Maine § 18313. - Dispatchers

§ 18313.. Dispatchers

1.  Definition.  For the purposes of this chapter, "dispatcher" means a person whose primary employment duties consist of any combination of:

A. Acting as an emergency medical dispatcher as defined by Title 32, section 85‑A, subsection 1, paragraph D;   [PL 2019, c. 364, §1 (NEW).]

B. Answering, directing or dispatching the response to public safety requests for service at a public safety answering point as defined by Title 25, section 2921, subsection 7;   [PL 2019, c. 364, §1 (NEW).]

C. Answering, directing or dispatching the response of emergency services for municipal fire protection pursuant to Title 30‑A, chapter 153; or   [PL 2019, c. 364, §1 (NEW).]

D. Answering, directing or dispatching the response of law enforcement officers as defined by Title 25, section 2801‑A, subsection 5.   [PL 2019, c. 364, §1 (NEW).]

2.  Contribution rate.  Except as provided in subsections 3 and 4, a dispatcher employed by a participating local district that provides a special retirement benefit under section 18453, subsection 4 or 5 shall contribute to the Participating Local District Retirement Program or must have pick-up contributions made by the employer at a rate of 8% of earnable compensation as long as the person is employed as a dispatcher.

3.  Exception.  A participating local district may elect to reduce the rate of contribution set out in subsection 2 to 6.5% of earnable compensation for all dispatchers who continue employment after attaining eligibility for retirement during the remainder of their employment as dispatchers.

4.  Member contributions to Participating Local District Consolidated Retirement Plan.  The board may establish by rule the rate at which dispatchers who participate in the consolidated plan described in chapter 427 contribute to that plan. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules pursuant to chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.