Sec. 24a.

(1) A deferred retirement option plan is established within the defined benefit plan that is part of the retirement system, and it is to be administered by the office of retirement services. Exclusively represented members of the retirement system may only participate in the deferred retirement option plan pursuant to notice from their collective bargaining agent that the agent agrees to the terms of the deferred retirement option plan. For each fiscal year that begins on or after October 1, 2004, the director of state police and the retirement board may elect to discontinue accepting applications for the deferred retirement option plan.

(2) An officer who has 25 years or more of credited service under this act or former act 1935 PA 251, or both, may elect to participate in the deferred retirement option plan by executing the application provided by the office of retirement services. Once the application is accepted by the office of retirement services, the officer's participation in the deferred retirement option plan is irrevocable and he or she becomes a DROP participant. The officer is solely responsible for any federal, state, or local tax due as a result of his or her participation in the deferred retirement option plan.

(3) Participation in the deferred retirement option plan does not guarantee continued employment. Except as otherwise provided in this section, an officer who elects to participate in the deferred retirement option plan will remain an active employee eligible to receive any applicable wage changes and benefits, will be subject to civil service rules and regulations, and will be subject to the policies and procedures of the department of state police and subject to removal by the governor, if applicable, in the same manner as if he or she had not elected to participate in the deferred retirement option plan.

(4) An officer shall indicate on the application for the deferred retirement option plan the number of years that the officer wants to participate in the deferred retirement option plan, up to a maximum of 6 years. As a condition for participation, the officer agrees to retire at the conclusion of his or her participation in the deferred retirement option plan.

(5) A deferred retirement option plan account shall be created in the accounting records of the retirement system for each DROP participant. Each deferred retirement option plan account shall earn interest at the rate of 3% per annum, prorated for any fraction of a year. The deferred retirement option plan account of a DROP participant shall be credited with the following percentage of his or her monthly retirement allowance as calculated pursuant to section 24 as if he or she had retired on the day prior to becoming a DROP participant:

(a) 100% if the officer remains in the deferred retirement option plan for 6 years.

(b) 90% if the officer remains in the deferred retirement option plan for 5 years but less than 6 years.

(c) 80% if the officer remains in the deferred retirement option plan for 4 years but less than 5 years.

(d) 70% if the officer remains in the deferred retirement option plan for 3 years but less than 4 years.

(e) 60% if the officer remains in the deferred retirement option plan for 2 years but less than 3 years.

(f) 50% if the officer remains in the deferred retirement option plan for 1 year but less than 2 years.

(g) 30% if the officer remains in the deferred retirement option plan for less than 1 year.

(6) A DROP participant shall not receive a monthly retirement allowance, as calculated pursuant to section 24, until termination of his or her deferred retirement option plan participation and commencement of retirement. A DROP participant shall not have any claim to any funds in his or her deferred retirement option plan account until he or she retires at the termination of his or her deferred retirement option plan participation.

(7) Upon termination of the deferred retirement option plan participation and commencement of retirement, the former DROP participant shall select 1 or more of the following options with regard to his or her deferred retirement option plan account:

(a) A total lump-sum distribution.

(b) A partial lump-sum distribution.

(c) A lump-sum direct rollover to another qualified plan if allowed by federal law and subject to the procedures of the retirement system.

(d) Maintain the funds in the account.

A former DROP participant shall remove all funds from his or her deferred retirement option plan account no later than April 1 following the later of the calendar year in which the DROP participant attains 70 years, 6 months of age or the calendar year in which the DROP participant is retired.

(8) If a DROP participant or former DROP participant dies before removing all funds from his or her deferred retirement option plan account, the former DROP participant's designated beneficiary shall receive any remaining balances. If the former DROP participant has not named a beneficiary for his or her deferred retirement option plan account, the amount in the deferred retirement option plan account shall be paid to the beneficiary of the former DROP participant's retirement allowance. If the former DROP participant has not named a beneficiary to his or her retirement allowance, the balance in the former DROP participant's account shall be paid to the former DROP participant's estate.

(9) If a DROP participant is found to be disabled under section 29, his or her participation in the deferred retirement option plan shall immediately cease and he or she shall be retired.

(10) The deferred retirement option plan shall be administered in compliance with section 415 of the internal revenue code, 26 USC 415, and regulations under that section that are applicable to a governmental deferred retirement option plan. If there is a conflict between this subsection and another subsection of this section, this subsection prevails.

(11) A deferred retirement option plan shall not be implemented until the civil service commission adopts rules to regulate all of the following:

(a) A DROP participant's payment for sick leave, annual leave, longevity, and related items.

(b) A DROP participant's accrual of sick leave, annual leave, compensatory time, and related items.

(c) A DROP participant's payment of group insurance plan premiums.

(12) If the department receives notification from the United States internal revenue service that this section or any portion of this section will cause the retirement system to be disqualified for tax purposes under the internal revenue code, 26 USC 1 to 1789, then the portion that will cause the disqualification does not apply.

History: Add. 2004, Act 83, Imd. Eff. Apr. 22, 2004