The following bylaw guides are for use by both defined-benefit lump-sum retirement plans and defined-contribution retirement plans.
Relief associations are further categorized by fire department affiliation. Relief associations can be affiliated either with a city fire department, a town fire department, a joint-powers fire department, or an independent nonprofit firefighting corporation. The prescribed bylaw guides are provided below in both MS Word and PDF formats.
Bylaw Guides for Lump-Sum Plans
Members of a defined-benefit lump-sum plan receive a service pension based on an annual benefit level in effect at the time of the member’s separation from active service, multiplied by the member’s completed years of active service and by a reduction factor for partially vested members.
Fire Relief Associations Affiliated with a City Department
- Bylaw Guide for Lump-Sum Fire Relief Associations (pdf)
- Bylaw Guide for Lump-Sum Fire Relief Associations (doc)
Fire Relief Associations Affiliated with an Independent Nonprofit Firefighting Corporation
- Bylaw Guide for Lump-Sum Fire Relief Associations (pdf)
- Bylaw Guide for Lump-Sum Fire Relief Associations (doc)
Fire Relief Associations Affiliated with a Joint-Powers Fire Department
- Bylaw Guide for Lump-Sum Fire Relief Associations (pdf)
- Bylaw Guide for Lump-Sum Fire Relief Associations (doc)
Fire Relief Associations Affiliated with a Town Fire Department
Bylaw Guides for Defined-Contribution Plans
Members of a defined-contribution, also knows as a “split-the-pie” plan receive equal shares of state and municipal contributions and prorated shares of investment earnings. The service pension is equal to the member’s individual account balance at the time of retirement, subject to a reduction factor for partially vested members.
Fire Relief Associations Affiliated with a City Department
- Bylaw Guide for Defined Contribution Fire Relief Associations (pdf)
- Bylaw Guide for Defined Contribution Fire Relief Associations (doc)
Fire Relief Associations Affiliated with an Independent Nonprofit Firefighting Corporation
- Bylaw Guide for Defined Contribution Fire Relief Associations (pdf)
- Bylaw Guide for Defined Contribution Fire Relief Associations (doc)
Fire Relief Associations Affiliated with a Joint-Powers Fire Department
- Bylaw Guide for Defined Contribution Fire Relief Associations (pdf)
- Bylaw Guide for Defined Contribution Fire Relief Associations (doc)
Fire Relief Associations Affiliated with a Town Fire Department