The Florida Senate

121.051  Participation in the system.--

(1)  COMPULSORY PARTICIPATION.--

(a)  The provisions of this law shall be compulsory as to all officers and employees, except elected officers who meet the requirements of s. 121.052(3), who are employed on or after December 1, 1970, of an employer other than those referred to in paragraph (2)(b), and each officer or employee, as a condition of employment, shall become a member of the system as of his or her date of employment, except that a person who is retired from any state retirement system and is reemployed on or after December 1, 1970, may not renew his or her membership in any state retirement system except as provided in s. 121.091(4)(h) for a person who recovers from disability, and as provided in s. 121.091(9)(b)8. for a person who is elected to public office, and, effective July 1, 1991, as provided in s. 121.122 for all other retirees. Officers and employees of the University Athletic Association, Inc., a nonprofit association connected with the University of Florida, employed on and after July 1, 1979, shall not participate in any state-supported retirement system.

1.  Any person appointed on or after July 1, 1989, to a faculty position in a college at the J. Hillis Miller Health Center at the University of Florida or the Medical Center at the University of South Florida which has a faculty practice plan provided by rule adopted by the ¹Board of Regents may not participate in the Florida Retirement System. Effective July 1, 2008, any person appointed thereafter to a faculty position, including clinical faculty, in a college at a state university that has a faculty practice plan authorized by the Board of Governors may not participate in the Florida Retirement System. A faculty member so appointed shall participate in the optional retirement program for the State University System notwithstanding the provisions of s. 121.35(2)(a).

2.  For purposes of this ²paragraph, the term "faculty position" is defined as a position assigned the principal responsibility of teaching, research, or public service activities or administrative responsibility directly related to the academic mission of the college. The term "clinical faculty" is defined as a faculty position appointment in conjunction with a professional position in a hospital or other clinical environment at a college. The term "faculty practice plan" includes professional services to patients, institutions, or other parties which are rendered by the clinical faculty employed by a college that has a faculty practice plan at a state university authorized by the Board of Governors.

(b)  After June 30, 1978, the compulsory participation provisions of paragraph (a) shall not be construed to require participation in the Florida Retirement System by a member of an existing system who is reemployed after terminating employment, or who otherwise interrupts his or her employment under an existing system, provided the member leaves his or her accumulated contributions on deposit under the existing system. Such member shall continue to have membership in the existing system upon reemployment or resumption of employment and shall not be permitted to become a member of the Florida Retirement System, except by transferring to the Florida Retirement System as authorized by paragraph (2)(a) or s. 121.052 or by being reemployed after terminating employment and receiving a refund of his or her accumulated contributions made to the existing system.

(c)1.  After June 30, 1983, a member of an existing system who is reemployed after terminating employment shall have at the time of reemployment the option of selecting to remain in the existing retirement system or to transfer to the Florida Retirement System. Failure to submit such selection in writing to the Department of Management Services within 6 months of reemployment shall result in compulsory membership in the Florida Retirement System.

2.  After June 30, 1988, the provisions of subparagraph 1. shall not apply to a member of an existing system who is reemployed within 12 months after terminating employment. Such member shall continue to have membership in the existing system upon reemployment and shall not be permitted to become a member of the Florida Retirement System, except by transferring to that system as provided in ss. 121.052 and 121.055

(d)  The following persons are not eligible to participate in the Florida Retirement System:

1.  Employees of a not-for-profit corporation or association created by the Board of County Commissioners of Palm Beach County for the purpose of owning, operating, or managing a public bus transit system formerly operated or managed by a private corporation subject to 49 U.S.C. s. 5333(b).

2.  Persons who perform services as a consultant or an independent contractor, as defined by the division.

(2)  OPTIONAL PARTICIPATION.--

(a)1.  Any officer or employee who is a member of an existing system, except any officer or employee of any nonprofit professional association or corporation, may elect, if eligible, to become a member of this system at any time between April 15, 1971, and June 1, 1971, inclusive, by notifying his or her employer in writing of the desire to transfer membership from the existing system to this system. Any officer or employee who was a member of an existing system on December 1, 1970, and who did not elect to become a member of this system shall continue to be covered under the existing system subject to the provisions of s. 121.045 A person who has retired under any state retirement system shall not be eligible to transfer to the Florida Retirement System created by this chapter subsequent to such retirement. Any officer or employee who, prior to July 1, 1947, filed a written rejection of membership in a state retirement system and who continues employment without participating in the Florida Retirement System may withdraw the rejection in writing and, if otherwise eligible, participate in the Florida Retirement System and purchase prior service in accordance with this chapter. Any former member of an existing system who was permitted to transfer to the Florida Retirement System while employed by the University Athletic Association, Inc., a nonprofit association connected with the University of Florida, during this or subsequent transfer periods, contrary to the provisions of this paragraph, is hereby confirmed as a member of the Florida Retirement System, the provisions of this paragraph to the contrary notwithstanding. Any officer or employee of the University Athletic Association, Inc., employed prior to July 1, 1979, who was a member of the Florida Retirement System and who chose in writing on a University Athletic Association Plan Participation Election form, between July 1, 1979, and March 31, 1980, inclusively, to terminate his or her participation in the Florida Retirement System shall hereby have such termination of participation confirmed and declared irrevocable retroactive to the date Florida Retirement System retirement contributions ceased to be reported for such officer or employee. The following specific conditions shall apply to any such officer or employee whose participation was so terminated: The officer or employee shall retain all creditable service earned in the Florida Retirement System through the month that retirement contributions ceased to be reported and no creditable service shall be earned after such month; the officer or employee shall not be eligible for disability retirement or death in line of duty benefits if such occurred after the date that participation terminated; and, the officer or employee may participate in the Florida Retirement System in the future only if employed by a participating employer in a regularly established position.

2.  Any member transferring from the existing system under chapter 238 shall retain rights to survivor benefits under that chapter through November 30, 1975, or until fully insured for disability benefits under social security, whichever is the earliest date, and thereafter no such rights shall exist.

3.  Any officer or employee who is a member of an existing system on April 15, 1972, and who was eligible to transfer to this system under the provisions of subparagraph 1., but who elected to remain in the existing system, may elect, if eligible under the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. s. 418(d)(6)(F), to become a member of this system at any time between April 15, 1972, and June 30, 1972, inclusive, by notifying his or her employer in writing of the desire to transfer membership from an existing system to this system. Such transfer shall be subject to the following conditions:

a.  All persons electing to transfer to the Florida Retirement System under this subparagraph shall be transferred on July 1, 1972, and shall thereafter be subject to the provisions of the Florida Retirement System retroactively to November 30, 1970, and at retirement have their benefits calculated in accordance with the provisions of s. 121.091

b.  Social security coverage incidental to such elective membership in the Florida Retirement System shall be effective November 30, 1970, and all amounts required from a member for retroactive social security coverage shall, at the time such election is made, be deducted from the individual account of the member, and the difference between the amount remaining in the individual account of such member and the total amount which such member would have contributed had he or she become a member of the Florida Retirement System on November 30, 1970, shall be paid into the system trust fund and added to the member's individual account prior to July 1, 1975, or by his or her date of retirement, if earlier. Interest at the rate of 8 percent per annum, compounded annually until paid, shall be charged on any balance remaining unpaid on said date.

c.  There is appropriated out of the system trust fund into the ³Social Security Contribution Trust Fund the amount required by federal laws and regulations to be contributed with respect to social security coverage for the years after November 30, 1970, of the members of an existing system who transfer to the Florida Retirement System in accordance with this subparagraph and who qualify for retroactive social security coverage. The amount paid from this appropriation with respect to the employees of any employer shall be charged to the employing agency. There shall be credited against this charge the difference between the matching contributions actually made for the affected employees from November 30, 1970, to June 30, 1972, and the amount of matching contributions that would have been required under the Florida Retirement System.

d.  The net amounts charged the employing agencies for employees transferring to the Florida Retirement System under this subparagraph shall be paid to the system trust fund prior to July 1, 1975. Interest at the rate of 8 percent per annum, compounded annually until paid, shall be charged on any balance remaining unpaid on said date.

e.  The administrator shall request such modification of the state's agreement with the Social Security Administration, or any referendum required under the Social Security Act governing social security coverage, as may be required to implement the provisions of this law. Retroactive social security coverage for service with an employer prior to November 30, 1970, shall not be provided for any member who was not covered under the agreement as of November 30, 1970.

4.  Any officer or employee who was a member of an existing system on December 1, 1970, and who is still a member of an existing system, except any officer or employee of any nonprofit professional association or corporation, may elect, if eligible, to become a member of this system at any time between September 1, 1974, and November 30, 1974, inclusive, by notifying his or her employer in writing of the desire to transfer membership from the existing system to this system. This decision to transfer or not to transfer shall become irrevocable on November 30, 1974. All members electing to transfer during the transfer period shall become members of the Florida Retirement System on January 1, 1975, and shall be subject to the provisions of the Florida Retirement System on and after that date. Any officer or employee who was a member of an existing system on December 1, 1970, and who does not elect to become a member of this system shall continue to be covered under the existing system, subject to the provisions of s. 121.045 Any member transferring from the Teachers' Retirement System of Florida under chapter 238 to the Florida Retirement System on January 1, 1975, shall retain rights to survivor benefits under chapter 238 from January 1, 1975, through December 31, 1979, or until fully insured for disability benefits under the Social Security Act, whichever is the earliest date, and thereafter no such rights shall exist.

5.a.  Any officer or employee who was a member of an existing system on December 1, 1970, and who is still a member of an existing system, except any officer or employee of any nonprofit professional association or corporation, may elect, if eligible, to become a member of this system at any time between January 2, 1982, and May 31, 1982, inclusive, by notifying his or her employer in writing of the desire to transfer membership from the existing system to this system. This decision to transfer or not to transfer shall become irrevocable on May 31, 1982. All members electing to transfer during the transfer period shall become members of the Florida Retirement System on July 1, 1982, and shall be subject to the provisions of the Florida Retirement System on and after that date. Any officer or employee who was a member of an existing system on December 1, 1970, and who does not elect to become a member of this system shall continue to be covered under the existing system, subject to the provisions of s. 121.045 Any member transferring from the Teachers' Retirement System under chapter 238 to the Florida Retirement System on January 1, 1979, shall retain rights to survivor benefits under chapter 238 from January 1, 1979, through December 31, 1983, or until fully insured for disability benefits under the federal Social Security Act, whichever is the earliest date, and thereafter no such rights shall exist. Any such member transferring to the Florida Retirement System on July 1, 1982, shall retain rights to survivor benefits under chapter 238 from July 1, 1982, through June 30, 1987, or until fully insured for disability benefits under the federal Social Security Act, whichever is the earliest date, and thereafter no such rights shall exist.

b.  Any deficit, as determined by the state actuary, accruing to the Survivors' Benefit Trust Fund of the Teachers' Retirement System and resulting from the passage of chapter 78-308, Laws of Florida, and chapter 80-242, Laws of Florida, shall become an obligation of the Florida Retirement System Trust Fund.

6.  Any active member of an existing system who was not employed in a covered position during a time when transfer to the Florida Retirement System was allowed as described in rule 22B-1.004(2)(a), Florida Administrative Code, or as provided in paragraph (1)(c) of this section, may elect, if eligible, to become a member of this system at any time between January 1, 1991, and May 29, 1991, inclusive, by notifying his or her employer in writing of the desire to transfer membership from the existing system to this system. The decision to transfer or not to transfer shall become irrevocable on May 29, 1991. Failure to notify the employer shall result in compulsory membership in the existing system. All members electing to transfer during the transfer period shall become members of the Florida Retirement System on July 1, 1991, and shall be subject to the provisions of the Florida Retirement System on and after that date. Any member so transferring from the existing system under chapter 238 to the Florida Retirement System on July 1, 1991, shall retain rights to survivor benefits under that chapter from July 1, 1991, through June 30, 1996, or until fully insured for benefits under the federal Social Security Act, whichever is the earliest date, and thereafter no such rights shall exist.

(b)1.  The governing body of any municipality, metropolitan planning organization, or special district in the state may elect to participate in the system upon proper application to the administrator and may cover all or any of its units as approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the administrator. The department shall adopt rules establishing provisions for the submission of documents necessary for such application. Prior to being approved for participation in the Florida Retirement System, the governing body of any such municipality, metropolitan planning organization, or special district that has a local retirement system shall submit to the administrator a certified financial statement showing the condition of the local retirement system as of a date within 3 months prior to the proposed effective date of membership in the Florida Retirement System. The statement must be certified by a recognized accounting firm that is independent of the local retirement system. All required documents necessary for extending Florida Retirement System coverage must be received by the department for consideration at least 15 days prior to the proposed effective date of coverage. If the municipality, metropolitan planning organization, or special district does not comply with this requirement, the department may require that the effective date of coverage be changed.

2.  Any city, metropolitan planning organization, or special district that has an existing retirement system covering the employees in the units that are to be brought under the Florida Retirement System may participate only after holding a referendum in which all employees in the affected units have the right to participate. Only those employees electing coverage under the Florida Retirement System by affirmative vote in said referendum shall be eligible for coverage under this chapter, and those not participating or electing not to be covered by the Florida Retirement System shall remain in their present systems and shall not be eligible for coverage under this chapter. After the referendum is held, all future employees shall be compulsory members of the Florida Retirement System.

3.  The governing body of any city, metropolitan planning organization, or special district complying with subparagraph 1. may elect to provide, or not provide, benefits based on past service of officers and employees as described in s. 121.081(1). However, if such employer elects to provide past service benefits, such benefits must be provided for all officers and employees of its covered group.

4.  Once this election is made and approved it may not be revoked, except pursuant to subparagraphs 5. and 6., and all present officers and employees electing coverage under this chapter and all future officers and employees shall be compulsory members of the Florida Retirement System.

5.  Subject to the conditions set forth in subparagraph 6., the governing body of any hospital licensed under chapter 395 which is governed by the board of a special district as defined in s. 189.403(1) or by the board of trustees of a public health trust created under s. 154.07, hereinafter referred to as "hospital district," and which participates in the system, may elect to cease participation in the system with regard to future employees in accordance with the following procedure:

a.  No more than 30 days and at least 7 days before adopting a resolution to partially withdraw from the Florida Retirement System and establish an alternative retirement plan for future employees, a public hearing must be held on the proposed withdrawal and proposed alternative plan.

b.  From 7 to 15 days before such hearing, notice of intent to withdraw, specifying the time and place of the hearing, must be provided in writing to employees of the hospital district proposing partial withdrawal and must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the area affected, as provided by ss. 50.011-50.031. Proof of publication of such notice shall be submitted to the Department of Management Services.

c.  The governing body of any hospital district seeking to partially withdraw from the system must, before such hearing, have an actuarial report prepared and certified by an enrolled actuary, as defined in s. 112.625(3), illustrating the cost to the hospital district of providing, through the retirement plan that the hospital district is to adopt, benefits for new employees comparable to those provided under the Florida Retirement System.

d.  Upon meeting all applicable requirements of this subparagraph, and subject to the conditions set forth in subparagraph 6., partial withdrawal from the system and adoption of the alternative retirement plan may be accomplished by resolution duly adopted by the hospital district board. The hospital district board must provide written notice of such withdrawal to the division by mailing a copy of the resolution to the division, postmarked no later than December 15, 1995. The withdrawal shall take effect January 1, 1996.

6.  Following the adoption of a resolution under sub-subparagraph 5.d., all employees of the withdrawing hospital district who were participants in the Florida Retirement System prior to January 1, 1996, shall remain as participants in the system for as long as they are employees of the hospital district, and all rights, duties, and obligations between the hospital district, the system, and the employees shall remain in full force and effect. Any employee who is hired or appointed on or after January 1, 1996, may not participate in the Florida Retirement System, and the withdrawing hospital district shall have no obligation to the system with respect to such employees.

(c)  Employees of public community colleges or charter technical career centers sponsored by public community colleges, as designated in s. 1000.21(3), who are members of the Regular Class of the Florida Retirement System and who comply with the criteria set forth in this paragraph and in s. 1012.875 may elect, in lieu of participating in the Florida Retirement System, to withdraw from the Florida Retirement System altogether and participate in an optional retirement program provided by the employing agency under s. 1012.875, to be known as the State Community College System Optional Retirement Program. Pursuant thereto:

1.  Through June 30, 2001, the cost to the employer for such annuity shall equal the normal cost portion of the employer retirement contribution which would be required if the employee were a member of the Regular Class defined benefit program, plus the portion of the contribution rate required by s. 112.363(8) that would otherwise be assigned to the Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy Trust Fund. Effective July 1, 2001, each employer shall contribute on behalf of each participant in the optional program an amount equal to 10.43 percent of the participant's gross monthly compensation. The employer shall deduct an amount to provide for the administration of the optional retirement program. The employer providing the optional program shall contribute an additional amount to the Florida Retirement System Trust Fund equal to the unfunded actuarial accrued liability portion of the Regular Class contribution rate.

2.  The decision to participate in such an optional retirement program shall be irrevocable for as long as the employee holds a position eligible for participation, except as provided in subparagraph 3. Any service creditable under the Florida Retirement System shall be retained after the member withdraws from the Florida Retirement System; however, additional service credit in the Florida Retirement System shall not be earned while a member of the optional retirement program.

3.  An employee who has elected to participate in the optional retirement program shall have one opportunity, at the employee's discretion, to choose to transfer from the optional retirement program to the defined benefit program of the Florida Retirement System or to the Public Employee Optional Retirement Program, subject to the terms of the applicable optional retirement program contracts.

a.  If the employee chooses to move to the Public Employee Optional Retirement Program, any contributions, interest, and earnings creditable to the employee under the State Community College System Optional Retirement Program shall be retained by the employee in the State Community College System Optional Retirement Program, and the applicable provisions of s. 121.4501(4) shall govern the election.

b.  If the employee chooses to move to the defined benefit program of the Florida Retirement System, the employee shall receive service credit equal to his or her years of service under the State Community College System Optional Retirement Program.

(I)  The cost for such credit shall be an amount representing the present value of that employee's accumulated benefit obligation for the affected period of service. The cost shall be calculated as if the benefit commencement occurs on the first date the employee would become eligible for unreduced benefits, using the discount rate and other relevant actuarial assumptions that were used to value the Florida Retirement System defined benefit plan liabilities in the most recent actuarial valuation. The calculation shall include any service already maintained under the defined benefit plan in addition to the years under the State Community College System Optional Retirement Program. The present value of any service already maintained under the defined benefit plan shall be applied as a credit to total cost resulting from the calculation. The division shall ensure that the transfer sum is prepared using a formula and methodology certified by an enrolled actuary.

(II)  The employee must transfer from his or her State Community College System Optional Retirement Program account and from other employee moneys as necessary, a sum representing the present value of that employee's accumulated benefit obligation immediately following the time of such movement, determined assuming that attained service equals the sum of service in the defined benefit program and service in the State Community College System Optional Retirement Program.

4.  Participation in the optional retirement program shall be limited to those employees who satisfy the following eligibility criteria:

a.  The employee must be otherwise eligible for membership or renewed membership in the Regular Class of the Florida Retirement System, as provided in s. 121.021(11) and (12) or s. 121.122

b.  The employee must be employed in a full-time position classified in the Accounting Manual for Florida's Public Community Colleges as:

(I)  Instructional; or

(II)  Executive Management, Instructional Management, or Institutional Management, if a community college determines that recruiting to fill a vacancy in the position is to be conducted in the national or regional market, and:

(A)  The duties and responsibilities of the position include either the formulation, interpretation, or implementation of policies; or

(B)  The duties and responsibilities of the position include the performance of functions that are unique or specialized within higher education and that frequently involve the support of the mission of the community college.

c.  The employee must be employed in a position not included in the Senior Management Service Class of the Florida Retirement System, as described in s. 121.055

5.  Participants in the program are subject to the same reemployment limitations, renewed membership provisions, and forfeiture provisions as are applicable to regular members of the Florida Retirement System under ss. 121.091(9), 121.122, and 121.091(5), respectively.

6.  Eligible community college employees shall be compulsory members of the Florida Retirement System until, pursuant to the procedures set forth in s. 1012.875, a written election to withdraw from the Florida Retirement System and to participate in the State Community College System Optional Retirement Program is filed with the program administrator and received by the division.

a.  Any community college employee whose program eligibility results from initial employment shall be enrolled in the State Community College System Optional Retirement Program retroactive to the first day of eligible employment. The employer retirement contributions paid through the month of the employee plan change shall be transferred to the community college for the employee's optional program account, and, effective the first day of the next month, the employer shall pay the applicable contributions based upon subparagraph 1.

b.  Any community college employee whose program eligibility results from a change in status due to the subsequent designation of the employee's position as one of those specified in subparagraph 4. or due to the employee's appointment, promotion, transfer, or reclassification to a position specified in subparagraph 4. shall be enrolled in the program upon the first day of the first full calendar month that such change in status becomes effective. The employer retirement contributions paid from the effective date through the month of the employee plan change shall be transferred to the community college for the employee's optional program account, and, effective the first day of the next month, the employer shall pay the applicable contributions based upon subparagraph 1.

7.  Effective July 1, 2003, through December 31, 2008, any participant of the State Community College System Optional Retirement Program who has service credit in the defined benefit plan of the Florida Retirement System for the period between his or her first eligibility to transfer from the defined benefit plan to the optional retirement program and the actual date of transfer may, during his or her employment, elect to transfer to the optional retirement program a sum representing the present value of the accumulated benefit obligation under the defined benefit retirement program for such period of service credit. Upon such transfer, all such service credit previously earned under the defined benefit program of the Florida Retirement System during this period shall be nullified for purposes of entitlement to a future benefit under the defined benefit program of the Florida Retirement System.

(d)  The governing body of a charter school or a charter technical career center may elect to participate in the system upon proper application to the administrator and shall cover its units as approved by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the administrator. Once this election is made and approved, it may not be revoked, and all present officers and employees selecting coverage under this chapter and all future officers and employees shall be compulsory members of the Florida Retirement System.

(e)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, any independent participating agency that has failed to report the employees of a dependent governmental entity within its jurisdiction for membership in the Florida Retirement System as required under this chapter shall enroll in the system, effective July 1, 1996, all employees filling a regularly established position who are not currently participating in a retirement plan provided by the dependent entity. Employees of the dependent entity participating in such a retirement plan on July 1, 1996, may remain in that plan or participate in the Florida Retirement System and shall make such election in writing. Such employees are eligible to claim past service as provided in s. 121.081 All eligible employees hired on or after July 1, 1996, by any such dependent entity shall be compulsory members of the Florida Retirement System. Any independent participating agency shall be responsible for identifying all such dependent governmental entities within its jurisdiction and for providing to the division a list of all employees of such entities as of July 1, 1997.

(f)1.  Whenever an employer that participates in the Florida Retirement System undertakes the transfer, merger, or consolidation of governmental services or functions, the employer must notify the department at least 60 days prior to such action and shall provide documentation as required by the department.

2.  When the agency to which a member's employing unit is transferred, merged, or consolidated does not participate in the Florida Retirement System, a member shall elect in writing to remain in the Florida Retirement System or to transfer to the local retirement system operated by such agency. If such agency does not participate in a local retirement system, the member shall continue membership in the Florida Retirement System. In either case, the membership shall continue for as long as the member is employed by the agency to which his or her unit was transferred, merged, or consolidated.

(3)  SOCIAL SECURITY COVERAGE.--Social security coverage shall be provided for all officers and employees who become members under the provisions of subsection (1) or subsection (2). Any modification of the present agreement with the Social Security Administration, or referendum required under the Social Security Act, for the purpose of providing social security coverage for any member shall be requested by the state agency in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Social Security Act governing such coverage. However, retroactive social security coverage for service prior to December 1, 1970, with the employer shall not be provided for any member who was not covered under the agreement as of November 30, 1970.

(4)  INFORMATION REQUIRED.--The employer and employee shall furnish the administrator with such information as he or she may request for the proper enrollment of officers and employees in the system.

(5)  RIGHTS LIMITED.--

(a)  Participation in the system shall not give any member the right to be retained in the employ of the employer or, upon dismissal, to have any right or interest in the fund other than herein provided.

(b)  A member who is convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction of causing a shortage in a public account, when such shortage is certified by the Auditor General or a certified public accountant, may not retire or receive any benefits under this chapter so long as such shortage exists.

(6)  SEASONAL STATE EMPLOYMENT; BLIND VENDING FACILITY OPERATORS.--

(a)  Seasonal state employment shall be included under this chapter, and the time limit and procedure for claiming same as set forth in s. 122.07 shall continue under this chapter for those members transferring to this system and for all new members.

(b)1.  All blind or partially sighted persons employed or licensed by the Division of Blind Services as vending facility operators on or after December 1, 1970, and prior to July 1, 1996, are hereby declared to be state employees within the meaning of this chapter, and all vending facility operators licensed and employed during that period shall be compulsory members of the Florida Retirement System in compliance with this chapter for as long as the member is a vending facility operator, except as provided in subparagraph 3.

2.  Blindness shall not be deemed a retirement disability within the provisions of this chapter for such members as are contemplated by this paragraph.

3.  Any vending facility operator as described in subparagraph 1. may elect, on or before July 31, 1996, to withdraw from the Florida Retirement System as provided in s. 413.051(11). The election to withdraw shall take effect as of July 1, 1996, and the decision to withdraw is irrevocable. A vending facility operator who withdraws from the Florida Retirement System as provided in this subparagraph shall retain all creditable service earned in the Florida Retirement System through the month that retirement contributions ceased to be reported, and no creditable service shall be earned as a vending facility operator after such month. However, any such person may participate in the Florida Retirement System in the future if employed by a participating employer in a covered position.

4.  All blind or partially sighted persons employed or licensed by the Division of Blind Services as vending facility operators on or after July 1, 1996, shall be independent contractors within the meaning of this chapter and shall not be eligible for membership in the Florida Retirement System.

(7)  JOINT REPRESENTATIVES; FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE.--All state and county cooperative extension personnel holding appointments by the United States Department of Agriculture for extension work in agriculture and home economics in the state shall be joint representatives of the University of Florida and the United States Department of Agriculture unless otherwise expressly provided in the project agreement. Such personnel shall be deemed governed by the requirements of Federal Civil Service, as written in the agreement between the University of Florida and the United States Department of Agriculture. Such personnel so governed by the requirements of Federal Civil Service shall be prohibited from participating in any retirement or social security program or act administered by the state except those members covered under s. 238.13, as of November 30, 1970.

(8)  DIVISION OF REHABILITATION AND LIQUIDATION EMPLOYEES MEMBERSHIP.--Effective July 1, 1994, the regular receivership employees of the Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation of the Department of Financial Services who are assigned to established positions and are subject to established rules and regulations regarding discipline, pay, classification, and time and attendance are hereby declared to be state employees within the meaning of this chapter and shall be compulsory members in compliance with this chapter, the provisions of s. 216.011(1)(dd)2., notwithstanding. Employment performed before July 1, 1994, as such a receivership employee may be claimed as creditable retirement service upon payment by the employee or employer of contributions required in s. 121.081(1), as applicable for the period claimed.

(9)  DUAL EMPLOYMENT.--A member may not participate in more than one state-administered retirement system, plan, or class of membership simultaneously. Pursuant thereto:

(a)  With respect to any member who is not eligible to participate in the Elected Officers' Class, but who is simultaneously employed in two or more positions covered by different Florida Retirement System classes:

1.  The member must participate in the membership class for the position in which he or she is employed the majority of the time: the Regular Class, Senior Management Service Class, Special Risk Class, or Special Risk Administrative Support Class; or

2.  If the employment is split equally between or among positions, the member may choose any single class of membership for which he or she is eligible, whether or not the positions are full-time positions. The member's choice must be made in writing and remains in effect as long as the member is employed equally in two or more positions.

(b)  Contributions shall be made and creditable service shall be determined as follows:

1.  If the member is participating in the Regular Class, retirement contributions shall be made on the total salary the member has received for all covered employment, and at retirement the member's average final compensation shall be calculated on the total salary received from all covered employment.

2.  If the member is participating in the Senior Management Service Class, Special Risk Class, or Special Risk Administrative Support Class, retirement contributions shall be made only on the salary received in the designated class of membership. At retirement, the member's average final compensation shall be based only on the salary received in the designated class of membership for any period, including any period of dual employment.

History.--s. 5, ch. 70-112; s. 1, ch. 72-182; s. 1, ch. 72-340; s. 1, ch. 72-344; s. 1, ch. 73-268; s. 3, ch. 74-302; s. 1, ch. 75-152; s. 1, ch. 77-174; s. 21, ch. 77-259; s. 2, ch. 77-469; s. 3, ch. 78-308; s. 1, ch. 79-375; s. 1, ch. 79-377; s. 2, ch. 80-242; s. 2, ch. 81-214; s. 60, ch. 81-259; s. 4, ch. 83-76; s. 2, ch. 85-246; s. 7, ch. 88-382; s. 34, ch. 89-207; s. 2, ch. 89-260; s. 16, ch. 89-367; s. 7, ch. 90-274; s. 68, ch. 92-136; s. 5, ch. 94-259; s. 1423, ch. 95-147; s. 1, ch. 95-277; s. 16, ch. 95-392; s. 3, ch. 96-186; s. 5, ch. 96-368; s. 3, ch. 96-423; s. 18, ch. 97-180; s. 11, ch. 98-73; s. 2, ch. 98-138; s. 3, ch. 98-302; s. 53, ch. 99-2; s. 2, ch. 99-9; s. 29, ch. 99-255; s. 6, ch. 99-392; s. 5, ch. 2000-169; s. 3, ch. 2000-347; s. 18, ch. 2001-60; s. 6, ch. 2001-262; s. 898, ch. 2002-387; s. 1, ch. 2003-260; s. 140, ch. 2003-261; s. 9, ch. 2004-5; s. 2, ch. 2007-92; s. 7, ch. 2007-196; s. 19, ch. 2008-4; s. 4, ch. 2008-139.

¹Note.--Abolished by s. 3, ch. 2001-170.

²Note.--The word "paragraph" was substituted by the editors for the word "subparagraph" to conform to context.

³Note.--The Social Security Contribution Trust Fund was terminated by s. 1, ch. 2004-234.