(a)

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 8-35-217

  • board: means the board provided for in part 3 of this chapter. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
  • Employer: means :
    (A) The state or any department, commission, institution, board or agency of the state government by which a member is paid, with respect to members in its employ. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
  • Prior service: means service rendered prior to the date of membership in the retirement system for which credit was given under the terms of one (1) or more of the superseded systems as provided in part 6 of this chapter. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
  • Retirement: means withdrawal from membership with a retirement allowance granted under chapters 34-37 of this title. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
  • Retirement system: means the Tennessee consolidated retirement system as defined in §. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
  • Service: means service as a general employee, a teacher, a state police officer, a wildlife officer, a firefighter, a police officer, a state judge, a county judge, an attorney general, a commissioner or a county official which is paid for by an employer, and also includes service for which a former member of the general assembly is entitled to under former §. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
  • State: means the state of Tennessee. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
(1) Any political subdivision electing to participate in the retirement system on or after July 1, 1983, in accordance with this part, shall participate in the provisions of the plan as they exist for state employees on the date of participation; except that prior service credit authorized in § 8-35-203(a)(2) shall remain optional.
(2) An irrevocable election of this option must be made on the date of participation.
(b) If an employer does not extend social security coverage to its employees, the employer is authorized, subject to the approval of the board, to establish a different benefit accrual rate, adopt different retirement eligibility service and age requirements, or to otherwise alter the pension plan benefit structure for all or for certain classes of its employees. Based on the advice of nationally recognized counsel employed by the Tennessee consolidated retirement system, any such alternative plan shall comply with all requirements of federal laws, rules, and regulations and also qualify as a social security replacement plan.