The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
- (1) "Act" means the provisions of Texas Government Code, Title 8, Subtitle F, as amended from time to time, establishing the Texas County and District Retirement System.
- (2) "Arrangement" means the Texas County and District Retirement System Qualified Replacement Benefit Arrangement, as set forth herein and as amended from time to time.
- (3) "TCDRS" or "System" means the Texas County and District Retirement System, as established under the provisions of the Act.
- (4) "Benefit Recipient" means any individual who receives a retirement benefit from TCDRS as a Retiree or as a surviving beneficiary of a deceased Member or Retiree. The term may include an alternate payee of a deceased Member or Retiree.
- (5) "Benefit" means a retirement benefit accrued under the provisions of the Act.
- (6) "Board" means the Board of Trustees of TCDRS.
- (7) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (and corresponding provisions of any subsequent federal tax laws) and the regulations thereunder.
- (8) "Effective Date" means January 1, 2006, the effective date of the Arrangement.
- (9) "Eligible Member" means a Retiree or a deceased Member or Retiree with respect to an Employer, from and after the date the Employer adopts the Arrangement.
- (10) "Employer" means an Employer whose employees are Members of TCDRS with respect to retirement benefits paid by TCDRS under the provisions of the Act; provided that the Employer signs an adoption agreement in the form specified by the Board to adopt the Arrangement.
- (11) "Restricted Benefit" means the maximum Benefit permitted to be paid to a Benefit Recipient under the Retirement Plan of the Employer, as limited by Code §415, in accordance with §844.008 of the Act.
- (12) "Member" means any individual who accrues or has accrued a Benefit under the Act.
- (13) "Participant" means any Benefit Recipient with respect to an Employer who is eligible to participate in the Arrangement in accordance with §113.3 of this chapter.
- (14) "Retirement Plan" means the defined benefit plan established under TCDRS for employees of the Employer, and their beneficiaries, in accordance with the Act, and qualified under Code §401(a).
- (15) "Retiree" means a Member who receives a Benefit under the Act with respect to an Employer.
- (16) "Unrestricted Benefit" means the benefit that would be payable to a Benefit Recipient under the Retirement Plan of the Employer if the limits of Code §415 were not applicable in accordance with §844.008 of the Act.
Source Note:The provisions of this §113.2 adopted to be effective January 10, 2006, 31 TexReg 171.