Effective 11 Jul 2002, see footnote

104.335. Vesting service — members who are entitled to annuities — requirements, amounts — terminated vested member, judge, administrative law judge or legal advisor, election to pay present value of annuity, eligibility, purchase of prior service credit. — 1. Any member whose employment terminated prior to September 1, 1972, and (a) who had served at least three full biennial assemblies as a member of the general assembly, or (b) who was other than a member of the general assembly and who had fifteen or more years of vesting service shall be entitled to a deferred normal annuity based on the member's creditable service, average compensation and the law in effect at the time the member's employment was terminated.

2. (1) Any member whose employment terminated on or after September 1, 1972, and prior to July 1, 1981, and (a) who had served at least three full biennial assemblies as a member of the general assembly, or (b) who was other than a member of the general assembly and who had fifteen or more years of vesting service or who had ten or more years of vesting service and was at least thirty-five years of age at the date of termination of employment shall be entitled to a deferred normal annuity based on the member's creditable service, average compensation and the law in effect at the time the member's employment was terminated.

(2) Any member whose employment terminated on or after July 1, 1981, and (a) who had served at least three full biennial assemblies as a member of the general assembly, or (b) who was other than a member of the general assembly and who had ten or more years of vesting service at the date of termination of employment shall be entitled to a deferred normal annuity based on the member's creditable service, average compensation and the law in effect at the time the member's employment was terminated.

(3) Any member whose employment terminated on or after September 1, 1972, and who had four or more years of vesting service as governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, or attorney general of this state shall be entitled to a deferred normal annuity based on the member's creditable service, average compensation and the law in effect at the time the member's employment was terminated.

(4) Any member whose employment terminated on or after September 28, 1985, and who (a) had served less than three full biennial assemblies as a member of the general assembly, and (b) has less than ten years of vesting service as an employee other than a member of the general assembly shall be entitled to two years of vesting service for each full biennial assembly in which the member served plus an additional amount of vesting service for each partial biennial assembly served, which amount shall be equal to the pro rata portion of the biennial assembly so served. The total amount of vesting service provided for in this subdivision shall be used to calculate the deferred normal annuity or deferred partial annuity to which such member is entitled based on the member's creditable service, which includes all service designated as vesting service under this subdivision, the member's average compensation, and the law in effect at the time the member's employment was terminated.

3. Any member whose employment terminated on or after October 1, 1984, but before September 28, 1992, and who was other than a member of the general assembly and who has five or more years of vesting service as an employee at the date of termination of employment shall be entitled to a deferred partial annuity based on the member's creditable service, average compensation, and the law in effect at the time the member's employment was terminated, in the following amounts:

(1) An employee with at least five years of vesting service, but less than six years, is entitled to fifty percent of the amount payable as a deferred normal annuity;

(2) An employee with six years of vesting service, but less than seven years, is entitled to sixty percent of the amount payable as a deferred normal annuity;

(3) An employee with seven years of vesting service, but less than eight years, is entitled to seventy percent of the amount payable as a deferred normal annuity;

(4) An employee with eight years of vesting service, but less than nine years, is entitled to eighty percent of the amount payable as a deferred normal annuity;

(5) An employee with nine years of vesting service, but less than ten years, is entitled to ninety percent of the amount payable as a deferred normal annuity.

4. Any member whose employment terminated on or after September 28, 1992, and who was other than a member of the general assembly and who has five or more years of vesting service as an employee at the date of termination of employment shall be entitled to a deferred normal annuity based on the member's creditable service, average compensation, and the law in effect at the time the member's employment was terminated.

5. Any member who is entitled to a deferred normal annuity as provided in subsection 1, 2, 3, or 4 of this section and who reenters the service of a department and again becomes a member of the system shall have the member's prior period of vesting service combined with the member's current membership service, so that any benefits that may become payable under this system by reason of the member's retirement or subsequent withdrawal will recognize such prior period of vesting service.

6. (1) A vested member, an administrative law judge or legal advisor as defined in section 287.812, or a judge as defined in section 476.515, who has terminated all employment with the state of Missouri for a period of six months or longer, may make a one-time election for the system to pay the present value of a deferred annuity or a benefit as defined in section 287.812 or section 476.515 if the amount of such terminated member's or person's creditable service is less than ten years, and if such terminated member or person is not within five years of eligibility for receiving an annuity or benefit. Any such member, administrative law judge, legal advisor or judge who terminates employment on or after August 28, 1997, shall be eligible for the one-time election provided for in this subsection only if the present value of the deferred annuity does not exceed ten thousand dollars. The present value shall be actuarially determined by the system. Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, any payment so made shall be a complete discharge of the existing liability of the system with respect to such terminated member or person.

(2) Upon subsequent employment in a position covered under a system administered by the Missouri state employees' retirement system, the employee, administrative law judge or judge may elect, within one year of such employment, to purchase creditable service equal to the amount of creditable service surrendered due to a payment as specified in this subsection. The cost of such purchase shall be actuarially determined by the system, and shall be paid over a period of not longer than two years from the date of election, with interest on the unpaid balance.

(3) Persons described in subdivision (1) of this subsection who terminate employment on or after September 1, 2002, shall no longer be eligible to make the election described in subdivision (1) of this subsection.

7. Any individual, covered by a retirement plan identified in this chapter, chapter 287 or chapter 476 who terminated employment prior to August 28, 1993, shall, upon application to the board of trustees of the Missouri state employees' retirement system, be made, constituted and appointed and employed by the board as a special consultant on the problems of retirement, aging and other state matters for the remainder of the person's life. Upon request of the board or the court from which the person retired, the consultant shall give opinions or be available to give opinions in writing or orally in response to such requests. As compensation for such services, the consultant shall be eligible to purchase or transfer, prior to retirement, creditable service as set forth in section 105.691.

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(L. 1981 H.B. 835, et al., A.L. 1984 H.B. 1370, A.L. 1985 H.B. 790, A.L. 1988 H.B. 1643 & 1399, A.L. 1992 S.B. 499, et al., A.L. 1994 H.B. 1149, A.L. 1995 H.B. 416, et al., A.L. 1997 H.B. 356, A.L. 2000 H.B. 1808, A.L. 2002 H.B. 1455)

Effective 7-11-02