1. (a) This section applies only to a member of the Judges' Retirement System who becomes a member on or after July 1, 2012.

2. (b)

   1. (1) A member may elect to receive a vested allowance if:

      1. (i) the member is separated from employment other than by death or retirement; and
      2. (ii) the member has at least 5 years of eligibility service.
   2. (2) A member is deemed to have elected a vested allowance, unless the member requests the return of the accumulated contributions before membership ends.
3. (c) A vested allowance is a deferred allowance starting at age 60.

4. (d) A vested allowance:

   1. (1) is computed as a retirement allowance under § 27-402 of this article on the basis of the former member's creditable service at the time of separation from employment; and
   2. (2) may be paid in one of the optional forms of allowances under § 21-403 of this article, if at retirement, the member does not have a spouse or child who is under the age of 26 or is disabled.

5. (e)

   1. (1) If a former member who elected a vested allowance requests the return of accumulated contributions before payment of the vested allowance begins, the Board of Trustees shall return the accumulated contributions to the former member.
   2. (2) When accumulated contributions are returned to a former member, the former member is not entitled to further benefits on account of the former member's previous membership.

Added by Acts 2012, c. 485, § 1, eff. July 1, 2012. Amended by Acts 2020, c. 556, § 1, eff. July 1, 2020.