Section 17-501 - 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," "system," or "retirement system for county paid judges" means the "retirement system for county paid judges of Tennessee" created by this chapter.(b) "Retirement board" or "board" means the board created by this chapter which shall administer the system.(c) "Employer" or "county" means any county of the state of Tennessee.(d) "Judge" means any person who is a judge of a general sessions court, county chairman, county judge, probate judge, or judge of a juvenile and/or domestic relations court, and whose compensation for such judicial service is paid wholly by the county and shall also include the executive secretary of the retirement system for county paid judges of Tennessee and county attorneys who receive regular monthly or quarterly compensation from the county.(e) "Member" means any person included in the membership of the retirement system.(f) "Prior service" means all service as a judge, county court clerk, circuit court clerk, sessions court clerk, trustee, register of deeds, sheriff, clerk and master, criminal court clerk, county attorney or assessor of property, superintendent of schools, or city or municipal judge, whether elected by the people or appointed, whether continuous or not, prior to the time of becoming a member of the system. Credit shall also be allowed for as many as four (4) years of service as a member of the general assembly. However, credit shall be allowed for as many as ten (10) years of service as a trial justice of the peace who kept dockets, whether such person was a judge prior to July 1, 1963, or first became a judge after July 1, 1963.(g) "Current service" means all uninterrupted service as judge after July 1, 1963 and prior to the date as of which current service is being determined; provided, however, that while current service shall not be deemed to be interrupted by the following, it shall not include:(1) extended sick leave approved by the board;(2) leave of absence granted by the county and approved by the board;(3) any service, voluntary or involuntary, in the armed forces of the United States; or(4) the period of time, not greater than ten (10) years following his termination of employment as judge pursuant to § 17-514.(h) "Credited service" means the sum of prior service, if any, and current service. Credited service shall be expressed in years and a decimal fraction of a year based on completed calendar months.(i) "Benefit base" means a sum equal to the annual salary the retired judge would have received had he continued in the office from which he retired.(j) "Normal retirement date" means the first day of the month next following the fifty-fifth birthday of a member.(k) "Beneficiary" means the person last designated in writing by a member in accordance with the provisions of § 17-518, to receive benefits payable on the death of such member.(l) "Fund" or "retirement fund for county paid judges" means the "retirement fund for county paid judges of the state of Tennessee" created by and administered pursuant to this chapter.(m) "Other systems" means any retirement program created by an act of the general assembly or otherwise, applicable to employees of a city, county or the state of Tennessee, or any political subdivision of any of them.Acts 1963, ch. 206, § 1; 1965, ch. 117, § 1; 1967, ch. 229, §§ 1, 2; 1969, ch. 206, § 1; 1969, ch. 211, § 1; 1970 (Adj. S.), ch. 343, § 1; 1970 (Adj. S.), ch. 530, § 1; 1970 (Adj. S.), ch. 556, § 1; 1971, ch. 176, § 1; 1972 (Adj. S.), ch. 665, § 1; 1972 (Adj. S.), ch. 823, § 1.