Sec. 51.

(1) For a member who elects to terminate membership in Tier 1 under section 50(1), the retirement system shall direct the state treasurer to transfer a lump sum amount from the appropriate fund created under section 11 to the qualified participant's account in Tier 2 on or before September 30, 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 employees' savings fund as of 12 midnight May 31, 1998.

(b) For a member who is vested under section 20(4) or (5) as of 12 midnight on May 31, 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 employer's accumulation fund. Except as provided in subsection (7), 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 average compensation as of 12 midnight on May 31, 1998. The actuarial present value shall be computed as of 12 midnight May 31, 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 May 31, 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 May 31, 1998:

(A) Age 60.

(B) Age 55, if the member's estimated credited service equals or exceeds 30 years.

(C) The age of the member if section 19(5), 46, or 48 applies.

(c) Interest on any amounts determined in subdivisions (a) and (b), from June 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 50(1), the retirement system shall recompute the amount transferred under subsection (1) not later than November 30, 1998 based upon the member's actual credited service and actual final average compensation as of 12 midnight May 31, 1998. If the recomputed amount differs from the amount transferred under subsection (1) by $10.00 or more, not later than December 15, 1998, the retirement system shall do all of the following:

(a) Direct the state treasurer to transfer from the employer's accumulation fund 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 May 31, 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 employer's accumulation fund 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 member who elects to terminate membership in this retirement system under section 50(2), the retirement system shall direct the state treasurer to transfer a lump sum amount from the appropriate fund created under section 11 to the former 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 member's accumulated contributions, if any, from the employees' savings fund as of 12 midnight on the day immediately preceding the date of the termination of employment.

(b) 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 employer's accumulation fund. Except as provided in subsection (7), 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 average compensation as of 12 midnight on the day immediately preceding the date of the termination of employment. 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 day immediately preceding the date of the termination of employment. 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 day immediately preceding the date of the termination of employment:

(A) Age 60.

(B) Age 55, if the member's estimated credited service equals or exceeds 30 years.

(C) The age of the member if section 19(5), 46, or 48 applies.

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

(4) For each member who elects to terminate membership in Tier 1 under section 50(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 member's actual credited service and actual final average compensation as of 12 midnight on the day immediately preceding the date of the termination of employment. 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 employer's accumulation fund to the former 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 day immediately preceding the date of the termination of employment 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 former qualified participant's account in Tier 2 to the employer's accumulation fund 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 a deferred member who elects to terminate membership in this retirement system under section 50(3), the retirement system shall direct the state treasurer to transfer a lump sum amount from the appropriate fund created under section 11 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 deferred member's accumulated contributions, if any, from the employees' savings fund 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 deferred member's accumulated benefit obligation, over the amount specified in subdivision (a), from the employer's accumulation fund. Except as provided in subsection (7), for the purposes of this subsection, the present value of the deferred member's accumulated benefit obligation is based upon the deferred member's estimated credited service and estimated final average compensation 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 deferred member's estimated credited service equals or exceeds 30 years.

(C) The age of the deferred member if section 19(5), 46, or 48 applies.

(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.

(6) For each deferred member who elects to terminate membership in Tier 1 under section 50(3), the retirement system shall recompute the amount transferred under subsection (5) not later than the expiration of 90 days after the transfer occurs under subsection (5) based upon the deferred member's actual credited service and actual final average compensation 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 (5) by $10.00 or more, the retirement system shall do all of the following:

(a) Direct the state treasurer to transfer from the employer's accumulation fund 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 employer's accumulation fund 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 (6), based upon 8% effective annual interest, compounded annually.

(7) For the purposes of subsections (1) to (6), the calculation of estimated and actual present value of the member's or deferred 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), (3), or (5) when making the recomputation required under subsection (2), (4), or (6). Estimated and actual final average compensation shall be determined as provided in section 1e as of 12 midnight on the date the member or deferred member ceases to be a member of Tier 1 under section 50.

(8) For a former nonvested member who elects to terminate membership in Tier 1 under section 50(3) and who has accumulated contributions standing to his or her credit in the employees' savings fund, the retirement system shall direct the state treasurer to transfer a lump sum amount from the employees' savings fund created under section 11 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 employees' savings fund 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.

(9) 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 487, Eff. Mar. 31, 1997 Compiler's Notes: Section 2 of Act 487 of 1996 provides:“If any section or part of a section of this act is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, the holding does not affect the validity of the remaining sections of this act or the act in its entirety.”