2017 Arizona Revised Statutes
Title 38 - Public Officers and Employees
§ 38-844.05 Deferred retirement option benefits and participation accounts

38-844.05. Deferred retirement option benefits and participation accounts

A. A deferred retirement option plan participation account is an account established within the system on behalf of each deferred retirement option plan participant. All benefits accrued pursuant to this article shall be accounted for in the deferred retirement option plan participation account. A deferred retirement option plan participant does not have a claim on the assets of the system with respect to the member's deferred retirement option plan participation account and assets shall not be set aside for any deferred retirement option plan participant that are separate from all other system assets.

B. All amounts credited to a member's deferred retirement option plan participation account are fully vested.

C. A member's deferred retirement option plan participation account shall be credited with the following:

1. An amount, credited monthly, that is computed in the same manner as a normal retirement benefit using the factors of credited service and average monthly benefit compensation in effect on the date of deferred retirement option plan participation.

2. An amount, credited monthly, that represents interest on the amount credited pursuant to paragraph 1 of this subsection at a rate equal to the assumed rate of return determined by the board, except that for a member who has less than twenty years of credited service on January 1, 2012 and who elects to participate in the deferred retirement option plan on or after January 1, 2012, the amount credited monthly is the amount that represents interest at a rate equal to the average annual return of the system over the period of years established by the board for use in the calculation of the actuarial value of assets for the previous year, but not to exceed the system's assumed investment rate of return but at least two percent.

3. If applicable, employee contributions made pursuant to section 38-844.06, subsection B.

D. The participant is not entitled to receive any amount prescribed by section 38-856.05 or 38-857 during the deferred retirement option plan participation period.