§789. Termination of participation

A. Upon termination of participation in both the plan and employment, a participant shall:

(1) At the participant's option, receive either a lump sum payment from the account equal to the amount then credited to his individual subaccount or systematic disbursements based on his individual subaccount in any manner approved by the board.

(2) Begin to receive monthly retirement benefits based on the option selected at the time of election to participate in the plan, as adjusted pursuant to Subsection D of this Section.

B. Upon termination of participation in the plan but not employment, credits to the account shall cease, and no retirement benefits shall be paid to the participant until employment is terminated. No payment shall be made based on credits in the account until employment is terminated. Employer and employee contributions shall resume.

C. If a participant dies while still employed, his credits and benefits, if any, shall be payable in accordance with R.S. 11:783.

D. Monthly retirement benefits payable to a participant after termination of participation in the plan and employment shall be calculated as follows:

(1) There shall be a "base benefit" which shall equal the participant's monthly credit to the account plus conversion of sick and annual leave, if any, based on the average compensation rate used to calculate the monthly credit.

(2) If the participant does not continue employment after termination of participation in the plan, his monthly retirement benefit shall equal his base benefit.

(3)(a) Except as provided in Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, if the participant continues employment after termination of participation in the plan for a period of less than thirty-six months, his monthly retirement benefit shall equal his base benefit plus an amount based upon the service credit for the additional employment, together with conversion of the net amount of sick and annual leave accumulated during that period of employment, based upon the average compensation used to calculate the monthly credit.

(b) For a participant whose average compensation period is more than thirty-six months, if the participant continues employment after termination of participation in the plan for a period of less than his average compensation period, his monthly retirement benefit shall equal his base benefit plus an amount based upon the service credit for the additional employment, together with conversion of the net amount of sick and annual leave accumulated during that period of employment, based upon the average compensation used to calculate the monthly credit.

(4)(a) Except as provided in Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, if the participant continues employment after termination of participation in the plan for a period of thirty-six months or more, his monthly retirement benefit shall equal his base benefit plus an amount based upon the service credit for the additional employment, together with conversion of the net amount of sick and annual leave accumulated during that period of employment, based upon the average compensation for the period of employment after termination of participation in the plan.

(b) For a participant whose average compensation period is more than thirty-six months, if the participant continues employment after termination of participation in the plan for a period equal to or longer than his average compensation period, his monthly retirement benefit shall equal his base benefit plus an amount based upon the service credit for the additional employment, together with conversion of the net amount of sick and annual leave accumulated during that period of employment, based upon the average compensation for the period of employment after termination of participation in the plan.

Acts 1991, No. 62, §1, eff. July 1, 1992; Redesignated from R.S. 17:645.3 by Acts 1991, No. 74, §5, eff. June 25, 1991; Acts 1993, No. 716, §1, eff. July 1, 1993; Acts 1995, No. 1110, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1996; Acts 2011, No. 368, §1, eff. July 1, 2011.