19-7-301. Membership -- inactive vested members -- inactive nonvested members. (1) (a) Except as provided in subsection (1)(b), each sheriff shall become a member of the sheriffs' retirement system.

(b) A sheriff who was a member of the public employees' retirement system on July 1, 1974, may remain a public employees' retirement system member or elect to become a member of the sheriffs' retirement system by filing a written election with the board at any time before retirement.

(2) (a) Except as provided in subsection (2)(b), an investigator shall become a member of the sheriffs' retirement system.

(b) An investigator who was a member of the public employees' retirement system on July 1, 1993, may remain in the public employees' retirement system or elect to become a member of the sheriffs' retirement system by filing a written election with the board at any time before retirement.

(3) (a) Except as provided in subsection (3)(b), a detention officer shall become a member of the sheriffs' retirement system.

(b) A detention officer who was a member of the public employees' retirement system on July 1, 2005, may remain in the public employees' retirement system or elect to become a member of the sheriffs' retirement system by filing a written election with the board before May 1, 2006.

(4) A member of the public employees' retirement system who begins employment in a position covered by the sheriffs' retirement system may remain in the public employees' retirement system or may elect to become a member of the sheriffs' retirement system by filing a written election with the board no later than 90 days after beginning the employment.

(5) Failure to make an election as provided in subsection (4) is considered an election to remain in the public employees' retirement system.

(6) A sheriff, investigator, or detention officer who elects to become a member of the sheriffs' retirement system must be an active member as long as actively employed in an eligible capacity, except as provided in 19-7-1101(2).

(7) (a) An inactive member with at least 5 years of membership service is an inactive vested member and retains the right to purchase service credit and to receive a retirement benefit under the provisions of this chapter.

(b) If an inactive vested member chooses to take a lump-sum payment rather than a retirement benefit, the lump-sum payment consists of only the member's accumulated contributions and not the employer's contributions.

(8) (a) An inactive member with less than 5 years of membership service is an inactive nonvested member and is not eligible for any benefits from the retirement system.

(b) An inactive nonvested member is eligible only for a refund of the member's accumulated contributions.