(a)

1. (1) If the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System is a member's preceding system, the member's annuity benefit payments shall begin after the member attains the normal age of retirement or on the first day of the month following the month in which the member's retirement application was filed, whichever is later.
2. (2) If the member has combined service of at least twenty-five (25) years, the normal retirement age requirement shall not apply.

3. (3)

   1. (A) Deferred annuity benefit payments to the member shall not begin before the date on which the member leaves employment with his or her last state employer unless the member attains the normal retirement age.
   2. (B) A member is entitled to a deferred annuity benefit if the member:

(i) Leaves his or her state employment in a position that is covered by one (1) of the reciprocal systems; and

1. (ii) Enters subsequent state employment in a position that is covered by another of the reciprocal systems.

(b)

1. (1) If the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System is the member's preceding system, the member is eligible to apply for retirement benefits without leaving employment with his or her last state employer upon attaining the normal retirement age.
2. (2) The member's annuity benefit payments shall begin after the member attains the normal retirement age or on the first day of the month following the month in which the member's retirement application is filed, whichever is later.

3. (3) The Arkansas Teacher Retirement System shall use only service credited to the member and salaries earned by the member before the member's effective retirement date to calculate the member's annuity benefit.

   1. (c)
4. (1) A member is eligible to apply for disability retirement benefits from each reciprocal system in which the member has credited service according to the rules for eligibility promulgated by that reciprocal system.

5. (2) The member's disability retirement benefits payable by the preceding reciprocal system shall:

   1. (A) Begin the first day of the month following the month in which the member's disability retirement application is filed with the preceding system; and
   2. (B) Not begin before the date on which the member leaves employment with his or her last state employer.