An employee who terminates employment for any reason other than death or early or normal retirement is entitled to a deferred pension if the employee has accumulated at least three years of credited service. The deferred pension shall start on the normal retirement date, or, at the request of the employee, as early as age 55 in accordance with §§ 20:16:19:08 and 20:16:19:09. The deferred pension amount shall be calculated using the benefit formula in effect at the time of the employee's termination with the commission and the years of continuous employment to the date of termination. This benefit shall be increased pursuant to § 20:16:19:39. The accrued benefits of each participant in the plan immediately became 100 percent vested and nonforfeitable on March 16, 2001. If an employee becomes a participant in the retirement plan within the three-year period preceding the employee's 65th birthday, the participant's normal retirement date is the first day of the calendar month coincident with or immediately following the participant's third anniversary of the plan participation. If a participant's employment with the commission is terminated at or after attainment of the participant's normal retirement date, the participant is vested in and entitled to receive the participant's accrued benefit.
S.D. Admin. R. 20:16:19:30
General Authority: SDCL 3-12C-1647.
Law Implemented: SDCL 3-12C-1643, 3-12C-1644.
Privatization of the plant -- Effect on benefits, § 20:16:19:28.