Alaska § 39.35.125 - Participation of elected officials.

§ 39.35.125. Participation of elected officials.

 (a) An elected official of the state or of a political subdivision of the state if the political subdivision has elected under AS 39.35.600 — 39.35.650 to designate elected officials in the classifications of employees entitled to participate in the plan is included in the plan unless the official files a written waiver of coverage with the administrator. A waiver under this subsection waives coverage of future employment as an elected official, regardless of any change of employer. An elected official may file a waiver under this subsection at any time after election to office, including the period before taking the oath of office. An elected official may revoke a waiver under this subsection by filing a written revocation with the administrator. A revocation under this subsection operates prospectively only, and the elected official may not receive credited service for service as an elected official while the waiver was in effect. There is no limit on the number of times an elected official may file a waiver or revocation under this subsection.

 (b) Service as an elected official before January 1, 1981, with an employer may be included retroactively as credited service with the plan if the elected official or former elected official makes retroactive contributions equal to what the official would have made if the elected official or former elected official had been included in the plan when the oath of office as an elected official was taken, plus accrued interest from July 1, 1984. The rate used to calculate the retroactive contributions may not be less than the rate in effect on January 1, 1961. An elected official or former elected official may not receive credited service under this subsection for any period in which the elected official or former elected official was receiving a retirement benefit from the plan. An elected official or former elected official receiving a retirement benefit from the plan on January 1, 1981, is not eligible to claim credited service under this subsection unless the elected official or former elected official is reemployed as an active member. Service as an elected official with an employer constitutes employment as an active member as long as a waiver of coverage under (a) of this section is not in effect.

 (c) An elected official included in the plan and that person's employer are liable for contributions whenever that person is an elected official unless a waiver of coverage under (a) of this section is in effect.