A. A deferred retirement option plan is established for those employees who become members of the system before January 1, 2012. The purpose of the deferred retirement option plan is to add flexibility to the system and to provide members who elect to participate in the deferred retirement option plan access to a lump sum benefit in addition to their normal monthly retirement benefit on actual retirement.

B. The board shall offer the deferred retirement option plan to members on a voluntary basis as an alternative method of benefit accrual under the system.