Section 8-4001 - DefinitionsAs used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meaning indicated unless otherwise defined or required by the context:
(a) "Retirement system" or "systems" means the "Tennessee retirement system for county officials" created by this chapter.(b) "County officials" means the clerk of the circuit courts, criminal courts, probate courts, clerk and master of the chancery courts, clerks of the general sessions courts where such general sessions courts have an independent clerk who serves such courts only, county court clerks, register of deeds, county trustees, sheriffs, county school superintendents elected by the people, county road superintendents elected by the quarterly county courts, by the county road commissions or commissioners, or by popular vote, and assessors of property, or such persons who were serving as any such official July 1, 1968, the effective date of the original act. In the event a consolidation or reorganization of any or all of said courts is provided by constitutional amendments or by act of the general assembly or both the clerks of such consolidated or reorganized courts shall also be covered by this chapter.(c) "Retirement board" or "board" means the board created by this chapter which shall administer the system.(d) "Employer" or "county" means any county of the state of Tennessee.(e) "Average compensation" means the average annual compensation paid to said county officials as salaries from the fees earned by their offices and/or by supplemental salaries from the general funds of the several counties to such persons in their official capacity as county officials for the five year period in which such person receives his or her greatest compensation from said fees and/or from the general fund of said counties.(f) "Service" means time served in any of the above named capacities and also, should any such official have served as deputy of any of the above defined county officials, or as a member of the Tennessee general assembly, or as a general sessions judge for as many as sixteen (16) years, the time so served as deputy or member of the Tennessee general assembly or as a general sessions judge shall also be considered as service and such service shall be included in that for which such person shall be given credit towards his or her retirement, provided the person to be credited with such service comply with the provisions of this chapter by paying the back service contribution herein provided. In the event any person eligible for retirement hereunder shall have served in the armed forces of the United States since January 1, 1940, upon leave of absence from his position, as county official or deputy, such period of time as was spent in such military service shall be construed as part of his or her service hereunder.(g) "County officials' retirement fund" means the county officials' retirement fund created by and administered pursuant to this chapter.(h) "Minimum period" means that the minimum period for retirement benefits under this chapter shall be ten (10) years.(i) "Deputy" means any person duly appointed as provided by law in §§ 8-2001 - 8-2008.(j) "Social security" shall not be construed as meaning "any other public employee's retirement system" as used in this chapter or in the case of county superintendents of schools salaries paid from the county school funds, and in the case of county superintendents of roads salaries paid from the county road funds.Acts 1968 (Adj. S.), ch. 617, § 1; 1969, ch. 49, § 1; 1969, ch. 163, § 1; 1970 (Adj. S.), ch. 533, § 1; 1970 (Adj. S.), ch. 589, § 1; 1971, ch. 356, § 1; 1971, ch. 372, § 1; 1972 (Adj. S.), ch. 802, § 1.