15-39.1-10.3. Multiple plan membership - Eligibility for benefits - Amount of benefits

15-39.1-10.3. Multiple plan membership - Eligibility for benefits - Amount of benefits 1. a. For the purpose of determining vesting of rights and eligibility for benefits under this chapter, a teacher's years of service credit is the total of the years of service credit earned in the fund and the years, with twelve months of compensation equal to a year, of service employment earned in any number of the following alternate plans: (1) The public employees retirement system, except an "eligible employee" as that term is defined under section 54-52-02.15. (2) The highway patrol troopers' retirement system. Service credit may not exceed one year of service in any fiscal year in determining vesting and benefit eligibility. b. If a teacher terminates eligible employment under the fund, if that teacher has not received a refund of member contributions, and if that teacher begins eligible employment in a plan described in paragraph 1 or 2 of subdivision a, that teacher may elect to remain an inactive member of the fund without refund of contributions. The board shall terminate the inactive status of a teacher under this subdivision if the teacher gains eligible employment under this chapter or if the teacher terminates eligible employment under a plan described in paragraph 1 or 2 of subdivision a. c. Pursuant to rules adopted by the board, a teacher who has service credit in the fund and in any number of the alternate plans described in paragraphs 1 and 2 of subdivision a is entitled to benefits under this chapter. (1) A tier one member may elect to have benefits calculated using the benefit formula in subsection 2 of section 15-39.1-10 under either of the following calculation methods: (a) Using the three highest certified fiscal year salaries of this plan in the computation of final average salary and all service credit earned in this plan; or (b) Using the three highest certified fiscal year salaries of this plan combined with the alternate plan in the computation of final average salary and service credit not to exceed one year in any fiscal year when combined with the service credit earned in the alternate retirement plan. (2) A tier two member may elect to have benefits calculated using the benefit formula in subsection 2 of section 15-39.1-10 under either of the following calculation methods: (a) Using the five highest certified fiscal year salaries of this plan in the computation of final average salary and all service credit earned in this plan; or (b) Using the five highest certified fiscal year salaries of this plan combined with the alternate plan in the computation of final average salary and service credit not to exceed one year in any fiscal year when combined with the service credit earned in the alternate retirement plan. 2. a. If a teacher, who is eligible to participate in this fund, is also eligible to participate in an alternate retirement system, the employee is a member of the teachers' fund for retirement for duties covered under this fund, and the employee is also a member of the public employees retirement system or highway patrolmen's retirement system for duties covered by those alternate retirement systems. The employers shall pay the member and employer contributions at the rates currently existing for the applicable system. b. If a teacher described in subdivision a was employed prior to August 1, 2003, and has dual member rights, the teacher may elect to begin participation in the alternate plan pursuant to the plan provisions on August 1, 2003, or may continue participation pursuant to the plan provisions in effect on July 31, 2003. A plan participation election is required by five p.m. on October 31, 2003. If an election is not received by the retirement plan, the participation and benefit calculation requirements of this chapter as of July 31, 2003, continue to be in effect for the teacher. o the plan provisions on August 1, 2003, or may continue participation pursuant to the plan provisions in effect on July 31, 2003. A plan participation election is required by five p.m. on October 31, 2003. If an election is not received by the retirement plan, the participation and benefit calculation requirements of this chapter as of July 31, 2003, continue to be in effect for the teacher. 3. Under rules adopted by the board, an individual whose service credit was canceled when that individual received a refund of assessments at termination of employment under this chapter may, while that individual participates in a plan described in paragraph 1 or 2 of subdivision a of subsection 1, repurchase that service credit that was canceled.