# State Personnel and Pensions (GSP)

## Title 28. Local Fire and Police System

### Subtitle 2. Membership

#### Section 28-201

(a) This subtitle applies only to an employee of a participating governmental unit who is:

  (1) a law enforcement officer who is certified by the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission as a law enforcement officer; or

  (2) a firefighter who is:

    (i) a paid firefighter, as determined by the eligible governmental unit; or

    (ii) a paid paramedic, as determined by the eligible governmental unit.

(b) This subtitle does not apply to an employee of a participating governmental unit who is a volunteer firefighter or volunteer paramedic.

#### Section 28-202

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, an individual described in Sec. 28-201 of this subtitle is a member of the Local Fire and Police System as a condition of employment.

(b) Membership in the Local Fire and Police System is optional for an individual who was employed by a participating governmental unit on the date the participating governmental unit begins to participate in the Local Fire and Police System.

#### Section 28-203

Membership continues for a member who is:

(1) on a leave of absence approved by the Board of Trustees; or

(2) in the military service within the periods specified in Title 38 of this article.

#### Section 28-204

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a member's contribution rate is 5% of the part of the member's earnable compensation that exceeds the taxable wage base for each year.

(b) The contribution rate for a member who has transferred from the Employees' Retirement System is 7% of the member's earnable compensation.

#### Section 28-205

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, regular interest is payable on member contributions until retirement or withdrawal of accumulated contributions at the rate of:

  (1) 4% a year, compounded annually, for a member who has transferred from the Employees' Retirement System; or

  (2) 5% a year, compounded annually, for each other member.

(b) No further interest shall be paid on member contributions after membership ends if the former member is not eligible to receive a vested allowance under Title 29, Subtitle 3 of this article.

#### Section 28-206

Membership ends if the member is separated from employment for more than 4 years.

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Md. Code Ann., State Pers. & Pens. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)