§925. Eligibility

A. Academic and administrative employees of public institutions of higher education and employees of the Board of Regents, Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities, Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, and Board of Supervisors of Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, or their successors, and any other constitutionally established board which manages institutions of higher education who are current members in the regular retirement plan of the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana may make an irrevocable election to participate in the optional retirement plan within one hundred eighty days after the implementation date of the optional retirement plan at their employer institution or board. Eligible employees who are initially employed on or after the implementation date at their employer institution or board may make an irrevocable election to participate in the optional retirement plan within sixty days after their employment date. Any academic or administrative employee of a public institution of higher education or employee of the Board of Regents, Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities, Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, or Board of Supervisors of Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, or their successors, and any other constitutionally established board which manages institutions of higher education who is not eligible for membership in the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana because of age shall be eligible to participate in the optional retirement plan upon election by such employee. Elections must be made in writing and filed with the appropriate officer of the employer institution or board, who shall forward a copy of the completed election to the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana. Current Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana members' elections will be effective as of the date they are filed. Elections of eligible employees hired on or after the implementation date of the optional retirement plan at their institution or board will be effective as of the date of their employment. If an eligible employee fails to make the election provided for in this Section, he shall become a member of the regular retirement plan of the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana in accordance with R.S. 11:721.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this Section any academic or administrative employee of a public institution of higher education and any employee of the Board of Regents, Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities, Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, and Board of Supervisors of Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, or their successors, and any other constitutionally established board which manages institutions of higher education who is an active contributing member in the regular retirement plan of the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana and who has less than five years of creditable service in the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana, may make an irrevocable election to participate in the optional retirement plan and transfer his accumulated employee contributions to the optional retirement plan under the provisions of R.S. 11:926(A). The election provided by this Subsection can only be elected by a member prior to attainment of five years of creditable service in the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana.

C. Any person who is an academic or administrative employee of a public institution of higher education or employee of the Board of Regents, Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities, Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, or Board of Supervisors of Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, or their successors, and any other constitutionally established board which manages institutions of higher education who is not eligible for membership in the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana because he is a part-time, seasonal, or temporary employee as defined in 26 CFR 31:3121(b)(7)-2, or in any successor regulation, may make an irrevocable election to participate in the optional retirement plan and transfer any accumulated employee contributions to the optional retirement plan under the provisions of R.S. 11:926(A).

Acts 1989, No. 90, §1; Acts 1991, No. 836, §1, eff. July 1, 1991; Redesignated from R.S. 17:775 by Acts 1991, No. 74, §3, eff. June 25, 1991; Acts 1992, No. 92, §1, eff. July 1, 1992; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 88, §1, eff. July 1, 1998.