§ 24-8-311 - Eligibility for benefits -- Clerks. - Arkansas Statutes

24-8-311. Eligibility for benefits -- Clerks.

(a) (1) Any clerk of a municipal court to which this subchapter applies, appointed by the judges of the court, shall be eligible to receive retirement benefits provided by this subchapter who:

(A) Attains age sixty (60) and has served in office as clerk for at least ten (10) years; or

(B) Has served in office for at least twenty (20) years irrespective of age.

(2) If the clerk resigns, retires from office, or is succeeded in office by another clerk, the clerk shall receive retirement benefits for and during the remainder of his or her natural life in an amount equal to one-half (1/2) of the salary payable to the clerk at the time of resignation, retirement, or succession in office.

(3) After the death of the clerk, the surviving spouse of a qualifying court clerk shall be entitled to continue to receive the retirement benefits under this subchapter until the surviving spouse dies or remarries.

(b) Upon the approval of the governing body of the municipality and following a determination of the actuarial soundness of the fund from which the benefits shall be paid, any court clerk of a municipal court who upon reaching age sixty-eight (68) will have served for a minimum of seven (7) years immediately prior to severance from employment may retire with a reduced benefit in an amount equal to seven-tenths (0.7) of the benefits payable under subsection (a) of this section.

(c) (1) The board of trustees by resolution may provide retirement benefits to a clerk who is incapacitated due to illness or disability and has served for a minimum of seven (7) years.

(2) The clerk may retire with a reduced benefit in an amount equal to seven-tenths (0.7) of the benefits payable under subsection (a) of this section.