Sec. 19g.

(1) Notwithstanding section 19, a member may retire and receive a retirement allowance computed under this section if the member meets all of the following requirements:

(a) On or before November 1, 2002, or on the effective date of his or her retirement, whichever is earlier, the member meets 1 or more of the following:

(i) The member's combined age and length of credited service is equal to or greater than 80 years.

(ii) The member is 60 years of age or older and has 10 or more years of credited service.

(b) The member is within the classified state civil service, is an employee of the judicial branch, or is an individual not described in subsection (2)(b).

(c) Except as provided in section 13(8), the member was employed by this state for the 6-month period ending on the effective date of his or her retirement or was an employee of the state judicial council on September 30, 1996 as described in section 44a. A member who is on layoff status from state employment is considered to have met the employment requirement of this subdivision.

(d) Except as may be provided otherwise in subsection (5), the member executes and files a written application with the retirement board, on or after April 1, 2002, but not later than April 30, 2002, stating a date on or after July 1, 2002, but not later than November 1, 2002, on which he or she desires to retire. A member may withdraw a written application on or before May 15, 2002 or 7 days after the rejection of an extension requested under subsection (5), whichever is later. A written application submitted by a member and not withdrawn on or before May 15, 2002 or 7 days after the rejection of an extension requested under subsection (5), whichever is later, is irrevocable.

(e) The member is not eligible for a supplemental early retirement under section 46 as a covered employee defined in section 45 on or after July 1, 2002 through the effective date of the member's retirement under this section.

(f) The member is not a conservation officer as described in section 48.

(2) Notwithstanding section 19, a member may retire and receive a retirement allowance computed under this section if the member meets all of the following requirements:

(a) On or before November 1, 2002, or on the effective date of his or her retirement, whichever is earlier, the member's combined age and length of credited service is equal to or greater than 80 years or the member is 60 years of age or older and has 10 or more years of credited service.

(b) The member is an employee of the legislature, is an employee of the office of governor, or is an unclassified employee within the executive branch.

(c) Except as provided in section 13(8), the member was employed by this state or the legislature for the 6-month period ending on the effective date of his or her retirement. A member who is on layoff status from state employment is considered to have met the employment requirement of this subdivision.

(d) The member executes and files a written application with the retirement board, on or after April 1, 2002, but not later than April 30, 2002, stating a date on or after July 1, 2002, but not later than November 1, 2002, on which he or she desires to retire. A member may withdraw a written application on or before May 15, 2002. A written application submitted by a member and not withdrawn on or before May 15, 2002 is irrevocable. This subdivision is subject to subsection (5).

(e) The member is not eligible for a supplemental early retirement under section 46 as a covered employee defined in section 45 on or after July 1, 2002 through the effective date of the member's retirement under this section.

(f) The member is not a conservation officer as described in section 48.

(3) Any amount that a member retiring under this section would otherwise be entitled to receive in a lump sum at retirement on account of accumulated sick leave shall be paid in 60 consecutive equal monthly installments beginning on or after October 1, 2002. Payments received under this subsection may not be used to purchase service credit under this act. These payments for accumulated sick leave are to be paid from funds appropriated to the appointing authority and not from funds of the retirement system. These payments are not pensions, annuities, retirement allowances, optional benefits, or any other rights described in section 40(1), are not exempt from taxation, are subject to execution, garnishment, attachment, the operation of bankruptcy or insolvency laws, or other process of law, and may be assignable as provided in this act.

(4) Any amount that a member retiring under this section is entitled to receive in a lump sum at retirement on account of accumulated annual leave shall be paid on or after October 1, 2002. These payments are not pensions, annuities, retirement allowances, optional benefits, or any other rights described in section 40(1), are not exempt from taxation, are subject to execution, garnishment, attachment, the operation of bankruptcy or insolvency laws, or other process of law, and may be assignable as provided in this act.

(5) The director of a principal department may request that the effective date of retirement under subsection (1) of a member employed by that department be extended to a date not later than February 1, 2004. To make a request under this subsection, the director shall submit a written request and the written concurrence of the member to the office of the state employer and the state budget office on or before May 31, 2002. Upon receipt of the written request and concurrence, the office of the state employer and the state budget office may extend the effective date of retirement of a member otherwise eligible to retire under subsection (1) to a date not later than February 1, 2004. Upon written approval of the senate majority leader for a member who is an employee of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives for a member who is an employee of the house of representatives, the senate majority leader and the speaker of the house of representatives for a member who is an employee of the office of the auditor general, director or chair of the legislative retirement system for a member who is an employee of the legislative retirement system, or the chair and alternate chair of the legislative council for a member who is an employee of an agency under the jurisdiction of the legislative council, and upon written concurrence of the member, the effective date of retirement for that member under subsection (2) may be extended to a date not later than February 1, 2004. Upon written approval of the chief justice for a member who is an employee of the judicial branch, including, but not limited to, members described in section 44a, and upon written concurrence of the member, the effective date of retirement for that member under subsection (1) may be extended to a date not later than February 1, 2004. The individual or individuals who approve the extension of an effective date of retirement for a member who is an employee of the legislature, supreme court, or court of appeals shall submit written notification to the office of retirement services of all extensions approved on or before May 31, 2002.

(6) Upon his or her retirement as provided in this section, a member who did not make an election under section 50 to terminate membership in Tier 1 and become a qualified participant in Tier 2 shall receive a retirement allowance equal to the member's number of years and fraction of a year of credited service multiplied by 1-3/4% of his or her final average compensation. Except for the calculation provided in this subsection, the member's retirement allowance is subject to section 20. The member's retirement allowance is not subject to reduction pursuant to section 19(2).

(7) Upon his or her retirement as provided in this section, a former member who made an election under section 50 to terminate membership in Tier 1 and become a qualified participant in Tier 2 shall receive a retirement allowance equal to the member's number of years and fraction of a year of credited service multiplied by 1/4% of his or her final average compensation. Except for the calculation provided in this subsection, the former member's retirement allowance is subject to section 20. The former member's retirement allowance is not subject to reduction pursuant to section 19(2).

(8) For purposes of this section, an individual who elected to terminate membership under section 50 and who, but for that election, would otherwise be eligible for membership in Tier 1 under section 13, shall be considered a member of Tier 1 for the limited purpose of receiving a retirement allowance calculated under this section and paid by the retirement system.

History: Add. 2002, Act 93, Imd. Eff. Mar. 27, 2002