Michigan Compiled Laws
Act 240 of 1943 - State Employees' Retirement Act (38.1 - 38.69)
Section 38.13 - Membership in Retirement System.

Sec. 13.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this act, membership in the retirement system consists of state employees occupying permanent positions in the state civil service. All state employees except those specifically excluded by law and those who are members or eligible to be members of other statutory retirement systems in this state, must become members of the retirement system. The employees may use service previously performed as an employee of this state in meeting the service requirements for the retirement allowances and death benefits provided by the retirement system. However, the prior service must not be used in computing the amount of a retirement allowance to be paid by the retirement system unless the employee pays to the retirement system the amount the employee's contributions would have been had the employee become a member immediately on employment by the state with interest compounded annually at the regular rate from a date 1 year after the date of employment by this state to the date of payment. An individual who draws compensation as a state employee of a political subdivision of this state is eligible for the benefits provided by this act to the extent of the individual's compensation paid by this state. An individual who meets the requirements of section 44a is a member of the retirement system.
(2) Elected or appointed state officials may elect not to become or continue as members of the retirement system by filing written notice with the retirement board. An appointed state official who is a member of a state board, commission, or council and who receives a per diem rate in his or her capacity as a member of the board, commission, or council is excluded from membership in the retirement system for the service rendered in his or her capacity as a member of the board, commission, or council. Service performed by an elected or appointed official during the time the official elects not to participate must not be used in meeting the service requirement or in computing the amount of retirement allowance to be paid by the retirement system. A member who elects not to participate must be refunded all contributions made before the election.
(3) Membership in the retirement system does not include any of the following:
(a) A person who is a contributing member in the public school employees' retirement system provided for in the public school employees retirement act of 1979, 1980 PA 300, MCL 38.1301 to 38.1437.
(b) A person who is a contributing member in the Michigan judges retirement system provided for in the judges retirement act of 1992, 1992 PA 234, MCL 38.2101 to 38.2670.
(c) A person who comes within the Michigan state police retirement system provided for in the state police retirement act of 1986, 1986 PA 182, MCL 38.1601 to 38.1675.
(d) An individual who is first employed and entered upon the payroll on or after March 31, 1997 for employment for which the individual would have been eligible for membership under this section before March 31, 1997. An individual described in this subdivision is eligible to be a qualified participant in Tier 2 subject to sections 50 to 69.
(e) Except as provided in section 19g, an individual who elects to terminate membership under section 50 and who, but for that election, would otherwise be eligible for membership in Tier 1 under this section.
(f) A retirant who again becomes employed by the state and is entered upon the payroll on or after December 1, 2002, for employment for which the retirant would have been eligible for membership under this section before December 1, 2002. A retirant described in this subdivision is a qualified participant in Tier 2 subject to sections 50 to 69.
(4) An individual who is hired in state classified or unclassified service after June 30, 1974, who is first employed and entered upon the payroll before March 31, 1997, and who possesses a Michigan teaching certificate is a member of this retirement system. After June 30, 1974, but before March 31, 1997, an individual who returns to state employment in the classified or unclassified service who previously was a contributing member of the Michigan public school employees' retirement system shall have the individual's accumulated contributions and service transferred to this retirement system, or having withdrawn the contributions, may pay into the retirement system the amount withdrawn together with regular interest and have credit restored as provided for in section 16. On and after March 31, 1997, an individual described in this subsection who returns to state service shall make an irrevocable election to remain in Tier 1 or to become a qualified participant of Tier 2 in the manner prescribed in section 50.
(5) An individual, not regularly employed by this state, who is employed through participation in 1 or more of the following programs, shall not be a member of the retirement system and must not receive service credit for the employment:
(a) A program authorized, undertaken, and financed pursuant to the comprehensive employment and training act of 1973, former Public Law 93-203, 87 Stat. 839.
(b) A summer youth employment program established under the Michigan youth corps act, 1983 PA 69, MCL 409.221 to 409.229.
(c) A program established pursuant to the job training partnership act, Public Law 97-300, 96 Stat. 1322.
(d) A program established pursuant to the Michigan opportunity and skills training program, first established under sections 12 to 23 of 1983 PA 259.
(e) A program established pursuant to the Michigan community service corps program, first established under sections 25 to 35 of 1983 PA 259.
(6) An individual, not regularly employed by this state, who is employed to administer a program described in subsection (5) is not a member of the retirement system and must not receive service credit for the employment.
(7) If an individual described in subsection (5)(a) later becomes a member of this retirement system within 12 months after the date of termination as a participant in a transitional public employment program, service credit shall be given for employment that is excluded in subsection (5) for purposes of determining a retirement allowance on the payment by the individual's employer under subsection (5) from funds provided under the comprehensive employment and training act of 1973, former Public Law 93-203, 87 Stat. 839, as funds permit, to the retirement system of the contributions, plus regular interest, the employer would have paid had the employment been rendered in a position covered by this act. During the individual's employment in the transitional public employment program, the individual's employer shall place in reserve a reasonable but not necessarily an actuarially determined amount equal to the contributions that the employer would have paid to the retirement system for those employees in the transitional public employment program as if they were members under this act, but only for that number of employees that the employer determined would move from the transitional public employment program into positions covered by this act. If the funds provided under the comprehensive employment and training act of 1973, former Public Law 93-203, 87 Stat. 839, are insufficient, the remainder of the employer contributions must be paid by the individual's current employer.
(8) For purposes of section 19g, a former member is considered a member and is considered to have satisfied the requirements of section 19g(1)(c) and (2)(c) if the former member was employed by the department formerly known as the department of mental health on January 1, 1996 and went on layoff status before January 1, 1997.
History: 1943, Act 240, Eff. July 30, 1943 ;-- Am. 1944, 1st Ex. Sess., Act 25, Imd. Eff. Feb. 29, 1944 ;-- Am. 1947, Act 351, Eff. Oct. 11, 1947 ;-- CL 1948, 38.13 ;-- Am. 1951, Act 200, Imd. Eff. June 14, 1951 ;-- Am. 1952, Act 38, Eff. Sept. 18, 1952 ;-- Am. 1955, Act 237, Eff. Oct. 24, 1955 ;-- Am. 1956, Act 91, Imd. Eff. Apr. 5, 1956 ;-- Am. 1957, Act 145, Imd. Eff. May 29, 1957 ;-- Am. 1958, Act 207, Imd. Eff. May 5, 1958 ;-- Am. 1960, Act 156, Eff. Aug. 17, 1960 ;-- Am. 1961, Act 56, Eff. Sept. 8, 1961 ;-- Am. 1965, Act 189, Imd. Eff. July 15, 1965 ;-- Am. 1970, Act 119, Imd. Eff. July 23, 1970 ;-- Am. 1974, Act 6, Imd. Eff. Jan. 30, 1974 ;-- Am. 1974, Act 216, Imd. Eff. July 19, 1974 ;-- Am. 1976, Act 63, Imd. Eff. Mar. 30, 1976 ;-- Am. 1978, Act 423, Imd. Eff. Sept. 30, 1978 ;-- Am. 1979, Act 146, Imd. Eff. Nov. 13, 1979 ;-- Am. 1983, Act 157, Imd. Eff. July 24, 1983 ;-- Am. 1984, Act 185, Imd. Eff. July 3, 1984 ;-- Am. 1993, Act 195, Eff. Dec. 28, 1994 ;-- Am. 1996, Act 389, Imd. Eff. Sept. 30, 1996 ;-- Am. 1996, Act 487, Eff. Mar. 31, 1997 ;-- Am. 2002, Act 93, Imd. Eff. Mar. 27, 2002 ;-- Am. 2002, Act 743, Imd. Eff. Dec. 30, 2002 ;-- Am. 2018, Act 682, Imd. Eff. Dec. 28, 2018 Compiler's Notes: Act 136 of 1945, referred to in this section, is repealed by Act 300 of 1980.Section 2 of Act 195 of 1993 provides as follows:“Section 2. This amendatory act shall not take effect unless the state administrative board certifies in writing to the secretary of state by December 31, 1994 that an agreement for the transfer of all or substantially all of the assets and the assumption of all or substantially all of the liabilities of the state accident fund has been consummated with a permitted transferee pursuant to the requirements of section 701a of the worker's disability compensation act of 1969, Act No. 317 of the Public Acts of 1969, being section 418.701a of the Michigan Compiled Laws.”Section 2 of Act 487 of 1996 provides:“If any section or part of a section of this act is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, the holding does not affect the validity of the remaining sections of this act or the act in its entirety.

Structure Michigan Compiled Laws

Michigan Compiled Laws

Chapter 38 - Civil Service and Retirement

Act 240 of 1943 - State Employees' Retirement Act (38.1 - 38.69)

Section 38.1 - Short Title; Meanings of Words and Phrases.

Section 38.1a - Definitions; A, B.

Section 38.1b - Definitions; B, C.

Section 38.1c - Definitions; D.

Section 38.1d - Definitions.

Section 38.1e - Definitions; F to I.

Section 38.1f - Definitions; M to O.

Section 38.1g - Definitions; P.

Section 38.1h - Definitions; R.

Section 38.1i - Definitions; S, T.

Section 38.2 - State Employees' Retirement System; Creation; Administration by Retirement Board; Rules.

Section 38.3 - Retirement Board; Appointment and Terms of Members.

Section 38.4 - Retirement Board; Vacancies, Vacation of Office.

Section 38.5 - Retirement Board; Oath; Quorum; Conducting Business at Public Meeting; Notice of Meeting; Compensation and Expenses.

Section 38.6 - Retirement Board; Officers and Employees.

Section 38.7 - Retirement System; Actuarial Valuation of Assets and Liabilities; Investigation of Mortality, Service, and Compensation of Members.

Section 38.8 - Administrative Board; Investment of Funds, Purchase of Life Insurance or Annuity, Deposits.

Section 38.9 - State Treasurer as Custodian of Retirement System Funds; Powers and Duties.

Section 38.10 - Retirement Board Members and Employees; Interest in Investments Prohibited.

Section 38.11 - Employees' Savings Fund, Employer's Accumulation Fund, Annuity Reserve Fund, Pension Reserve Fund, Income Fund, Expense Fund, and Health Insurance Reserve Fund; Creation; Health Advance Funding Subaccount; Description of Funds as Refe...

Section 38.12 - Annual Statement of Retirement Funds in Custody of State Treasurer; Availability of Report and Other Writings to Public; Request for Statement of Credit.

Section 38.13 - Membership in Retirement System.

Section 38.13a - Blind or Partially Sighted Licensed Vending Stand Operators Deemed Employees; Rights and Benefits; Eligibility; Contribution as Condition to Service Credit; Blindness Not Deemed Retirable Disability; Employer Cost.

Section 38.13b - Credited Service to Include Credit for Service Rendered to Joint Federal-State Commission; Conditions.

Section 38.14 - Information Required of Members by Retirement Board.

Section 38.15 - Original Members; Prior Service Certification.

Section 38.16 - Cessation of Membership; Reemployment.

Section 38.17 - Service Credited From State Board of Control for Vocational Education; Conditions.

Section 38.17a - Use of Credited Service Acquired in Employ of Governmental Unit; “Governmental Unit of the State” Defined.

Section 38.17b - Credited Service to Include Service Rendered Certain Universities.

Section 38.17c - Retirement System Service Credit for Period of Service Under County Department of Social Services; Conditions.

Section 38.17d - Credited Service to Include Service Rendered to Department of State Police or Its Predecessor Agencies, or to Court of Record; Conditions.

Section 38.17e, 38.17f - Repealed. 1998, Act 205, Eff. Aug. 1, 1998.

Section 38.17g - Parental Leave; Purchase of Service Credit.

Section 38.17h - Full-Time Service as Employee With City, County, Township, or Village of This State; Purchase of Service Credit.

Section 38.17i - Full-Time Service With Federal Government or as State Employee With Another State; Purchase of Service Credit.

Section 38.17j - Purchase of Combined Total of More Than 10 Years Prohibited; Purchase of Service Credit in Separate Increments; Future Purchases Not Barred; Refund; Actuarial Cost.

Section 38.17k - Repealed. 1998, Act 205, Eff. Aug. 1, 1998.

Section 38.17l - Purchase of Additional Service Credit by Employee of State Accident Fund, Michigan Biologic Products Institute, or Liquor Control Commission.

Section 38.17m - Purchase of Service Credit; Limitation; Refund.

Section 38.17n - City Employee; Transfer or Purchase of Service Credit.

Section 38.18 - Credit for Military or Federal Service; Credit for Prior Service; Conditions; Computation.

Section 38.19 - Retirement Upon Written Application to Retirement Board; Retirement Without Reduction in Retirement Allowance; Definitions; Layoff Status Because Agency or Inpatient Facility Designated for Closure; Conditions; Certification; Applicat...

Section 38.19a - Retirement Upon Satisfaction of Certain Requirements; Monthly Retirement Allowance Supplement; Benefits, Salary, or Remuneration Precluding Payment Under Subsection (2); Payment of Sick Leave; Payment by Retirement System; Amount Pay...

Section 38.19b - Right to Retire and Receive Retirement Allowance Computed Under MCL 38.20(1); Application Period; Requirements; Payment for Accumulated Sick Leave in 60 Monthly Installments.

Section 38.19c - Right to Retire and Receive Retirement Allowance Computed Under MCL 38.20(1); Application Period; Requirements; Payment for Accumulated Sick Leave in 60 Monthly Installments.

Section 38.19d - Right to Retire and Receive Retirement Allowance Computed Under MCL 38.20(1); Application Period; Requirements; Payment for Accumulated Sick Leave in 60 Monthly Installments.

Section 38.19e - Right to Retire and Receive Retirement Allowance Computed Under MCL 38.20(1); Application Period; Requirements; Payment for Amounts Entitled to Receive at Retirement.

Section 38.19f - Retirement and Receipt of Retirement Allowance; Requirements; Accumulated Sick Leave; Request to Extend Effective Date of Retirement; Calculation; State Contract Prohibited.

Section 38.19g - Member Meeting Certain Requirements on or Before November 1, 2002; Computation of Retirement Allowance; Payment of Accumulated Sick Leave or Annual Leave; Extension of Effective Date; Participant in Tier 2.

Section 38.19h - Payments Not Tax Exempt and Subject to Certain Operations of Law.

Section 38.19i - Retirement Allowance; Computation; Accumulated Sick Leave; Purchase of Service Credit; Hiring Under Contract; Limitation.

Section 38.19j - Retirement; Requirements; Accumulated Annual Leave, Sick Leave, and Deferred Leave Hours; Forfeiture; Inclusion in Calculation for Determination of Final Average Compensation; Extension; Request; Retirement Allowance Calculation; "In...

Section 38.20 - Computation of Retirement Allowance; Right to Elect Option; Retirement Before Age 65; Death of Retirant; Separation From Service; Department of Mental Health Employee Termination; Recalculation and Payment of Retirement Allowance; Eli...

Section 38.20a - Minimum Retirement Allowance.

Section 38.20b - Increase in Monthly Retirement Allowance; Payment.

Section 38.20c - Supplement to Retirement Allowance.

Section 38.20d - Hospitalization, Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage Insurance Premium; Computation and Allocation of Cost Savings; Payment by Retirement Board; “Retirant” Defined.

Section 38.20e - Supplemental Retirement Allowance; Amount; Payment.

Section 38.20f - Supplement to Retirement Allowance Payable on or After September 30, 1976.

Section 38.20g - Determining Rate of Investment Return on Retirement System Assets and Present Value of Retirement Allowances; Calculation and Reduction of Distribution Income; Crediting Distribution Units to Retirant or Retirement Allowance Benefici...

Section 38.20h - Supplemental Payments for Retirants or Retirement Allowance Beneficiaries With Retirement Allowance Effective Date Before October 1, 1986; Future Adjustments.

Section 38.20i - Supplement.

Section 38.20j - Member Not Making Election Under MCL 38.50a; Calculation of Retirement Allowance Beginning April 1, 2012; Items of Compensation; Accumulation of Service Credit; Member Making Election Under MCL 38.50a(1) and Designation Under MCL 38....

Section 38.21 - Duty Disability Retirement.

Section 38.22 - Retirement for Disability at Age 60; Service Retirement Allowance; Crediting 10 Years of Service.

Section 38.23 - Retirement for Disability Before Attaining Age 60; Benefits.

Section 38.24 - Non-Duty Disability Retirement.

Section 38.25 - Retirement for Disability.

Section 38.26 - Repealed. 1955, Act 237, Eff. Oct. 24, 1955.

Section 38.27 - Death Resulting From Personal Injury or Disease Arising Out of and in Course of State Employment; Survivor Benefits.

Section 38.27a - Retirement Allowances Granted Under MCL 38.27; Adjustment.

Section 38.28 - Withdrawal of Member Before Retirement; Refund of Contributions; Restoration on Re-Employment; Court Administrator.

Section 38.29 - Death Before Retirement; Refund of Contributions.

Section 38.30 - Withholding Refund of Contributions.

Section 38.31 - Election of Regular Retirement Allowance or Reduced Retirement Allowance; Payment Options; Designation of Beneficiary; Effect of Beneficiary's Death or Divorce; Request by Nonduty Disability Retirant to Change Elections; Death of Memb...

Section 38.32 - Remarriage of Surviving Spouse.

Section 38.33 - Disability Retirant Under Age 60; Medical Examination Required; Reduction of Retirement Allowance on Account of Gainful Employment.

Section 38.34 - Disability Retirant; Reinstatement to Service, Service Credits Allowable.

Section 38.35 - Contribution of 3% of Employee Compensation to Funding Account; "Funding Account" Defined; Refund of Amounts Contributed Under Subsection (1).

Section 38.35a - Election Under MCL 38.50a; Contribution.

Section 38.36, 38.37 - Repealed. 1974, Act 216, Imd. Eff. July 19, 1974.

Section 38.38 - Annual Level Percent of Payroll Contribution Rate; Determination; Basis; Report; Computation; Amortization of Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability; Annual Appropriation to Retirement System; Transfer of Funds; Certification; Differenc...

Section 38.39 - Repealed. 1982, Act 316, Imd. Eff. Oct. 18, 1982.

Section 38.39a - Reserves for Retirement Allowances; Legislative Determination of Funds From Which Appropriations Made.

Section 38.40 - Allowances, Benefits, and Other Rights; Exemption From Taxation; Subject to Tax Beginning January 1, 2012; Subject to Public Employee Retirement Benefit Protection Act.

Section 38.41 - Correction of Errors in Payment of Retirement Allowances.

Section 38.42 - Retirement System Records; Falsification, Penalty.

Section 38.43 - Repealed. 1997, Act 148, Eff. Jan. 30, 1998.

Section 38.44 - Rights, Privileges, and Benefits of Vested Employee.

Section 38.44a - Member Employed by State Judicial Council.

Section 38.45 - Definitions.

Section 38.46 - Retirement or Separation From Employment of Supplemental Member With Supplemental Early Retirement Allowance; Conditions; Determination of Eligibility.

Section 38.47 - Temporary Straight Life Supplemental Early Retirement Allowance; Payment; Computation; Electing Optional Form of Payment.

Section 38.47a - Report.

Section 38.48 - Conservation Officers.

Section 38.49 - Administration of Retirement System as Qualified Pension Plan Under Internal Revenue Code; Requirements and Benefit Limitations; Qualified Military Service.

Section 38.50 - Election to Terminate Participation in Tier 1 and to Participate in Tier 2; Irrevocability; Termination of Employment; Reemployment of Deferred or Former Nonvested Member; Method of Election; Signature of Spouse; Waiver; Election Subj...

Section 38.50a - Election to Continue Receiving Credit for Future Service and Compensation; Designation; Failure to Make Election; Rescission; Reemployment of Former Nonvested Member; "Attainment Date" Defined.

Section 38.51 - Transfer of Lump Sum Amount.

Section 38.52 - Calculation of Accrued Cost Savings for Each Fiscal Year.

Section 38.53 - Meanings of Words and Phrases; Definitions; a to C.

Section 38.54 - Definitions; E to H.

Section 38.55 - Definitions; P to Y.

Section 38.56 - State Treasurer; Powers and Duties.

Section 38.57 - Hearing.

Section 38.58 - Investment of Employer and Employee Contributions and Earnings; Direction by Participant.

Section 38.59 - Payment of Administrative Expenses.

Section 38.60 - Other Public Sector Retirement Benefits Plan; Participation.

Section 38.61 - Election by Elected or Appointed Official.

Section 38.62 - Transfer of Amount; Crediting and Charging Participant Account.

Section 38.63 - Contributions by Employer and Participant.

Section 38.63a - Tier 2 and Tax-Deferred Accounts; Terms and Conditions.

Section 38.64 - Tier 2; Vesting Requirements.

Section 38.65 - Crediting Years of Service Accrued.

Section 38.66 - Refund Beneficiary.

Section 38.67 - Distributions of Accumulated Balance.

Section 38.67a - Duty Disability Retirement Allowance; Supplemental Benefit; Health Insurance Coverage; Exception.

Section 38.68 - Health Insurance Coverage.

Section 38.68a - Appropriation Amount; Purpose; Work Project; Estimated Completion Date.

Section 38.68b - Participant Employed on or After January 1, 2012 or Making Election Under Subsection (5) or (6); Health Insurance Coverage; Contribution to Tax-Deferred Account; Opt-Out; Calculation of Amount Under Subsection (7) and Adjustment Unde...

Section 38.68c - Employment of Retiree Receiving Retirement Allowance; Stopping Retirement Payment; Applicability; "Employed by This State" Defined; Coordination of Benefits Provision; Exceptions to Subsection (1); Definitions.

Section 38.68d - Administration of Changes; Appropriation.

Section 38.68e - Appropriation.

Section 38.69 - Exemptions From Taxation; Subject to Public Employee Retirement Benefit Protection Law; Right of Setoff to Recover Overpayments; Satisfaction of Claims Arising From Embezzlement or Fraud; Correction of Errors in Records and Actions.