Elected officials may retire while continuing to serve

An eligible member may retire while continuing to serve as an elected official. This applies to ASRS members who are elected officials and have reached their normal retirement date. The employer must pay the alternate contribution rate. The retiree earns no service credit while retired and is not eligible for long-term disability. If the retiree has covered nonelected jobs, the retiree must leave those jobs or reduce hours below the active-membership threshold. The member and employer must notify ASRS in writing on or before the retirement date.

A retired member may return to work as an elected official and continue receiving retirement benefits. This applies to retired ASRS members returning to work as elected officials. The retiree must have reached normal retirement age. The elected-official provision does not require the retiree to be subject to term limits; that wording is deleted in the chaptered text. The return-to-work election is irrevocable for the remainder of that employment. The retiree does not earn additional service, account balances, retirement benefits, or long-term disability benefits for that work. The retiree must file a written acknowledgment with the employer within 30 days after returning to work.