(a) The board of commissioners may provide for enrolling county officers and employees in the Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System, the Law-Enforcement Officers’ Benefit and Relief Fund, the Firemen’s Pension Fund, or a retirement plan certified to be actuarially sound by a qualified actuary as defined in subsection (c) of this section and may make payments into such a retirement system or plan on behalf of its employees.

(b) No county may make payments into a retirement system or plan established or authorized by a local act unless the system or plan is certified to be actuarially sound by a qualified actuary as defined in subsection (c) of this section.

(c) A qualified actuary means a member of the American Academy of Actuaries or an individual certified as qualified by the Commissioner of Insurance.

(d) A county which is providing health insurance under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 153A-92(d) may provide health insurance for all or any class of former officers and employees of the county. Such health insurance may be paid entirely by the county, partly by the county and former officer or employee, or entirely by the former officer or employee, at the option of the county.

(d1) On and after October 1, 2009, a county which is providing health insurance under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 153A-92(d) may provide health insurance for all or any class of former officers and employees of the county who have obtained at least 10 years of service with the county prior to separation from the county and who are not receiving benefits under subsection (a) of this section. Such health insurance may be paid entirely by the county, partly by the county and former officer or employee, or entirely by the former officer or employee, at the option of the county.

(d2) Notwithstanding subsection (d) of this section, any county that has elected to and is covering its active employees only, or its active and retired employees, under the State Health Plan, or elects such coverage under the Plan, may not provide health insurance through the State Health Plan to all or any class of former officers and employees who are not receiving benefits under subsection (a) of this section. The county may, however, provide health insurance to such former officers and employees by any other means authorized by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 153A-92(d). The health insurance premium may be paid entirely by the county, partly by the county and former officer or employee, or entirely by the former officer or employee, at the option of the county.

(e) The board of commissioners may provide a deferred compensation plan. Where the board of commissioners provides a deferred compensation plan, the investment of funds for the plan shall be exempt from the provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 159-30 and N.C. Gen. Stat. § 159-31 Counties may invest deferred compensation plan funds in life insurance, fixed or variable annuities and retirement income contracts, regulated investment trusts, or other forms of investments approved by the Board of Trustees of the North Carolina Public Employee Deferred Compensation Plan. (1973, c. 822, s. 1; 1981, c. 347, s. 1; 1991, c. 277, s. 1; 2009-564, ss. 1, 2.)