§ 49-15-202. Participation of employers -- Requirements -- Admission -- Full participation in system -- Supplemental programs authorized. (Effective 3/3/2014)

(1) An employer that employs public safety service employees and is required by Section 49-12-202 or 49-13-202 to be a participating employer in the Public Employees' Contributory Retirement System or the Public Employees' Noncontributory Retirement System shall cover all its public safety service employees under one of the following systems or plans:

(a) Chapter 12, Public Employees' Contributory Retirement Act;

(b) Chapter 13, Public Employees' Noncontributory Retirement Act;

(c) Chapter 14, Public Safety Contributory Retirement Act;

(d) Chapter 15, Public Safety Noncontributory Retirement Act; or

(e) Chapter 23, New Public Safety and Firefighter Tier II Contributory Retirement Act.

(2) An employer that covers its public safety employees under Subsection (1)(d) is a participating employer in this system.

(3) If a participating employer under Subsection (1) covers any of its public safety service employees under the Public Safety Contributory Retirement System or the Public Safety Noncontributory Retirement System, that participating employer shall cover all of its public safety service employees under one of those systems, except for a public safety service employee initially entering employment with a participating employer beginning on or after July 1, 2011.

(4)

(a) Until June 30, 2011, an employer that is not participating in this system may by resolution of its governing body apply for coverage of its public safety service employees by this system.

(b) Upon approval of the board, the employer shall become a participating employer in this system subject to this title.

(5)

(a) If a participating employer purchases service credit on behalf of employees for service rendered prior to the participating employer's admission to this system, the service credit must be purchased in a nondiscriminatory manner on behalf of all current and former employees who were eligible for service credit at the time service was rendered.

(b) For a purchase made under this Subsection (5), an employee is not required to:

(i) have at least four years of service credit before the purchase can be made; or

(ii) forfeit service credit or any defined contribution balance based on the employer contributions under any other retirement system or plan based on the period of employment for which service credit is being purchased.

(6) A participating employer may not withdraw from this system.

(7) In addition to their participation in the system, participating employers may provide or participate in any additional public or private retirement, supplemental or defined contribution plan, either directly or indirectly, for their employees.

Amended by Chapter 15, 2014 General Session