Sec. 5-166a. Election by judges.
Sec. 5-166a. Election by judges. Any person who is appointed a judge of the Supreme Court or Superior Court, or, prior to July 1, 1978, was appointed to the Common
Pleas, Circuit or Juvenile Court and who has, at the time of appointment, at least ten
years of state service to such person's credit for purposes of the state employees retirement system may, at any time within twelve years after initial appointment as a judge
to any of such courts, elect to remain, or, if such person has withdrawn from said system,
to be reinstated upon payment of contributions as provided in section 5-167, as a member
of the state employees retirement system in lieu of participation in the benefits of sections
51-49 to 51-50b, inclusive, and 51-51, and to make contributions to the State Employees
Retirement Fund based upon such person's salary as such judge and to receive credit
for retirement purposes in said system for the period of service as such judge. Any
contributions made under section 51-50b by any such judge prior to such election shall
be transferred from the General Fund to the State Employees Retirement Fund and such
judge shall be credited, for purposes of retirement under the state employees retirement
system, with the period of such person's service as a judge. The contributions to the
state employees retirement system of any such person who does not elect to remain or
be reinstated in the state employees retirement system during such twelve-year period
or who, during such period, dies or indicates, in writing, an intention not to remain or
be reinstated in such system shall be refunded to such person or to such person's named
beneficiary or, if none, such person's estate, as the case may be. Any such refunds
processed on or after January 1, 2001, shall include interest credited in accordance with
the provisions of subsection (b) of section 5-166. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
chapter or chapter 872, any retired state employee who is appointed a judge and who
resigns prior to retirement as a judge shall not receive a reduction in the amount of
retirement income or retirement benefits that such person would have received had such
person remained a retired state employee, including any cost of living allowance granted
to retired state employees.
(P.A. 73-538, S. 1, 3; P.A. 74-12, S. 1, 3; P.A. 76-436, S. 384, 681; P.A. 77-388, S. 1, 2; P.A. 78-103, S. 1, 3; P.A. 80-337, S. 10, 13; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-35, S. 4, 9; P.A. 84-198, S. 1, 7; P.A. 01-80, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 74-12 clarified provisions regarding judges' option to remain or be reinstated in state employees system and
added provisions for disposition of contributions if member chooses to leave system or dies within 5 years of appointment as
judge; P.A. 76-436 substituted reference to Sec. "5-167" for "5-181"; P.A. 77-388 protected retirement benefits of retired
employees who later become judges from reduction; P.A. 78-103 increased period for exercising option from 5 to 8 years;
P.A. 80-337 increased period for exercising option to 10 years; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 83-35 increased time for election of
option from 10 to 12 years; P.A. 84-198 made technical change; P.A. 01-80 added provision requiring any refunds processed
on or after January 1, 2001, to include interest credited in accordance with Sec. 5-166(b) and made technical changes for
the purposes of gender neutrality.