§ 8-34-602 — Credit for service in superseded systems

(a) In addition, each member who on June 30, 1972, shall have been a member of a superseded system shall receive prior service credit for all service with which such member shall have been credited as of June 30, 1972, under any superseded system. Any such member shall be entitled to receive credit for any service prior to the effective date of such superseded system for which such member would have been entitled to claim credit under such superseded system; provided, that such member makes application therefor to the retirement system in the manner prescribed by the retirement system. (b) (1) Any member who served in a position covered by the superseded state retirement system who elected not to join such system and who subsequently becomes a member of the state retirement system or the Tennessee consolidated retirement system, and who has been employed for twenty (20) years of total service with the state or participating political subdivisions, shall now be able to claim all prior state service in Group 1 upon proper documentation as required by the board of trustees of the Tennessee consolidated retirement system; provided, that such member does not have credit for such service in any other public employee retirement system. (2) Such member shall pay in a lump sum an amount equal to the amount such member would have contributed had such member been a member of the superseded state retirement system and/or the Tennessee consolidated retirement system, plus interest at the rate designated in § 8-37-214 . (c) Any teacher who is a member may claim any service rendered in the employment of the state prior to July 1, 1972; provided, that such member makes a back contribution or redeposit as provided in § 8-37-214 . (d) (1) Any member in Group 1 may establish retirement credit for previous service rendered as an agriculture county agent or home demonstration agent or assistant thereto under the following conditions: (A) The member is not and never has been vested in any other retirement system, including the United States Civil Service Retirement Act ( 5 U.S.C. § 8331 et seq.), as amended October 20, 1969, based in whole or in part on such previous service; (B) The previous service must be certified on proper documents as required by the retirement division; and (C) The member shall make a lump sum payment equal to ten percent (10%) of the member's earnable compensation during such period of service, plus interest at the rate provided by § 8-37-214 . (2) Any such services in these capacities rendered prior to 1945 shall be credited to the member without cost. (e) Any superintendent of schools who withdrew such superintendent's total contributions and time credits from the superseded Tennessee teachers' retirement system and transferred that portion of time served as superintendent of schools into the Tennessee county officials' retirement system may, upon request to the board of trustees of the Tennessee consolidated retirement system, reestablish that portion of time credit withdrawn from the superseded Tennessee teachers' retirement system and not eligible for time credits in the superseded county officials' retirement system may claim this service in Group 1 by proper documentation to the board and paying in a lump sum an amount equal to the amount contributed as a teacher, plus interest at the rate designated in § 8-37-214 , based on the time the contributions were withdrawn to the time the payment was made. Upon retirement, benefits shall be computed based on creditable service established under Groups 1 and 3 and added to the benefits computed under the superseded county officials' retirement system. (f) Any member participating in the retirement system pursuant to § 8-35-121 who served in a full-time position covered by the superseded state retirement system or the Tennessee consolidated retirement system and who has never received retirement credit for such service may claim such service upon payment in a lump sum of the contributions which would have been made during such employment. Any member who has been refunded contributions for such service shall not be eligible to reestablish service under this subsection (f). In no event shall this section be construed to extend retirement credit to state employees unrelated to the programs for the blind. (g) (1) Any prior class county official who was employed by a county official prior to becoming covered by the superseded retirement system for county officials shall be eligible for prior service credit in the superseded retirement system for county officials for the time served as an employee of a county official. (2) Any additional service credit established under this subsection (g) shall be funded by payment of a lump sum amount equal to the amount such official would have contributed had the official been a member of the superseded retirement system for county officials, plus interest at the rate designated in § 8-37-214 , and any additional amount as determined by the board of trustees of the Tennessee consolidated retirement system required to fund the liability created by this subsection (g). The payment for this service may be made by the member or by appropriation of funds for this purpose by the member's county legislative body. No benefits shall be paid as a result of service credit established under this subsection (g), until the same is fully funded according to this subsection (g).

Legislative History

Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 962, s 20, eff. 4/27/2016. Acts 1972, ch. 814, § 4; 1973, ch. 347, §§ 7, 8, 26; 1975, ch. 315, § 12; 1977, ch. 400, § 4; 1979, ch. 320, §§ 10, 13; T.C.A., §§ 8-3904, 8-3935(4)(c); Acts 1983, ch. 185, § 1; 1985, ch. 391, § 1; 1985, ch. 449, § 24; 1989, ch. 505, § 2; 2004, ch. 631, § 3.