Eligible state workers could choose the Michigan State Police retirement system

The state retirement system would let certain workers make an irrevocable written choice to join the Michigan State Police retirement system. This covers eligible classified-service workers, certain conservation officers, and state police motor carriers or Michigan State Police properties securities officers who were qualified participants on June 5, 2027. Workers who do not file an election would remain qualified participants. A married worker generally would need the spouse’s signature, although the retirement board could waive that requirement for serious circumstances. Workers covered by section 55(2)(b) or (d) could not make the election. The election would be subject to laws governing domestic-relations orders. The system would accept elections from August 2, 2027, through 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Saving Time on October 15, 2027. A valid election would end qualified-participant status at 11:59 p.m. on January 1, 2028.

An elected worker may transfer some or all of the worker’s Tier 2 contributions and, subject to vesting rules, some or all of the employer’s contributions to buy service credit in the Michigan State Police retirement system. This applies to eligible classified-service workers, covered conservation officers, and covered state police motor carriers or Michigan State Police properties securities officers who make the related retirement-system election. Employer contributions are subject to the vesting schedule under section 64. The transfer would follow the applicable service-credit provisions of the Michigan State Police retirement law. The supplied text does not state a separate transfer deadline; the transfer is tied to a worker’s election to leave the qualified-participant plan.

The retirement plan would exclude specified workers from the definition of qualified participant after certain elections or hiring dates. The rules cover eligible-position workers, certain conservation officers, state police motor carriers, Michigan State Police properties securities officers, and some former participants who return to these jobs. A worker who elects to leave the qualified-participant plan would be excluded only under the listed employment and election conditions. Workers first hired after June 5, 2027, in the listed jobs would be excluded. Former qualified participants returning to the listed jobs after June 5, 2027, also would be excluded. The hiring-date rules apply to workers first employed after June 5, 2027, and to listed former participants reemployed after that date.