2014 Arizona Revised Statutes
Title 38 - Public Officers and Employees
§ 38-924 Transfer of service credits

38-924. Transfer of service credits

A. Service credits qualified pursuant to section 38-923 may be transferred pursuant to this section.

B. In the case of a member whose contributions remain on deposit with the prior retirement system or plan, the following shall occur:

1. The prior system or plan shall determine the amount of the member's accumulated contribution account balance under the prior system or plan plus accumulated interest as determined by the governing body of the system or plan.

2. The system or plan to which the member is transferring shall calculate any increase in the actuarial present value of the projected benefits provided as a result of the transfer of the member's service credits. The actuary of the system or plan to which the service credits are being transferred shall perform this calculation using the actuarial method and assumptions recommended by the actuary and adopted by the governing body of the retirement system or plan.

C. If a member decides to transfer:

1. The prior system or plan shall transfer to the present system or plan the amount determined pursuant to subsection B, paragraph 1 of this section. If the amount calculated in subsection B, paragraph 2 of this section is greater than the amount determined in subsection B, paragraph 1 of this section, the transferring member shall either elect to pay the difference in order to receive all service credits earned under the prior system or plan or to accept a reduced transfer of service credits. If the member elects to pay the difference, the amount paid shall be added to the member's accumulated contribution account balance. If the member elects to accept a reduced transfer of service credits, the amount of service credits transferred shall be equal to the amount of service credits earned under the prior system or plan corresponding to the amount determined under subsection B, paragraph 1 of this section multiplied by the ratio of the amount calculated under subsection B, paragraph 1 of this section to the amount calculated under subsection B, paragraph 2 of this section.

2. If the amount calculated in subsection B, paragraph 2 of this section is less than or equal to the amount determined in subsection B, paragraph 1 of this section, the current system or plan shall credit the member with service credits under the current system or plan equal to the service credit earned under the prior system or plan corresponding to the amount determined under subsection B, paragraph 1 of this section.

D. The retirement system or plan shall not apply service credits to the applicant's account until such time as complete payment is made to the retirement system or plan to which the applicant is transferring. On completion of the transfer provided for in this article, the member's rights in the retirement system or plan from which the member is transferring are extinguished.