Section 87A-21 - Eligibility(a) The board shall establish eligibility criteria to determine who can qualify as an employee-beneficiary, dependent-beneficiary, or qualified-beneficiary, consistent with the provisions of this chapter.(b) A retired member of the employees' retirement system; a county pension system; or a police, firefighters, and bandsmen pension system of the State or county, shall be eligible to qualify as an employee-beneficiary: (1) Regardless of whether the retired member was actively employed by the State or county at the time of the retired employee's retirement; and(2) Without regard to the date of the retired member's retirement.(c) A dependent of a retired member shall be eligible to qualify as an employee-beneficiary or dependent-beneficiary: (1) Regardless of whether the retired member was actively employed by the State or county at the time of the retired employee's retirement; and(2) Without regard to the date of the retired member's retirement. L 2001, c 88 , pt of §1 .