RSA 100-A:6 · Disability Retirement Benefits

100-A:6 Disability Retirement Benefits. –

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I.

Group I Members.

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(a)

Upon the application of a group I member in service or of his employer, any such member who has 10 or more years of creditable service may be retired by the board of trustees on an ordinary disability retirement allowance, not less than 30 nor more than 90 days subsequent to the filing of such application; provided that a physician or physicians designated by the board of trustees, after a medical examination of such member, shall certify, and the board shall find, that he is mentally or physically incapacitated for the further performance of duty, that such incapacity is likely to be permanent and that he should be retired. (b)(1) Upon ordinary disability retirement, the group I member who has attained age 60 shall receive an ordinary disability retirement allowance which shall consist of a member annuity and shall be the actuarial equivalent of the member's accumulated contributions at the time of his ordinary disability retirement, and a state annuity as follows:

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(A)

Prior to the member's attainment of the member's full retirement age for Social Security, the state annuity, together with the member annuity, shall be equal to 1/60 of the member's average final compensation at the time of their ordinary disability retirement multiplied by the number of years of creditable service at the time of their ordinary disability retirement;

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(B)

After attainment of the member's full retirement age for Social Security, the state annuity, together with the member annuity, shall be equal to 1/66 of the member's average final compensation at the time of their ordinary disability retirement multiplied by the number of years of creditable service at the time of their ordinary disability retirement;

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(C)

Regardless of age at disability, the ordinary disability retirement allowance shall not be less than 25 percent of the member's average final compensation at the time of his disability retirement.

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(2)

Upon ordinary disability retirement, the group I member who has not attained age 60 shall receive an ordinary disability retirement allowance which shall consist of: a member annuity which shall be the actuarial equivalent of the member's accumulated contributions at the time of his ordinary disability retirement; and a state annuity which, together with the member annuity, shall be equal to 1.5 percent of the member's average final compensation at the time of his ordinary disability retirement multiplied by the number of years of creditable service at that time of his ordinary disability retirement. However, regardless of age at disability, the ordinary disability retirement allowance shall not be less than 25 percent of the member's average final compensation at the time of his disability retirement. (c)(1) Upon the application of a group I member in service or of the member's employer, any member shall be retired by the board of trustees on an accidental disability retirement allowance where the member has been totally and permanently incapacitated for duty as the natural and proximate result of either:

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(A)

An accident occurring while in the actual performance of duty at some definite time and place; or

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(B)

Repeated trauma or gradual degeneration occurring while in the actual performance of duty, or arising out of and in the course of employment; or

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(C)

Any occupational disease arising out of or in the course of employment as defined by RSA 281-A:2, XI, RSA 281-A:2, XIII, or RSA 281-A:17.

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(2)

The provisions of subparagraph (c)(1) shall apply provided that:

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(A)

The member is found to be mentally or physically incapacitated for the further performance of duty and that such incapacity is likely to be permanent;

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(B)

The member did not intend for injury to result from the member's conduct; and

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(C)

The incapacitating accident, trauma, degeneration, or occupational disease has been found to be compensable by the employer, the employer's insurance carrier, or the commissioner of labor pursuant to RSA 281-A:43.

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(3)

The member applying pursuant to subparagraph (c)(1) shall have the burden of proving causation before the board of trustees if the member enters into a lump sum settlement of an injury claim that was at any time denied by the employer or the employer's insurance carrier and not found compensable by final decision of the labor commissioner or the compensation appeals board after hearing pursuant to RSA 281-A:43. In the case of any lump sum settlement, the board of trustees shall require the member seeking disability retirement benefits to prove by a preponderance of the evidence the existence of a work-related injury of the type described in subparagraph (c)(1)(A)-(C), and also that the work-related injury naturally and proximately resulted in the member's total and permanent incapacity from duty.

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(4)

If the board of trustees is unable to grant ordinary or accidental disability retirement benefits after review of medical and factual information submitted by the member and by a physician designated by the board, then the member shall be entitled to a hearing before the board in order to determine whether the member qualifies for disability retirement benefits. The hearing before the board may be designated to a presiding officer. The presiding officer designated by the board shall not be the same person who made an initial disability determination and recommendation to the board based on the medical and factual information submitted by the member and physician as stated above. (d)(1) Upon accidental disability retirement, the group I member who has attained age 60 shall receive an accidental disability retirement allowance which shall consist of a member annuity and shall be the actuarial equivalent of the member's accumulated contributions at the time of his accidental disability retirement, and a state annuity as follows:

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(A)

Prior to the member's attainment of the member's full retirement age for Social Security, the state annuity, together with the member annuity, shall be equal to 1/60 of the member's average final compensation at the time of their accidental disability retirement multiplied by the number of years of creditable service at the time of their accidental disability retirement;

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(B)

After attainment of the member's full retirement age for Social Security, the state annuity, together with the member annuity, shall be equal to 1/66 of the member's average final compensation at the time of their accidental disability retirement multiplied by the number of years of creditable service at the time of their accidental disability retirement;

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(C)

Regardless of age at disability, such allowance shall not be less than 50 percent of the member's average final compensation at the time of his accidental disability retirement.

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(2)

Upon accidental disability retirement, the group I member who has not attained age 60 shall receive an accidental disability retirement allowance which shall consist of: the member annuity which shall be the actuarial equivalent of the member's accumulated contributions at the time of his accidental disability retirement; and a state annuity which, together with the member annuity, shall be equal to 50 percent of the member's average final compensation at the time of his disability retirement.

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II.

Group II Members.

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(a)

Upon the application of a group II member in service or of his employer, any such member who has 10 or more years of creditable service may be retired by the board of trustees on an ordinary disability retirement allowance, not less than 30 nor more than 90 days subsequent to the filing of such application; provided that a physician or physicians designated by the board of trustees, after a medical examination of such member, shall certify, and the board shall find, that he is mentally or physically incapacitated for the further performance of duty, that such incapacity is likely to be permanent and that he should be retired. [Paragraph II(b) effective until July 1, 2034; see also paragraph II(b) set out below. For prospective changes to this paragraph effective July 1, 2026 through July 1, 2033, see 2025, 142:10-17.]

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(b)

Upon ordinary disability retirement, the group II member shall receive an ordinary disability retirement allowance which shall consist of: a member annuity which shall be the actuarial equivalent of his or her accumulated contributions at the time of his or her ordinary disability retirement; and a state annuity which, together with his or her member annuity, for members who are in vested status before January 1, 2013, shall be equal to 2 1/2 percent of his or her average final compensation at the time of ordinary disability retirement multiplied by the number of years of his or her creditable service not in excess of 40 at the time of ordinary disability retirement, or for members who commenced service on or after July 1, 2011, shall be equal to 2 percent of his or her average final compensation at the time of ordinary disability retirement multiplied by the number of years of his or her creditable service not in excess of 42.5 at the time of ordinary disability retirement, and group II members who have not attained vested status prior to January 1, 2013, shall be as provided in the transition provisions in RSA 100-A:5, II(d) with the maximum number of years of creditable service not in excess of the limits under RSA 100-A:6-a provided, however, that such allowance shall not be less than 25 percent of the member's final compensation at the time of his or her disability retirement. Members who retire upon ordinary disability or qualify for accidental death benefits as outlined in RSA 100-A:8 shall not be subject to the full age and service requirements listed under RSA 100-A:5, II(d). [Paragraph II(b) effective July 1, 2034; see also paragraph II(b) set out above.]

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(b)

Upon ordinary disability retirement, the group II member shall receive an ordinary disability retirement allowance which shall consist of: a member annuity which shall be the actuarial equivalent of his or her accumulated contributions at the time of his or her ordinary disability retirement; and a state annuity which, together with his or her member annuity, for members who commenced service before July 1, 2011, shall be equal to 2 1/2 percent of his or her average final compensation at the time of ordinary disability retirement multiplied by the number of years of his or her creditable service not in excess of 40 at the time of ordinary disability retirement, or for members who commenced service on or after July 1, 2011, shall be equal to 2 percent of his or her average final compensation at the time of ordinary disability retirement multiplied by the number of years of his or her creditable service not in excess of 42.5 at the time of ordinary disability retirement, however, that such allowance shall not be less than 25 percent of the member's final compensation at the time of his or her disability retirement. Members who retire upon ordinary disability or qualify for accidental death benefits as outlined in RSA 100-A:8 shall not be subject to the full age and service requirements listed under RSA 100-A:5, II(d). (c)(1) Upon the application of a group II member in service or of the member's employer, any member shall be retired by the board of trustees on an accidental disability retirement allowance where the member has been totally and permanently incapacitated for duty as the natural and proximate result of either:

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(A)

An accident occurring while in the actual performance of duty at some definite time and place; or

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(B)

Repeated trauma or gradual degeneration occurring while in the actual performance of duty, or arising out of and in the course of employment; or

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(C)

Any occupational disease arising out of or in the course of employment as defined by RSA 281-A:2, XI, RSA 281-A:2, XIII, or RSA 281-A:17.

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(2)

The provisions of subparagraph (c)(1) shall apply provided that:

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(A)

The member is found to be mentally or physically incapacitated for the further performance of duty and that such incapacity is likely to be permanent;

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(B)

The member did not intend for injury to result from the member's conduct; and

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(C)

The incapacitating accident, trauma, degeneration, or occupational disease has been found to be compensable by the employer, the employer's insurance carrier, or the commissioner of labor pursuant to RSA 281-A:43.

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(3)

The member applying pursuant to subparagraph (c)(1) shall have the burden of proving causation before the board of trustees if the member enters into a lump sum settlement of an injury claim that was at any time denied by the employer or the employer's insurance carrier and not found compensable by final decision of the labor commissioner or the compensation appeals board after hearing pursuant to RSA 281-A:43. In the case of any lump sum settlement, the board of trustees shall require the member seeking disability retirement benefits to prove by a preponderance of the evidence the existence of a work-related injury of the type described in subparagraph (c)(1)(A)-(C), and also that the work-related injury naturally and proximately resulted in the member's total and permanent incapacity from duty.

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(4)

If the board of trustees is unable to grant ordinary or accidental disability retirement benefits after review of medical and factual information submitted by the member and by a physician designated by the board, then the member shall be entitled to a hearing before the board in order to determine whether the member qualifies for disability retirement benefits. The hearing before the board may be designated to a presiding officer. The presiding officer designated by the board shall not be the same person who made an initial disability determination and recommendation to the board based on the medical and factual information submitted by the member and physician as stated above.

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(d)

Upon accidental disability retirement, the group II member shall receive an accidental disability retirement allowance equal to 2/3 of his or her average final compensation at the time of disability retirement. [Paragraph II(d)(1) effective until July 1, 2034; see also paragraph II(d)(1) set out below. For prospective changes to this paragraph effective July 1, 2026 through July 1, 2033, see 2025, 142:10-17.]

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(1)

For members who are in vested status before January 1, 2013, any group II member who has more than 262/3 years of service, a supplemental disability retirement allowance shall be paid. Such supplement shall be equal to 21/2 percent of his or her average final compensation multiplied by the number of years of his or her creditable service in excess of 262/3 but not in excess of 40 years. [Paragraph II(d)(1) effective July 1, 2034; see also paragraph II(d)(1) set out above.]

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(1)

For members who commenced service before July 1, 2011, any group II member who has more than 262/3 years of service, a supplemental disability retirement allowance shall be paid. Such supplement shall be equal to 21/2 percent of his or her average final compensation multiplied by the number of years of his or her creditable service in excess of 262/3 but not in excess of 40 years.

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(2)

For members who commenced service on or after July 1, 2011, any group II member who has more than 331/3 years of service, a supplemental disability retirement allowance shall be paid. Such supplement shall be equal to 2 percent of his or her average final compensation multiplied by the number of years of his or her creditable service in excess of 331/3 but not in excess of 42.5 years. [Paragraph II(d)(3) deleted effective July 1, 2034; For prospective changes to this paragraph effective July 1, 2026 through July 1, 2033, see 2025, 142:10-17.]

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(3)

For group II members who have not attained vested status prior to January 1, 2013, calculation of the supplemental allowance shall use the percentage multipliers for the corresponding years of creditable service on January 1, 2013 in the transition provisions in RSA 100-A:5, II(d) with the range for the number of excess years for the supplement adjusted proportionally.

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(4)

Any member who is receiving an accidental disability retirement allowance under subparagraph (d) shall be granted any supplemental allowance or COLA authorized by the legislature without regard to a minimum number of years of creditable service for eligibility to receive the supplemental allowance or COLA. This subparagraph shall apply to any one-time supplemental allowance or COLA authorized by the legislature on or after the effective date of this subparagraph unless the terms of such authorizing legislation specifically provide otherwise. (e)(1) Upon the application of a group II member in service or of the member's employer, any member shall be retired by the board of trustees on a violent accidental disability retirement allowance where the member has been totally and permanently incapacitated for duty as the result of a purposeful, hostile, and violent attack upon such member in the line of duty. In this section, a "purposeful, hostile, and violent attack" means a physical attack with a deadly weapon, as defined in RSA 625:11, V, and done with conscious intent and with such force that it results in the infliction of serious bodily injury, as defined in RSA 625:11, VI.

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(2)

The provisions of subparagraph (e)(1) shall apply provided that:

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(A)

The member is found, on or after July 1, 2024, to be physically incapacitated for the further performance of duty and that such incapacity is likely to be permanent;

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(B)

The member did not intend for injury to result from the member's conduct;

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(C)

The incapacitating event has been determined by the commissioner of safety to meet the criteria of a violent attack under this section and certified to the retirement system on a form approved by the board of trustees. Solely for the purpose of making this determination and notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the commissioner of safety may obtain any records held by any state or municipal official regarding the circumstances, cause, or manner of violent injury disability. The commissioner of safety may consult with the labor commissioner and may disclose any information or records obtained in the course of his or her inquiry. Any records held by the commissioner of safety pursuant to this section shall not be subject to the right-to-know law, RSA 91-A, and shall not be subject to disclosure in any civil action; and

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(D)

The injury has been found to be compensable by the employer, the employer's insurance carrier, or the commissioner of labor pursuant to RSA 281-A:43.

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(3)

If the board of trustees is unable to grant violent accidental disability retirement benefits after review of medical and factual information submitted by the member and by a physician designated by the board, then the member shall be entitled to a hearing before the board in order to determine whether the member qualifies for disability retirement benefits. The hearing before the board may be designated to a presiding officer. The presiding officer designated by the board shall not be the same person who made an initial disability determination and recommendation to the board based on the medical and factual information submitted by the member and physician as stated above.

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(f)

Upon violent accidental disability retirement, the group II member shall receive a violent accidental disability retirement allowance equal to the member's earnable compensation during their last 12 months of active service at the date of the member's disability or an annual allowance of $75,000, whichever is greater.

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III.

Medical Examination, Gainful Occupation.

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(a)

Once a year during the first 5 years following the retirement of either a group I or group II member on a disability retirement allowance, and once in every 3-year period thereafter, the board of trustees may, and upon his application shall, require any disability beneficiary who has not attained age 60 to undergo a medical examination by a physician or physicians designated by the board. If any disability beneficiary who has not attained age 60 refuses to submit to such medical examination, his state annuity may be discontinued by the board of trustees until his withdrawal of such refusal, and if his refusal continues for more than one year, all his rights in and to his state annuity may be revoked by the board. (b)(1) If the board of trustees finds that any disability beneficiary is engaged in or is able to engage in a gainful occupation paying more than the difference between the beneficiary's retirement allowance and the current comparable compensation, then the beneficiary's state annuity may be reduced to an amount which, together with the member annuity and the annual amount earnable, is equal to the current comparable compensation. Such reduction shall not be made if the disabled beneficiary demonstrates to the satisfaction of the board of trustees that the annual compensation currently earnable does not exceed the difference between the beneficiary's retirement allowance and the current comparable compensation. If the beneficiary's earning capacity is later changed, the state annuity may be further modified; provided that the new state annuity shall not exceed the amount of the state annuity originally granted nor an amount which, when added to the amount earnable, together with the member annuity, equals the current comparable compensation. It shall be the responsibility of the disability beneficiary to file with the board of trustees, annually on a date determined by the board, proof of the annual amount of compensation currently earnable and of the current comparable compensation.

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(2)

For purposes of this subparagraph, "current comparable compensation" means the greatest of:

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(A)

The annual amount of compensation currently payable for the job classification last held by the beneficiary prior to disability retirement;

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(B)

The annual amount of compensation payable for the job classification held at the time of disability; or

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(C)

The beneficiary's average final compensation increased by an amount for each year since disability retirement calculated using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) as determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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(3)

[Repealed.]

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(4)

The provisions of subparagraph (b)(1) shall not apply to a group II accidental disability beneficiary whose total of years of service as a member in group II plus years of accidental disability retirement is at least 20 years, as determined by the board, and who has attained the age of 45, or a group II violent accidental disability beneficiary, regardless of age or years of service. Any such accidental disability or violent accidental disability beneficiary shall receive retirement allowance benefits under this section without reduction for gainful occupation.

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(c)

Except for payments made under RSA 281-A:37 or compensation which is not earnable compensation under RSA 100-A:1, XVII, any amounts which may be paid or payable to or on account of any member or retired member on account of any disability to which the employer has made contributions under the provisions of any workers' compensation or similar law or plan shall, in such manner as the board of trustees shall determine, be offset against and payable in lieu of any state annuity on account of the same disability.

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(d)

The board shall have the authority to recover from any member or retired member who is a disability recipient overpayments made under this section because the disability recipient failed to notify the retirement system when the recipient began to receive workers' compensation benefits which affect the monthly disability annuity payment from the retirement system.

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IV.

[Repealed.]

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V.

The provisions of this paragraph shall apply, notwithstanding any other provision of RSA 100-A:6 to the contrary. The board of trustees, as the interests of justice may require, may waive the requirement that a group I or group II member be in service at the time application is made for ordinary and accidental disability retirement benefits under this section, provided that application for disability retirement benefits is made within one year of the date the member's contribution to the New Hampshire retirement system ceases. Source. 1967, 134:1. 1969, 228:1. 1974, 33:2. 1976, 35:3. 1977, 421:1. 1983, 322:1. 1986, 95:3, 4. 1987, 242:1. 1988, 193:2, 3; 282:1-3. 1989, 261:1. 1993, 358:77-79. 1994, 158:9, 10, 17. 1995, 269:2, 5, III. 1996, 194:1. 1997, 274:2. 1999, 57:1; 190:1, 2; 333:1. 2006, 120:7-10. 2009, 158:1. 2011, 224:167, 168; 224:186, I. 2012, 194:2, eff. June 11, 2012. 2013, 196:1, eff. July 1, 2013. 2016, 49:1, 2, eff. July 2, 2016. 2023, 79:460, 461, eff. July 1, 2023. 2024, 202:1, 4, eff. July 1, 2024; 233:2, eff. July 1, 2024; 253:1, eff. June 30, 2024; 262:4, 7, eff. July 1, 2024. 2025, 141:329, eff. July 1, 2025; 142:9, eff. Jan. 1, 2026; 142:10, eff. July 1, 2926; 142:11, eff. July 1, 2027; 142:12, eff. July 1, 2028; 142:13, eff. July 1, 2029; 142:14, eff. July 1, 2030; 142:15, eff. July 1, 2031; 142:16, eff. July 1, 2032; 142:17, eff. July 1, 2033; 142:32, 33, eff. July 1, 2034; 305:2, eff. March 9, 2026.

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