Accumulated contributions: means the sum of all the amounts deducted from the compensation of a member, together with any amount transferred to the account of the member established pursuant to chapters 34-37 of this title from the respective account of the member under one (1) or more of the superseded systems, with interest thereon, as provided in §. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
Attorney general: means the attorney general and reporter and any assistant thereto by whatever name known, any district attorney general and any assistant thereto by whatever name called, and any officer or full-time employee of the general assembly or any committee thereof established by statute, who is duly licensed to practice law in Tennessee, whose duty it is to provide facilities for drafting bills or to assist individual legislators in drafting bills or who renders legal advice and services to the members of the general assembly or committees thereof. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
Creditable service: means prior service plus membership service, as provided in part 6 of this chapter. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
Defined benefit component: means the portion of the hybrid plan that provides a defined benefit plan within the retirement system, but which has its own vesting, benefit structure, and contribution requirements as set forth in this part. See Tennessee Code 8-36-902
Defined contribution component: means the portion of the hybrid plan that provides a defined contribution plan within the profit sharing and/or salary reduction plan established under chapter 25, part 3 of this title. See Tennessee Code 8-36-902
Employer: means : (A) The state or any department, commission, institution, board or agency of the state government by which a member is paid, with respect to members in its employ. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
Hybrid plan: means a plan that provides a combination of a defined benefit plan and a defined contribution plan which, together, are intended to comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U. See Tennessee Code 8-36-902
Internal Revenue Code: means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, codified in United States Code, title 26, as amended. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
Member: means any person included in the membership of the retirement system, as provided in chapter 35, part 1 of this title. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
Participant: means any state employee, teacher, or political subdivision employee participating in the hybrid plan. See Tennessee Code 8-36-902
Public defender: Represent defendants who can't afford an attorney in criminal matters.
Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
Retirement: means withdrawal from membership with a retirement allowance granted under chapters 34-37 of this title. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
Retirement allowance: means the sum of the member annuity and the state annuity. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
Service: means service as a general employee, a teacher, a state police officer, a wildlife officer, a firefighter, a police officer, a state judge, a county judge, an attorney general, a commissioner or a county official which is paid for by an employer, and also includes service for which a former member of the general assembly is entitled to under former §. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section and in § 8-36-921, any participant shall be eligible for a serviceretirement allowance from the defined benefit component of the plan upon attainment of sixty-five (65) years of age and completion of five (5) years of creditable service, or upon attainment of a combination of age and years of creditable service as to equal ninety (90).(2) Any participant serving in a position covered by the mandatory retirement provisions of § 8-36-205 shall be eligible for a service retirement allowance from the defined benefit component of the plan upon attainment of sixty (60) years of age and upon completion of five (5) years of creditable service, or at any age upon completion of thirty (30) years of creditable service. Further, any participant who has creditable service in a position covered by the mandatory retirement provisions of § 8-36-205 and who is entitled to the supplemental bridge benefit pursuant to § 8-36-211 shall be eligible for a service retirement allowance from the defined benefit component of the plan upon attainment of fifty-five (55) years of age and upon completion of twenty-five (25) years of creditable service; provided, that the service rendered while the participant was in a position covered by the mandatory retirement provisions shall be independent of all other creditable service for the purpose of calculating the participant’s retirement allowance under § 8-36-907.(b) Any participant serving as the attorney general and reporter, a district attorney general, district public defender, or state judge shall be eligible for a service retirement allowance from the defined benefit component of the plan upon attainment of sixty (60) years of age and upon completion of eight (8) years of creditable service, or upon the attainment of fifty-five (55) years of age and upon completion of twenty-four (24) years of creditable service.(c) Any participant serving as a member of the general assembly shall be eligible for a service retirement allowance from the defined benefit component of the plan upon attainment of sixty (60) years of age and upon completion of four (4) years of creditable service.(d) A member in the defined benefit component of the hybrid plan shall be one hundred percent (100%) vested in the member’s service retirement allowance upon attaining the normal retirement age of sixty-five (65) with at least five (5) years of creditable service, except that if such member is:
(1) Covered by the mandatory retirement provisions of § 8-36-205, then the normal retirement age of sixty (60) with at least five (5) years of creditable service;(2) Serving as the attorney general and reporter, a district attorney general, district public defender, or state judge, then the normal retirement age of sixty (60) with eight (8) years of creditable service; or(3) A member of the general assembly, then the normal retirement age of sixty (60) with four (4) years of creditable service.(e) A member who leaves the service of the employer before reaching normal retirement age but after completing at least five (5) years of creditable service shall have a vested right to accrued benefits from the plan.(f) A member shall be one hundred percent (100%) vested in the member’s accumulated contributions at all times. A member in the hybrid plan shall be one hundred percent (100%) vested in the employee and employer contributions under the defined contribution component of the hybrid plan at all times.(g) In the event of a full or partial termination of, or a complete discontinuance of employer contributions to the plan, the accrued benefits of the affected members under the plan shall be one hundred percent (100%) vested and nonforfeitable to the extent funded and to the extent required by federal law.(h) In conformity with § 401(a)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C.§ 401(a)(8)), any forfeitures of benefits by members or former members shall not be used to pay benefit increases. However, such forfeitures shall be used to reduce employer contributions.
