STATE OPTIONS Clause Samples

STATE OPTIONS. If a retirement system covers the positions of employees of the State and positions of employees of one or more political subdivisions, or the employees of more than one political subdivision, the State has the following choices as to what may constitute the retirement system for referendum purposes:  the entire system;  employees of the State;  employees of each political subdivision;  employees of the State and employees of any one or more political subdivisions;  employees of any combination of political subdivisions;  employees of each institution of higher learning, which includes junior colleges and teachers' colleges. Institutions of higher learning which are not political subdivisions and which do not in themselves comprise the entire retirement system, cannot be combined for purposes of the referendum. If a State elects to hold a separate referendum for any such institution, a separate referendum must be held for each. Institutions of higher learning that are separate political subdivisions may be combined with other political subdivisions and/or with the State.  the employees of a hospital which is an integral part of a political subdivision or of two or more political subdivisions or the employees of two or more hospitals each of which is an integral part of the same political subdivision. The term "hospital" is used in the ordinary sense and refers to any institution organized and operated for the reception and medical or surgical care of the sick, injured, aged and infirm. If there are two or more hospitals that are integral parts of the same political subdivision(s), a separate referendum may be held for each or, in contrast to institutions of higher learning, the hospitals may be combined for a referendum  A retirement system that covers the positions of employees of a single political subdivision can only be further divided to treat employees of each institution of higher learning or employees of hospitals as separate retirement systems for referendum purposes. A retirement system which covers only the positions of employees of a State can be further subdivided to treat employees of each institution of higher learning as separate retirement systems; it cannot be subdivided to provide coverage for employees of different departments of the State.