19-7-301. Membership -- inactive vested members -- inactive nonvested members. - Montana Statutes

     19-7-301. Membership -- inactive vested members -- inactive nonvested members. (1) (a) Except as provided in subsection (1)(b), each sheriff shall become a member of the sheriffs' retirement system.
     (b) A sheriff who was a member of the public employees' retirement system on July 1, 1974, may remain a public employees' retirement system member or elect to become a member of the sheriffs' retirement system by filing a written election with the board at any time before retirement.
     (2) (a) Except as provided in subsection (2)(b), an investigator shall become a member of the sheriffs' retirement system.
     (b) An investigator who was a member of the public employees' retirement system on July 1, 1993, may remain in the public employees' retirement system or elect to become a member of the sheriffs' retirement system by filing a written election with the board at any time before retirement.
     (3) (a) Except as provided in subsection (3)(b), a detention officer shall become a member of the sheriffs' retirement system.
     (b) A detention officer who was a member of the public employees' retirement system on July 1, 2005, may remain in the public employees' retirement system or elect to become a member of the sheriffs' retirement system by filing a written election with the board before May 1, 2006.
     (4) A member of the public employees' retirement system who begins employment in a position covered by the sheriffs' retirement system may remain in the public employees' retirement system or may elect to become a member of the sheriffs' retirement system by filing a written election with the board no later than 30 days after beginning the employment.
     (5) A sheriff or investigator who elects to become a member of the sheriffs' retirement system must be an active member as long as actively employed in an eligible capacity, except as provided in 19-7-1101(2).
     (6) (a) An inactive member with at least 5 years of membership service is an inactive vested member and retains the right to purchase service credit and to receive a retirement benefit under the provisions of this chapter.
     (b) If an inactive vested member chooses to take a lump-sum payment rather than a retirement benefit, the lump-sum payment consists of only the member's accumulated contributions and not the employer's contributions.
     (7) (a) An inactive member with less than 5 years of membership service is an inactive nonvested member and is not eligible for any benefits from the retirement system.
     (b) An inactive nonvested member is eligible only for a refund of the member's accumulated contributions.

     History: En. 68-2607 by Sec. 7, Ch. 178, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 59, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 68-2607(part); amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 81, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 261, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 135, Ch. 265, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 248, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 71, Ch. 99, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 71, Ch. 429, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 259, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 46, Ch. 329, L. 2005.