Effective 28 Aug 1999

476.520. Eligibility requirements. — 1. Any person, sixty-two years of age or older, who has served in this state an aggregate of at least twelve years, continuously or otherwise, as a judge, and who, after September 3, 1970, ceased or ceases to hold office by reason of the expiration of the judge's term, voluntary resignation, or retirement pursuant to the provisions of Subsection 2 of Section 24 of Article V of the Constitution of Missouri may receive benefits as provided in sections 476.515 to 476.565. All judges required by the provisions of Section 30 of Article V of the Constitution to retire at the age of seventy years shall retire upon reaching that age, and if they have served in this state an aggregate of at least twelve years, continuously or otherwise, as a judge, shall receive benefits as provided in sections 476.515 to 476.565. The twelve-year requirement of this subsection may be fulfilled by service as judge in any of the courts covered, or by service in any combination as judge of such courts, totaling an aggregate of twelve years.

2. Any person sixty years of age or older, who has served in this state an aggregate of at least fifteen years, continuously or otherwise, as a judge, and who ceased or ceases to hold office by reason of the expiration of the judge's term, voluntary resignation, or retirement pursuant to the provisions of Subsection 2 of Section 24 of Article V of the Constitution of Missouri may receive benefits as provided in sections 476.515 to 476.565. The fifteen-year requirement of this subsection may be fulfilled by service as judge in any of the courts covered, or by service in any combination as judge of such courts, totaling an aggregate of at least fifteen years.

3. Any person fifty-five years of age or older, who has served in this state an aggregate of at least twenty years, continuously or otherwise, as a judge, and who ceases to hold office by reason of the expiration of his or her term, voluntary resignation or retirement pursuant to the provisions of Subsection 2 of Section 24 of Article V of the Constitution of Missouri may receive benefits as provided in sections 476.515 to 476.565. The twenty-year requirement of this subsection may be fulfilled by service as judge in any of the courts covered, or by service in any combination as judge of such courts, totaling an aggregate of at least twenty years. Any judge who terminated employment prior to August 28, 1999, and who otherwise would qualify for benefits pursuant to this subsection shall upon application to the board of trustees be made, constituted and appointed and employed by the board as a special consultant on the problems of retirement for the remainder of the person's life. As compensation for such services, the consultant shall be eligible to retire pursuant to this subsection upon completing a retirement application. In no event shall the system pay retirement benefits for any period prior to the date such application is processed by the system. Any judge who elects not to retire pursuant to this subsection and continues to serve beyond age fifty-five shall not be eligible to receive the increases described in section 476.690 for any time served prior to age sixty.

4. Any person who terminated employment prior to August 13, 1988, shall upon application to the board of trustees of the Missouri state employees' retirement system, be made, constituted and appointed and employed by the board as a special consultant on the problems of retirement, aging and other state matters for the remainder of the person's life. Upon request of the board or the court from which the person retired, the consultant shall give opinions or be available to give opinions in writing or orally in response to such request. As compensation for such services, the consultant shall be eligible to retire pursuant to the provisions of this section or section 476.545.

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(L. 1971 S.B. 132 § 2, A.L. 1987 H.B. 713, A.L. 1988 S.B. 425 merged with H.B. 1242 Revision, A.L. 1997 H.B. 356, A.L. 1999 S.B. 308 & 314)