless of age or marital status, any other progeny certified by an independent health care provider or the medical review service provider to be permanently mentally incompetent or permanently physically incapacitated and determined by the executive director to be unable to engage in any substantially gainful employment. [PL 2021, c. 277, §3 (AMD); PL 2021, c. 277, §45 (AFF).]
[PL 2021, c. 277, §3 (AMD); PL 2021, c. 277, §45 (AFF).]
7. Consumer Price Index. "Consumer Price Index" means the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, CPI-U, as compiled by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics; or, if the index is revised or superseded, the board shall employ the Consumer Price Index compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor that the board of trustees finds to be most reflective of changes in the purchasing power of the dollar for the broadest population of consumers, including retired consumers.
[PL 2003, c. 387, §1 (AMD).]
8. Creditable service. "Creditable service" means membership service and prior service as a judge which is credited towards retirement in accordance with subchapter IV.
[PL 1983, c. 863, Pt. B, §§ 8, 45 (AMD).]
8-A. Duly acknowledged. "Duly acknowledged" means acknowledged pursuant to chapter 39 or through an electronic identification process designated in a rule established by the board of trustees.
[PL 2025, c. 221, §2 (NEW).]
9. Earnable compensation. "Earnable compensation" means the annual salary as a judge. Any money paid by the State under an annuity contract for the future benefit of a judge must be considered part of the judge's earnable compensation. The earnable compensation of a member retired with a disability retirement allowance under section 1353 must be assumed, for the purposes of determining benefits under this chapter, to be continued after the member's date of termination of service at the same rate as received immediately prior thereto, subject to the same percentage adjustments, if any, that may apply to the amount of retirement allowance of the beneficiary under section 1358. For a member who served as a judge any time between July 1, 2003 and June 30, 2005, earnable compensation includes the salary that would have been paid for a judge in the given year if the cost-of-living adjustments in fiscal year 2003-04 and fiscal year 2004-05 had been funded. For a member who served as a judge any time between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011, earnable compensation includes the salary that would have been paid for a judge in that year if the cost-of-living adjustment in fiscal year 2010-11 had been funded.
[PL 2009, c. 571, Pt. MMMM, §1 (AMD); PL 2009, c. 571, Pt. MMMM, §3 (AFF).]
10. Father.
[PL 1989, c. 133, §18 (RP).]
10-A. Health care provider. "Health care provider" means an appropriately licensed, certified or registered provider of mental or physical health care, in either the public or private sector.
[PL 2021, c. 277, §4 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 277, §45 (AFF).]
11. Fiduciary. "Fiduciary" means a bank or a professional investment manager.
[PL 1983, c. 853, Pt. C, §§ 15, 18 (NEW).]
11-A. Internal Revenue Code. "Internal Revenue Code" or "Code" means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
[PL 2009, c. 474, §6 (NEW).]
12. Judge. "Judge" means a Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court or the Superior Court, any Judge of the District Court, any Administrative Court Judge or any Associate Administrative Court Judge who is actively serving as of December 1, 1984, or who is appointed subsequent to December 1, 1984, but does not include Active Retired Judges.
[PL 2001, c. 12, §1 (AMD).]
12-A. Medical provider.
[PL 2021, c. 277, §5 (RP); PL 2021, c. 277, §45 (AFF).]
12-B. Medical review service provider. "Medical review service provider" means an entity with whom the executive director has contracted for the review of medical records and the provision of recommendations, opinions and certifications under this chapter by health care providers employed by the entity.
[PL 2021, c. 277, §6 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 277, §45 (AFF).]
13. Member. "Member" means a judge who is included in the membership of the Maine Judicial Retirement System as provided in section 1301.
[PL 1983, c. 853, Pt. C, §§ 15, 18 (NEW).]
14. Membership service. "Membership service" means service rendered while a member of the Maine Judicial Retirement System for which credit is allowed under section 1302.
[PL 1983, c. 853, Pt. C, §§ 15, 18 (NEW).]
15. Mother.
[PL 1989, c. 133, §18 (RP).]
16. Parent.
[PL 1989, c. 133, §18 (RP).]
16-A. Prior service. "Prior service" means all service before December 1, 1984, as a judge.
[PL 1983, c. 863, Pt. B, §§ 9, 45 (NEW).]
17. Regular interest. "Regular interest" means interest at the rate which the Board of Trustees of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System sets from time to time, in accordance with Title 5, section 17156.
[PL 1989, c. 502, Pt. A, §10 (AMD); PL 2007, c. 58, §3 (REV).]
18. Retirement. "Retirement" means the termination of membership service with a retirement allowance granted under this chapter.
[PL 1983, c. 853, Pt. C, §§ 15, 18 (NEW).]
19. Spouse. "Spouse" means the person currently legally married to a member.
[PL 1989, c. 133, §19 (AMD).]
19-A. Survive or surviving. "Survive" or "surviving" means to live, by clear and convincing evidence, for at least 120 hours after the death of the qualifying member or family member, as applicable.
[PL 2025, c. 221, §3 (NEW).]
20. Surviving spouse. "Surviving spouse" means the spouse who survives the death of the member or former member.
[PL 2025, c. 221, §4 (AMD).]
