1. (a) Benefits under this part shall be based on actual service in the:

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

2. (b)

   1. (1) Eligibility for benefits shall be based on actual service in the Arkansas District Judge Retirement System and on actual service in the Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System plus the equivalent service purchased from the Municipal Judge and Clerk Retirement System as of January 1, 2005.
   2. (2) This section is not intended to decrease the benefits earned or increase the eligibility requirements for members who were participants in a local plan, as authorized by law, prior to January 1, 2005.
   3. (3) The benefits earned and those eligibility requirements shall transfer to the Arkansas District Judge Retirement System and to the Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System following the abolishment of the Arkansas District Judge Retirement System.
3. (c) Any laws permitting the purchase of nonvested service or providing free credited service shall not apply.
4. (d) The provisions of Arkansas Code §§ 24-2-501 and 24-2-502, concerning free and purchased credited service, shall not apply.

Codification Notes: This section as promulgated prior to codification into the Code of Arkansas Rules provided as follows: "609 – 2009 (5) – Actual Service Requirement"