Sec. 702.

(1) For a member who elects to terminate membership in Tier 1 under section 701(1), the retirement system shall direct the state treasurer to transfer a lump sum amount from the appropriate fund created under this act to the qualified participant's account in Tier 2 on or before October 31, 1998. The retirement system shall calculate the amount to be transferred, which shall be equal to the sum of the following:

(a) The member's accumulated contributions, if any, from the reserve for member contributions as of 12 midnight June 30, 1998.

(b) For a member who is vested under section 501(1) as of 12 midnight on June 30, 1998, the excess, if any, of the actuarial present value of the member's accumulated benefit obligation, over the amount specified in subdivision (a), from the reserve for employer contributions. Except as provided in subsection (5), for the purposes of this subsection, the present value of the member's accumulated benefit obligation is based upon the member's estimated credited service and estimated final salary as of 12 midnight on June 30, 1998. The actuarial present value shall be computed as of 12 midnight June 30, 1998 and shall be based on the following:

(i) Eight percent effective annual interest, compounded annually.

(ii) A 50% male and 50% female gender neutral blend of the mortality tables used to project retirant longevity in the most recent actuarial valuation report.

(iii) A benefit commencement age, based upon the member's estimated credited service as of 12 midnight June 30, 1998. The benefit commencement age shall be the younger of the following, but shall not be younger than the member's age as of 12 midnight June 30, 1998:

(A) Age 60.

(B) Age 55, if the member's estimated credited service equals or exceeds 18 years.

(C) The member's age, if the member's estimated credited service equals or exceeds 25 years.

(c) Interest on any amounts determined in subdivisions (a) and (b), from July 1, 1998 to the date of the transfer, based upon 8% annual interest, compounded annually.

(2) For each member who elects to terminate membership in the retirement system under section 701(1), the retirement system shall recompute the amount transferred under subsection (1) not later than December 31, 1998 based upon the member's actual credited service and actual final salary as of 12 midnight June 30, 1998. If the recomputed amount differs from the amount transferred under subsection (1) by $10.00 or more, not later than January 15, 1999, the retirement system shall do all of the following:

(a) Direct the state treasurer to transfer from the reserve for employer contributions to the qualified participant's account in Tier 2 the excess, if any, of the recomputed amount over the previously transferred amount together with interest from 12 midnight June 30, 1998 to the date of the transfer under this subsection, based upon 8% effective annual interest, compounded annually.

(b) Direct the state treasurer to transfer from the qualified participant's account in Tier 2 to the reserve for employer contributions the excess, if any, of the previously transferred amount over the recomputed amount, together with interest, from the date of the transfer made under subsection (1), based upon 8% effective annual interest, compounded annually.

(3) For a vested former member who elects to terminate membership in this retirement system under section 701(2), the retirement system shall direct the state treasurer to transfer a lump sum amount from the appropriate fund created under this act to the qualified participant's account in Tier 2 on or before the expiration of 60 days after the date of the individual's termination of employment. The retirement system shall calculate the amount to be transferred, which shall be equal to the sum of the following:

(a) The vested former member's accumulated contributions, if any, from the reserve for member contributions as of 12 midnight on the last day of the payroll period that includes the date of the election.

(b) The excess, if any, of the actuarial present value of the vested former member's accumulated benefit obligation, over the amount specified in subdivision (a), from the reserve for employer contributions. Except as provided in subsection (5), for the purposes of this subsection, the present value of the vested former member's accumulated benefit obligation is based upon the vested former member's estimated credited service and estimated final salary as of 12 midnight on the last day of the payroll period that includes the date of the election. The actuarial present value shall be computed as of 12 midnight on that date and shall be based on the following:

(i) Eight percent effective annual interest, compounded annually.

(ii) A 50% male and 50% female gender neutral blend of the mortality tables used to project retirant longevity in the most recent annual actuarial valuation report.

(iii) A benefit commencement age, based upon the member's estimated credited service as of 12 midnight on the last day of the payroll period that includes the date of the election. The benefit commencement age shall be the younger of the following, but shall not be younger than the member's age as of 12 midnight on the last day of the payroll period that includes the date of the election:

(A) Age 60.

(B) Age 55, if the vested former member's estimated credited service equals or exceeds 18 years.

(C) The vested former member's age, if the vested former member's estimated credited service equals or exceeds 25 years.

(c) Interest on any amounts determined in subdivisions (a) and (b), from the first day of the payroll period immediately following the date of the election to the date of the transfer, based upon 8% effective annual interest, compounded annually.

(4) For each vested former member who elects to terminate membership in Tier 1 under section 701(2), the retirement system shall recompute the amount transferred under subsection (3) not later than the expiration of 90 days after the transfer occurs under subsection (3) based upon the vested former member's actual credited service and actual final salary as of 12 midnight on the last day of the payroll period that includes the date of the election. If the recomputed amount differs from the amount transferred under subsection (3) by $10.00 or more, the retirement system shall do all of the following:

(a) Direct the state treasurer to transfer from the reserve for employer contributions to the qualified participant's account in Tier 2 the excess, if any, of the recomputed amount over the previously transferred amount together with interest from 12 midnight on the last day of the payroll period that includes the date of the election to the date of the transfer under this subsection, based upon 8% effective annual interest, compounded annually.

(b) Direct the state treasurer to transfer from the qualified participant's account in Tier 2 to the reserve for employer contributions the excess, if any, of the previously transferred amount over the recomputed amount, together with interest, from the date of the transfer made under subsection (3), based upon 8% effective annual interest, compounded annually.

(5) For the purposes of subsections (1) to (4), the calculation of estimated and actual present value of the member's or vested former member's accumulated benefit obligation shall be based upon methods adopted by the department of management and budget and the retirement system's actuary in consultation with the retirement board. The retirement system shall utilize the same actuarial valuation report used to calculate the amount transferred under subsection (1) or (3) when making the recomputation required under subsection (2) or (4). Estimated and actual final salary shall be determined as provided in section 105(4) as of 12 midnight on the date the member or deferred member ceases to be a member of Tier 1 under section 701.

(6) For a former nonvested member who elects to terminate membership in Tier 1 under section 701(2) and who has accumulated contributions standing to his or her credit in the reserve for member contributions, the retirement system shall direct the state treasurer to transfer a lump sum amount from the reserve for member contributions created under section 210 to the qualified participant's account in Tier 2 on or before the expiration of 60 days after the date of the individual's election to terminate membership. The retirement system shall calculate the amount to be transferred, which shall be equal to the sum of the following:

(a) The former nonvested member's accumulated contributions, if any, from the reserve for member contributions as of 12 midnight on the last day of the payroll period that includes the date of the election.

(b) Interest on any amounts determined in subdivision (a), from the first day of the payroll period immediately following the date of the election to the date of the transfer, based upon 8% effective annual interest, compounded annually.

(7) If the department of management and budget 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, then the portion that will cause the disqualification does not apply.

History: Add. 1996, Act 523, Eff. Mar. 31, 1997 ;-- Am. 1998, Act 66, Imd. Eff. Apr. 30, 1998