27 Miss. Code. R. 210-34-103

Current through December 10, 2024
Section 27-210-34-103 - Exceptions under which a retiree may be reemployed while in receipt of a retirement allowance
1.Retirees reemployed in a covered position other than an Elected Position

PERS may not withhold a monthly benefit payment if the retiree is employed by a covered employer in the following instances:

a. For a period of time not to exceed one-half of the normal working days or one-half of the equivalent number of hours for the position in any fiscal year during which the retiree will receive no more than one-half of the salary in effect for the position at the time of employment, or
b. For a period of time in any fiscal year sufficient in length to permit a retiree to earn not in excess of 25 percent of the retiree's final average compensation used to calculate the retiree's monthly benefit.

"Fiscal year" shall mean the period beginning on July 1 of any year and ending on June 30 of the next succeeding year as provided by statute.

2.Retirees reemployed as a Municipal or County Elected Official

A member may retire and continue in covered municipal or county elective office provided that the member has reached age 59 ½ effective July 1, 2020 (or age 62 prior to July 1, 2020), or a retiree may, after incurring a bona fide separation from service of at least 90 days as set forth in Section 106, be elected to a covered municipal or county office, provided the retiree:

a. Files annually in writing in the office of the employer and of PERS before he or she takes office or as soon as possible after retirement a waiver of all salary or compensation and elects to receive in lieu of that salary or compensation a retirement allowance, in which event no salary or compensation shall thereafter be due or payable for those services, or
b. Files annually in writing in the office of the employer and of PERS an election to receive compensation for that municipal or county elective office in an amount not to exceed 25 percent of the retiree's average compensation, which shall be prorated over a 12-month time frame.

A retiree who continues in or is elected to covered municipal or county office under Section 103.2.a. or Section 103.2.b. may receive any office expense allowance, mileage or travel expense authorized by any applicable statute of the State of Mississippi.

3.Retirees employed in both a non-elective position and a Municipal or County Elected position

If at any point during the fiscal year, a retiree is reemployed in both a covered local elected position (and thus considered a full-time employee) and is also reemployed on a limited basis in a non-elective position, he/she must either:

a. Begin or continue under the 25 percent of average compensation limitation and apply what has already been earned from any other position during the fiscal year to that limitation or
b. Stay under an existing election to work no more than one-half of the normal working days or one-half of the equivalent number of hours and earn no more than one-half of the salary for a non-elected position and waive the salary for the local elected position.
4.Municipal or County Elected Positions
a. For purposes of reemployment limitations under Miss. Code Ann. § 25-11-127(6) (1972, as amended), municipal or county elected office shall include:

Municipal: Mayor, Alderman (Councilman or Selectman), Police Chief or Marshal, Municipal Judge, Tax Collector, Tax Assessor, City or Town Clerk, unless any such position is made appointive pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 21-3-3, or any other salaried official elected by popular vote and eligible for coverage in PERS.

County: County Supervisor, Chancery Clerk, Circuit Clerk, Tax Assessor, Tax Collector (if separate from Tax Assessor), Sheriff, County Surveyor, Justice Court Judge, County Judge/Family Court Judge, Constable, County Coroner or Medical Examiner, Elected County Prosecutor/Elected County Attorney, or any other salaried official elected by popular vote and eligible for coverage in PERS.

b. Municipal or county elected positions shall not include:

Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Auditor, State Treasurer, Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce, Commissioner of Insurance, Public Service Commissioner, Transportation Commissioner, State Senator, State Representative, Supreme Court Justice, Court of Appeals Judge, Chancery Court Judge, Circuit Court Judge, District Attorney, Election Commissioner, School Board Member, or other office not included in the municipal or county elected offices listed under this Section.

5.Senior or Special Judge

Miss. Code Ann. § 9-1-105 limits the amount of compensation that can be paid to any judge retired from the chancery, circuit, or county courts, from the Court of Appeals or from the Supreme Court who is appointed as a special judge and who continues to receive a retirement allowance. Such reemployed retired judge may receive no more than 50 percent of the current salary in effect for a chancery or circuit court judge.

6.Retirees reemployed as a full-time public school teacher in critical teacher shortage areas and critical subject-matter areas

Effective July 1, 2024, a member who was employed as a public school teacher at the time of retirement, has at least 30 years of service credit, has incurred a bona fide separation from service of at least ninety (90) days, and holds a standard teaching license in Mississippi, may be reemployed as a full-time teacher in a public school district and shall continue receiving a retirement benefit in accordance with Miss. Code Ann. § 25-11-126 (1972, as amended). Any teacher who has retired with at least 25 years of creditable service as of July 1, 2024, is also authorized for reemployment under Section 103.6.

a.Limitations of Employment

A retired teacher may be reemployed full time under this Section for a total of five years, which may be performed consecutively or intermittently. Any portion of the school year shall constitute one of the five years of post-retirement teaching eligibility. Any retired teacher who returns under Section 103.6 shall not be eligible to return to work under Sections 103.1, 103.2, 103.3, 108 and any other reemployment authorized in Miss. Code Ann. § 25-11-127 (1972, as amended). Any retired teacher who returns under Miss. Code Ann. § 25-11-127 (1972, as amended) shall not be eligible to return to work under section 103.6 and any other reemployment as authorized in Miss. Code Ann. § 25-11-126 (1972, as amended).

b.Earnings Limitations

During the full-time reemployment authorized under Section 103.6, the reemployed teacher shall be limited to earning half of up to 125 percent of the salary schedule comparable to the teacher's years of service and licensing. The remaining half shall be paid by the school district to PERS as a pension liability participation assessment.

c.Certification of Qualifications

The criteria for critical teacher shortage areas and critical subject-matter areas shall be established by the Mississippi Department of Education. The school district superintendent shall certify to PERS that the retiree has met all qualifications for reemployment as required under the law.

d.No Election to Contribute

Any member reemployed under Miss. Code Ann. § 25-11-126 (1972, as amended) shall not have an election to become a contributing member in PERS nor shall the member have the right to cease receiving the retirement benefit and become a contributing member of PERS during reemployment.

27 Miss. Code. R. 210-34-103

Amended 1/17/2020
Amended 10/1/2020
Amended 9/30/2024