Arizona § 38-729 - Political subdivision plans

§ 38-729. Political subdivision plans

A. The governing body of any political subdivision may adopt, by appropriate legislation, a supplemental retirement plan for employees and officers of the political subdivision. The supplemental retirement plan shall provide the same retirement benefits and require the same obligations for entitlement as are provided for other members under this article, except that:

1. The supplemental retirement plan shall specify the date of commencement of the supplemental retirement plan as the first day of the month following board approval of the supplemental plan of the political subdivision as provided in this section.

2. Employer and employee obligations shall be paid to ASRS in accordance with that date.

B. The governing body of the political subdivision shall submit the supplemental retirement plan to the board in the form of an agreement. The agreement shall state the terms of the supplemental retirement plan as provided in this section. The board shall either approve or disapprove the supplemental retirement plan submitted by the governing body of the political subdivision.

C. On approval, the board shall administer the supplemental plan of the political subdivision.

D. The employer's share of contributions and payments in excess of those required of the employer under section 38-737 shall be paid from monies of the political subdivision.

E. On establishment of the supplemental retirement plan the governing body of the political subdivision shall deduct member contributions in the same amounts and in the same manner as provided in this article for state employees and shall pay those contributions, together with the employer contributions for the political subdivision, to ASRS for deposit in the ASRS depository. The governing body of the political subdivision shall reimburse ASRS in a similar manner for its pro rata share of administrative costs attributable to coverage of employees of the political subdivision.

F. In addition to the employer contributions required under section 38-737, on establishment of the supplemental retirement plan the governing body of the political subdivision shall pay to ASRS the amount equal to the present value required to fund additional costs of benefits attributable to service for the political subdivision before the effective date of the supplemental retirement plan using the actuarial assumptions that are approved by the board. The board may authorize payments to be made at such times as the board requires and in amounts that are less than the amount required for fully funding the additional costs.

G. If the supplemental retirement plan is authorized by a political subdivision, then on or after the effective date of the supplemental retirement plan the governing body of the political subdivision and the board may sign an agreement to waive the provisions of subsection F of this section and to authorize benefits under the supplemental retirement plan only for service with the political subdivision after the effective date of the supplemental retirement plan. In lieu of waiving benefits for all service before the effective date of the supplemental retirement plan, the governing body of the political subdivision may elect to waive benefits for a portion of that service. Amendments to the agreement may increase but shall not reduce the service for which a member is entitled to benefits. The governing body of the political subdivision shall certify for each member the years of service before the effective date of the supplemental retirement plan for which the member is entitled to benefits. In addition to the employer contributions required in section 38-737, the governing body of the political subdivision shall pay to ASRS the amount, as determined by the board, required to fund the cost of the benefits attributable to service before the effective date of the supplemental retirement plan for which members are entitled to benefits.

H. The new political subdivision shall designate the classification of employees that is eligible for membership in ASRS and shall make contributions each year as provided in this section.

I. The liability of the political subdivision providing a supplemental retirement plan within ASRS arises in consideration of the officer's or employee's retention in or entrance into service for the political subdivision.

J. Notwithstanding any other law, an employee of a political subdivision who was previously a member of another public employee retirement system and who receives or is eligible to receive retirement benefits from that public employee retirement system for any period of employment is ineligible to receive service credit from ASRS for the same period of employment.