PART II. MEMBERSHIP

§411. Eligibility for membership

The membership of this system shall be as follows:

(1) Each person who becomes an employee in the state service, except those specifically excluded or as to whom an option or election is provided in this Section, shall become a member of the system as a condition of employment.

(2) Any person who becomes an employee in the state service who is a contributing member in any other retirement system shall become a member of this system unless he elects at the time of his employment to remain a contributing member of such other system for which he remains eligible for membership.

(3) Employees on educational leave with stipend.

(4) Membership shall be optional for elected officials and for those officials appointed by the governor whose appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate and who are not ineligible under R.S. 11:413.

(5) Any state, municipal, or parochial employee transferred to this system, pursuant to any provision of this Chapter authorizing such transfer.

(6) The person who is director for the Louisiana State University Laboratory School on July 11, 2005. His membership in the system shall become effective July 1, 2005. Such person shall be classified as an employee of an Office of Group Benefits participating employer and not as a retiree pursuant to R.S. 42:808(A)(2).

(7)(a) Membership shall be optional for those persons sixty years of age or older at the time of employment and for those persons fifty-five years of age or older who have credit for at least forty quarters in the Social Security system. This shall not apply to rehired retirees.

(b) Membership shall be optional for any person who is receiving retirement benefits from any Louisiana public retirement system, other than this system, at the time the person becomes an employee in the state service.

(8) Employees of any primary health center established under the Public Health Service Act as set forth in Subpart I of Part D of Title 42 of the United States Code, provided that any person covered by this Paragraph who is eligible for membership in any other state or federal public retirement system based on employment with a primary health center shall not be eligible for membership in this system.

(9) Employees of the Amite River Basin Commission. Any such employee who has service as an employee of the commission prior to July 1, 1999, may purchase credit for such service, provided the purchase is transacted in accordance with R.S. 11:158, and further provided that such purchase is transacted prior to the effective date of any such employee's retirement.

(10) Repealed by Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 102, §1, eff. April 18, 2002.

(11) Employees of the Lafitte Area Independent Levee District.

NOTE: Pursuant to Acts 2016, No. 160, §3, Paragraphs (12) is effective beginning July 1, 2016, and remains effective if a resolution is adopted on or before Sept. 30, 2016, pursuant to Acts 2016, No. 160, §3. Law Institute has received certification that neither entity specified in Acts 2016, Nos. 160 and 161, provided the requisite resolutions indicating their participation as an employer in the La State Employees’ Retirement System.

(12) Employees of the Chenier Plain Coastal Restoration and Protection Authority.

NOTE: Pursuant to Acts 2016, No. 161, §3, Paragraphs (13) is effective beginning July 1, 2016, and remains effective if a resolution is adopted on or before Sept. 30, 2016, pursuant to Acts 2016, No. 161, §3. Law Institute has received certification that neither entity specified in Acts 2016, Nos. 160 and 161, provided the requisite resolutions indicating their participation as an employer in the La State Employees’ Retirement System.

(13) Employees of the Iberia Parish Levee, Hurricane, and Conservation District.

Acts 1972, No. 135, §1, eff. July 26, 1972. Amended by Acts 1976, No. 239, §1; Acts 1989, No. 737, §1; Redesignated from R.S. 42:551 by Acts 1991, No. 74, §3, eff. June 25, 1991; Acts 1992, No. 518, §1, eff. June 26, 1992; Acts 1992, No. 843, §1, eff. July 8, 1992; Acts 1993, No. 356, §1; Acts 1995, No. 610, §3, eff. July 1, 1995; Acts 1999, No. 42, §1, eff. May 28, 1999; Acts 1999, No. 130, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 1999, No. 281, §1; Acts 2001, No. 404, §1, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 102, §1, eff. April 18, 2002; Acts 2005, No. 455, §1, eff. July 11, 2005; Acts 2012, No. 346, §1, eff. July 1, 2012; Acts 2016, No. 160, §1, eff. July 1, 2016; Acts 2016, No. 161, §1, eff. July 1, 2016.

NOTE: See Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 102, §2, relative to intent of Act.