19-3-2126. Refunds -- minimum account balance -- adjustment by rule. (1) Before termination of service, a member may not receive a refund of any portion of the member's vested account balance.
(2) Except as provided in 19-3-2142, a member who terminates service and whose vested account balance is less than $200 must be paid the vested account balance in a lump sum. If the member's employer contribution account is not vested, the employer contributions and income are forfeited and must be allocated as provided in 19-3-2117. The payment must be made as soon as administratively feasible without a written application from the member.
(3) Except as provided in 19-3-2142, unless a written application is made pursuant to subsection (4)(a), a member who terminates service and whose vested account balance is between $200 and $1,000 must be paid the vested account balance in a lump sum. The payment must be made as soon as administratively feasible. If the member's employer contribution account is not vested, the employer contributions and income are forfeited and must be allocated as provided in 19-3-2117.
(4) (a) Except as provided in 19-3-2142, upon the written application of a member terminating service whose vested account balance is $200 or more, the board shall make a direct rollover distribution pursuant to section 401(a)(31) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 401(a)(31), of the eligible rollover distribution portion of that balance. To receive the direct rollover distribution, the member is responsible for correctly designating, on forms provided by the board, an eligible retirement plan that allows the rollover under applicable federal law.
(b) The direct rollover distribution must be paid directly to an eligible retirement plan allowed under applicable federal law that, effective January 1, 2008, includes a Roth IRA provided for in section 408A of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 408A.
(5) A member who terminates service with an account balance greater than $1,000, whether vested or not, may remain in the plan.
(6) The board may by rule adjust the minimum account balance provided in this section as necessary to maintain reasonable administrative costs and to account for inflation and in accordance with the requirements of section 401(a)(31)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 401(a)(31)(B), and applicable regulations.
History: En. Sec. 59, Ch. 471, L. 1999; amd. Secs. 9, 14(2)(b), Ch. 423, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 29, Ch. 490, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 51, Ch. 429, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 34, Ch. 329, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 284, L. 2009.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Title 19. Public Retirement Systems
Chapter 3. Public Employees' Retirement System
Part 21. Defined Contribution Plan
19-3-2104. Board powers and duties -- rulemaking
19-3-2105. Administrative expenses and fees
19-3-2106. Limited contract right
19-3-2107. through 19-3-2110 reserved
19-3-2111. Plan membership -- written election required -- failure to elect -- effect of election
19-3-2114. Amount available to transfer
19-3-2116. Vesting -- mandatory termination of membership -- forfeitures
19-3-2117. Allocation of contributions and forfeitures
19-3-2118. through 19-3-2120 reserved
19-3-2122. Investment alternatives -- notice of changes -- default fund
19-3-2123. Payout of vested account balances when terminating plan membership
19-3-2126. Refunds -- minimum account balance -- adjustment by rule
19-3-2127. through 19-3-2130 reserved
19-3-2133. Employee investment advisory council
19-3-2135. through 19-3-2140 reserved
19-3-2142. Disability benefit recipients to remain members -- access to account prohibited