1. (a) If elected or appointed to office, all district judges shall participate in the:

   1. (1) Arkansas District Judge Retirement System beginning January 1, 2005, through June 30, 2007; and
   2. (2) Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System thereafter.

2. (b)

   1. (1) A district judge who is covered by the Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System on December 31, 2004, will continue to be covered by the Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System on January 1, 2005.
   2. (2) The successor judge of that district court shall be covered by the Arkansas District Judge Retirement System for the period January 1, 2005, through June 30, 2007, and by Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System thereafter.

3. (c)

   1. (1) Any former municipal judge who is eligible to receive a retirement benefit for service as municipal judge as provided by law before July 16, 2003, and any former municipal judge who is receiving a retirement benefit as provided by law for service as municipal judge shall:

      1. (A) Participate during the period from January 1, 2005, through June 30, 2007, in the Arkansas District Judge Retirement System; and
      2. (B) Have his or her benefits administered by the Arkansas District Judge Retirement System during that period.

   2. (2) Any former municipal judge who is eligible to receive a retirement benefit for service as municipal judge as provided by law before July 16, 2003, and any former municipal judge who is receiving a retirement benefit as provided by law for service as municipal judge shall:

      1. (A) Participate in the Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System beginning July 1, 2007; and
      2. (B) Have his or her benefits administered by the Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System thereafter.

   3. (3) A surviving spouse of a municipal judge who is eligible to receive a survivor’s benefit as provided by law on December 31, 2004, and any surviving spouse of a municipal judge who is receiving a retirement benefit as provided by law shall:

      1. (A) Participate on and after January 1, 2005, in the Arkansas District Judge Retirement System and have his or her benefits administered by the Arkansas District Judge Retirement System until June 30, 2007; and
      2. (B) Participate in the Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System beginning July 1, 2007, and have his or her benefits administered by the Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System thereafter.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: "604 – 2009 (5) – Membership Generally"