Archives > 1976 South Carolina Code of Laws - Previous Versions > 2004 Session > Title 9

This statutory database is current through the 2004 Regular Session of the South Carolina General Assembly. Changes to the statutes enacted by the 2005 General Assembly, which will convene in January 2005, will be incorporated as soon as possible. Some changes enacted by the 2005 General Assembly may take immediate effect. The State of South Carolina and the South Carolina Legislative Council make no warranty as to the accuracy of the data, and users rely on the data entirely at their own risk.




SECTION 9-8-10. Definitions.

The following as used in this chapter, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context, shall have the following meanings:

(1) "System" means the Retirement System for Judges and Solicitors of the State of South Carolina.

(2) "State" means the State of South Carolina.

(3) "Board" means the State Budget and Control Board.

(4) "Member of the System" means any person included in the membership of the System, as set forth in Section 9-8-40.

(5) "Credited service" means service for which credit is allowable as provided in Section 9-8-50.

(6) "Retirement allowance" means monthly payments for life under the System payable as provided in Section 9-8-80.

(7) "Beneficiary" means any person in receipt of a retirement allowance or other benefit as provided by the System.

(8) "Aggregate contributions" means the sum of all the amounts deducted from the compensation of a member of the System, or directly remitted by him to the System, and credited to his individual account in the System.

(9) "Regular interest" means interest compounded annually at such rates as shall be determined by the Board for a particular purpose in accordance with Section 9-8-30.

(10) "Accumulated contributions" means the member's aggregate contributions, together with regular interest thereon.

(11) "Actuarial equivalent" means a benefit of equal value when computed on the basis of the tables and regular interest rate last adopted for the particular purpose by the Board, as provided in Section 9-8-30.

(12) "Date of establishment" means July 1, 1979.

(13) "Compensation" means the total salary paid to a judge or solicitor for service rendered to the State.

(14) "Employee annuity" means annual payments for life derived from the accumulated contributions of a member.

(15) "Employer annuity" means annual payments for life derived from money provided by the State.

(16) "Judge" means a justice of the Supreme Court or a judge of the court of appeals, circuit or family court of the State of South Carolina.

(17) "Solicitor" means the person holding office as described under Section 1-7-310 of the 1976 Code.

(18) "Earned service" means paid employment as a judge or solicitor where the judge or solicitor makes regular contributions to the system."

SECTION 9-8-20. System created; powers and privileges; corporate name.

A retirement system is hereby created and placed under the administration of the Board to provide retirement allowances and other benefits for judges and solicitors commencing July 1, 1979. It shall have the power and privileges of a corporation and shall be known as the Retirement System for Judges and Solicitors of the State of South Carolina, and by such name all of its business shall be transacted, all of its funds invested, and all of its cash, securities and other property held.

SECTION 9-8-30. Administration of System; actuary; salaries and expenses.

(1) The administration and responsibility for the operation of the System and for making effective the provisions of this chapter are vested in the State Budget and Control Board.

(2) The Board shall engage such actuarial and other services as shall be required to transact the business of the System.

(3) The Board shall designate an actuary who shall be the technical advisor of the Board on matters regarding the operation of the System and who shall perform such other duties as are required in connection therewith.

(4) At least once in each five-year period following the date of establishment, the actuary shall make an actuarial investigation into the mortality, service and compensation experience of the members and beneficiaries of the System and shall make a valuation of the contingent assets and liabilities of the System. The Board, after taking into account the results of the investigations and valuations, shall adopt for the System such mortality, service and other tables as shall be deemed necessary.

(5) On the basis of regular interest and tables last adopted by the Board, for purposes of actuarial valuations, the actuary shall make a valuation of the contingent assets and liabilities of the system at least every other year.

(6) The Board shall keep in convenient form such data as shall be necessary for the actuarial valuation of the contingent assets and liabilities of the System and for checking the experience of the System.

(7) The Board shall determine from time to time the rates of regular interest for use in calculations, with the rate of four percent per annum applicable for all purposes other than for actuarial valuations unless changed by the Board.

(8) Subject to the limitations hereof, the Board shall, from time to time, establish regulations for the administration of the System and for the transaction of business.

(9) The Board shall keep a record of all its proceedings under this chapter which shall be open to public inspection. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law governing the System, all persons employed by the Board and the expenses of the Board to carry out the provisions of this chapter shall be paid from the interest earnings of the System.

SECTION 9-8-40. Membership in System; cessation of membership.

(1) All persons who are judges or solicitors on July 1, 1979, and who have not attained age seventy-two shall become members of the System as of such date. All other persons shall become members of the System on their taking office as judge or solicitor prior to attaining age seventy-two.

(2) If a member of the System ceases to be a judge or solicitor for reasons other than death or retirement, he shall thereupon cease to be a member of the System, whether or not he withdraws his accumulated contributions.

SECTION 9-8-50. Service credit in system; vesting.

(A) An active contributing member of the system may establish service credit in the system for the same types of service, and under the same conditions, that members of the South Carolina Retirement System may establish service credit in the South Carolina Retirement System pursuant to Section 9-1-1140. With the exception of nonqualified service, as defined in Section 9-1-10(20), an active contributing member may establish service credit under this section by making a payment to the system equal to the current member contribution required for earned service pursuant to Section 9-8-130 for each year of service purchased, prorated for periods of less than a year. The cost to establish nonqualified service under this section is the same as the cost for a member to establish nonqualified service in the South Carolina Retirement System pursuant to Section 9-1-1140. A member may not establish more than sixteen years of service credit in the system under this section. A judge may not establish additional service credit under this section after attaining twenty-five years of creditable service. A solicitor may not establish additional service credit under this section after attaining twenty-four years of creditable service.

(B) An active contributing member of the system may transfer to the system nonconcurrent credited service under the South Carolina Retirement System, the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System, or the Retirement System for Members of the General Assembly, by withdrawing the member's employee contributions and accumulated interest in the South Carolina Retirement System, the South Carolina Police Officers System, or the Retirement System for Members of the General Assembly, and by making a payment to the system equal to the member contribution required for earned service under Section 9-8-130 for each year of service transferred, prorated for periods of less than a year.

(C) When membership in the system ceases for any reason other than death or retirement, the service previously credited to the member of the system must be cancelled and if the person again becomes a member of the system, the person enters the system as a new member not entitled to credit for previous service, unless the person's accumulated contributions were left in the system or the person repays any amounts previously withdrawn, with interest to the date of repayment.

(D) A member upon termination may either:

(1) elect to receive a refund of the member's employee contributions and accumulated interest; or

(2) elect to leave the member's employee contributions and interest on deposit in the system. Regular interest must continue to be credited to the member's account in the same manner that interest is credited to the accounts of active members. At a later date, the member may either:

(a) return to employment as a judge or solicitor and once again become an active contributing member of the system;

(b) receive a refund of the member's accumulated contributions and interest;

(c) if vested, receive a deferred annuity in accordance with subsection (E) of this section; or

(d) if the member has been hired or elected to a position covered by the South Carolina Retirement System, the Police Officers Retirement System, or the Retirement System for Members of the General Assembly, and becomes a member of one of these systems, the member may transfer the member's nonconcurrent service credit to the retirement system in which the member has become an active participant, by taking a refund of the member's employee contributions and accumulated interest in the system and by purchasing the nonconcurrent service as public service in the other system in which the member is an active participant.

(E)(1) A judge is vested in the system after attaining ten years of earned service in the position of judge and a solicitor is vested in the system after attaining eight years of earned service as a solicitor.

(2) If a vested member who began service as a judge or solicitor before July 1, 2004, has terminated service and left contributions on deposit with the system, the member is eligible for a monthly benefit beginning at age fifty-five. The member's benefit under this section is calculated by multiplying the member's monthly benefit determined in accordance with Section 9-8-60 or 9-8-70, by a fraction in which the member's total credited service in the system is the numerator and twenty-four is the denominator. The monthly benefit under this section may not exceed the member's benefit as calculated pursuant to Section 9-8-60 or 9-8-70.

(3) If a vested member who began service as a judge or solicitor after June 30, 2004, has terminated service and left contributions on deposit with the system, the member is eligible for a monthly benefit beginning at age sixty-five. The member's benefit under this section is calculated by multiplying the member's monthly benefit determined in accordance with Section 9-8-60 or 9-8-70, by a fraction in which the member's total credited service in the system is the numerator and twenty-four is the denominator. The monthly benefit under this section may not exceed the member's benefit as calculated pursuant to Section 9-8-60 or 9-8-70.

SECTION 9-8-60. Retirement; retirement allowance; disability retirement; beneficiaries of other systems.

(1) A member of the system may retire upon written application to the board setting forth at what time, not later than the end of the calendar year in which the member attains age seventy-two and not more than ninety days prior nor more than six months subsequent to the execution and filing thereof, the member desires to be retired, if the member at the time so specified for retirement is no longer in the service of the State, except as a member of the General Assembly, and has completed ten years of earned service as a judge or eight years of earned service as a solicitor or was in service as a judge or solicitor on July 1, 1984, and has either:

(a) attained the age of sixty-five and completed at least twenty years of credited service; or

(b) attained age seventy and completed at least fifteen years of credited service; or

(c) completed at least twenty-five years of credited service in the system for a judge, or twenty-four years of credited service in the system for a solicitor, regardless of age. A member may retire under this section if the member was a member of this system as of June 30, 2004; attained age sixty- five with at least four years' earned service in the position of judge or solicitor; and, as of June 30, 2004, had a total of twenty-five years of credited service with the State in the South Carolina Retirement System, the Police Officers Retirement System, or the Retirement System for Members of the General Assembly.

A person is not eligible to receive a retirement allowance under this system while under employment covered by the South Carolina Retirement System and the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System except as provided in Section 9-8-65.

A person receiving retirement allowances under this system who is elected to the General Assembly continues to receive the retirement allowances while serving in the General Assembly and must also be a member of the General Assembly Retirement System unless the person files a statement with the State Budget and Control Board on a form prescribed by the board electing not to participate in the General Assembly Retirement System while a member of the General Assembly. A person making this election shall not make contributions to the General Assembly Retirement System nor shall the State make contributions on the member's behalf and the person is not entitled to benefits from the General Assembly Retirement System after ceasing to be a member of the General Assembly.

(2) A retired member shall receive a monthly retirement allowance which is equal to one-twelfth of seventy-one and three-tenths percent of the current active salary of the respective position.

(3) No member shall be permitted to retire and resign on account of being totally and permanently disabled and to receive the retirement benefit herein provided for until it is proven to the satisfaction of the Supreme Court, or a majority of the justices thereof, that the member is totally and permanently disabled, physically or mentally, or both, from further rendering useful and efficient service in the position. Upon the finding of the Supreme Court that any member is totally and permanently disabled, the Supreme Court shall notify the director of its findings. A member shall have a minimum of five years of earned service to qualify for disability retirement.

(4) Any beneficiary receiving a retirement allowance under any other system of the State providing retirement benefits for judges or from the Solicitors' Retirement Program established pursuant to Article 4 of Chapter 7 of Title 1 shall become a beneficiary under this System as of July 1, 1979, and shall receive a retirement allowance under this section adjusted in accordance with the provisions of this section or Section 9-8-90, whichever is applicable, in lieu of any retirement allowance under such other system. The full amount of any accumulated contributions or assets held by that system on behalf of the beneficiary shall be transferred to this system promptly pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no beneficiary under this section shall receive an allowance which is less than the allowance he would have received under such other system as of July 1, 1979.

(5) A member who retires, who has completed at least twenty-five years of credited service, or twenty-four years in the case of a solicitor, shall receive a monthly retirement allowance which must be equal to one-twelfth of seventy-one and three-tenths percent of the current active salary of the respective position plus one-twelfth of two and sixty-seven hundredths percent of the current active salary of the respective position for each additional year of earned service over twenty-five, or twenty-four in the case of a solicitor. The monthly retirement allowance may not exceed one-twelfth of ninety percent of the current active salary of the respective position.

(6) A member retiring after 2003 shall receive an additional benefit, paid at retirement, equal to the member's employee contributions, plus interest, paid to the system after the member attains sufficient creditable service to become eligible to receive the maximum benefit of ninety percent of the current active salary of the respective position under this section.

SECTION 9-8-65. Retirement compensation authorized if employed by public institution of education.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a retired justice or judge may draw retirement compensation while employed by a public institution of education; provided, however, that a justice or judge while so employed may not contribute to, or receive service credit in, the South Carolina Retirement System for teachers and employees of the State and political subdivisions or agencies or departments thereof.

SECTION 9-8-70. Optional retirement allowance.

Until the first payment of a retirement allowance becomes normally due, a member may elect, by filing written application with the board, to convert the retirement allowance otherwise payable on his account after retirement into a retirement allowance of equivalent actuarial value under which a reduced retirement allowance is payable during the beneficiary's life, with the provision that one-third of the reduced allowance continues after his death to and for the life of the contingent beneficiary designated by him in the application, if the beneficiary were to survive him. For purposes of this section, the member may not designate his spouse as contingent beneficiary.

Until the final payment of a retirement allowance becomes normally due, a member may elect, by filing written application with the board, to convert the retirement allowance otherwise payable on his account after retirement into a retirement allowance of equivalent actuarial value under which a reduced retirement allowance is payable during the beneficiary's life, with the provision that one-third of the reduced allowance is payable in equal shares to and for the life of each of two or more beneficiaries or to the trustee or trustees of the beneficiaries, for so long as each beneficiary survives him. The benefit reduction factor must be based on the average age of the beneficiaries.

The board may approve a five-year, pay-out plan developed by the actuary on the basis of the total retirement allowance for surviving beneficiaries, other than a spouse.

SECTION 9-8-80. Allowances shall be payable in monthly installments.

All retirement allowances are payable in monthly installments. Upon the death of a retired member, the retirement allowance for the month the retired member died, if not previously paid, must be paid to the member's spouse, or if the member designated a nonspouse beneficiary or beneficiaries, then to the nonspouse beneficiary or beneficiaries living at the time of the member's death, otherwise to the estate of the member. A spouse's entitlement to a benefit pursuant to Section 9-8-110 commences in the month after the retired member's death. If the retired member elected a survivor option pursuant to the optional retirement allowances in Section 9-8-70, any allowance payable to a survivor beneficiary or beneficiaries commences in the month after the death of the retired member.

SECTION 9-8-90. Increase in allowances based on Consumer Price Index.

As of the end of each calendar year commencing with the year ending December 31, 1980, the increase in the ratio of the Consumer Price Index to such index as of December 31, 1979, or the most recent December thirty first subsequent thereto as of which an increase in retirement allowances was granted, shall be determined, and if the increase equals or exceeds three percent, the retirement allowance of each beneficiary, other than a retired member or his spouse, in receipt of an allowance as of December 31, 1979, or the most recent December thirty first subsequent thereto as of which an increase was granted, shall be increased by four percent. Such increase shall commence the July first immediately following the December thirty first that the increase in ratio was determined. Any increase granted hereunder shall be permanent, irrespective of any subsequent decrease in the Consumer Price Index, and shall be included in determining any subsequent increase.

For purposes of this section, "Consumer Price Index" shall mean the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (all items - United States City average), as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

SECTION 9-8-100. Repayment of contributions and interest upon cessation of membership.

Should a member cease to be a member of the System, for reasons other than death or retirement, he shall be paid promptly as feasible after his request, but in no event later than six months after the request, the amount of his accumulated contributions as of the date of payment. Should he die before payment has been made, his accumulated contributions shall be paid to his estate or to such person as he shall have nominated by written designation filed with the Board.

SECTION 9-8-110. Payments on death of member or beneficiary.

(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) and (3) of this section, upon the death of any member of the system, a lump sum amount must be paid to the persons the member nominated by written designation, filed with the board, otherwise to his estate. This amount must be equal to the amount of the member's accumulated contributions. An active contributing member making the nomination provided under this section also may name secondary beneficiaries in the same manner that beneficiaries are named. A secondary beneficiary has no rights under this chapter unless all beneficiaries nominated by the member predecease the member and the member's death occurs while in service. In this instance, a secondary beneficiary is considered the member's beneficiary for purposes of this section.

(2) Unless a married member has designated a beneficiary other than his spouse in accordance with subsection (1), upon his death prior to retirement an allowance equal to one-third of the allowance which would have been payable to him, assuming he was then eligible to retire and had retired on the date of his death, shall be paid to his surviving spouse until her death. This allowance is payable in lieu of the lump sum amount payable in accordance with subsection (1). Upon the death of a retired member who has not designated a beneficiary other than a spouse an allowance equal to one-third of the allowance which would have been payable to him, shall be paid to the surviving spouse until death. For purposes of this subsection, "retired member" shall include those former judges and solicitors who are beneficiaries pursuant to subsection (4) of Section 9-8-60.

(3) If a member dies while in the service of the State, whether as a judge or a solicitor or otherwise, and either is not married or has designated a beneficiary other than his surviving spouse, an allowance in lieu of the lump sum provided in subsection (1) shall be payable to such person as he shall have nominated by written designation in accordance with subsection (1) equal to the amount which would have been payable to such person as if the deceased member had retired at the time of his death and had made an effective election under Section 9-8-70 nominating such person as his contingent beneficiary.

(4) Upon the death of an unmarried beneficiary who has not elected the optional form of allowance under Section 9-8-70, a lump sum amount shall be paid to such person as he shall have nominated by written designation in accordance with subsection (1), otherwise to his estate. Such amount shall be equal to the excess, if any, of his accumulated contributions at the time his allowance commenced over the sum of the retirement allowance payments made to him.

(5) Upon receipt of proof, satisfactory to the Board, of the death of a member in service as a judge or solicitor who had completed at least one full year of credited service in the System or of the death of a member in service as a result of an injury arising out of and in the course of the performance of his duties regardless of length of membership, there must be paid to his spouse unless he has nominated a beneficiary by written designation filed with the Board, if the person is living at the time of the member's death, otherwise to the member's estate, a death benefit equal to the annual compensation of the member at the time his death occurs. The benefit must be payable apart and separate from the payment of the allowance, or the lump sum amount in lieu thereof, pursuant to the provisions of subsection (1), (2), or (3) above. A member may designate his estate to receive this death benefit in lieu of his spouse, or other beneficiary nominated in subsection (1). For purposes of this subsection, a member is considered to be in service at the date of his death if his last day of earned service credit as a judge or solicitor occurred not more than ninety days before his death and he has not retired or withdrawn contributions.

(6) The Board may take such action as may be necessary to provide the death benefit under this section in the form of group life insurance upon a determination that to do so would guarantee a more favorable tax treatment of the benefit to beneficiaries to whom the benefit is payable.

Upon the death of a retired member on or after July 1, 1985, there must be paid to the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries, if living at the time of the retired member's death, otherwise to the retired member's estate, a death benefit of one thousand dollars if the retired member had ten years of creditable service but less than twenty years, two thousand dollars if the retired member had twenty years of creditable service but less than thirty, and three thousand dollars if the retired member had at least thirty years of creditable service at the time of retirement.

SECTION 9-8-120. Return of beneficiary to service of State; practice of law.

Should any beneficiary return to the service of the State, the following provisions shall apply:

(1) If such return is as a solicitor, he shall be a contributing member of the System and shall be credited with all service standing to his credit at the time of his retirement. The retirement allowance payable upon his subsequent retirement shall be based on the total of his credited service rendered before and after his return to service.

(2) Except as otherwise provided below, if this return is in a position other than as a solicitor, the beneficiary, upon cessation of service in the position, is entitled to apply for a retirement allowance at the same rate to which the beneficiary was previously entitled, disregarding any reduction therein resulting from a previous election of an option. If the beneficiary's return is as a member of the General Assembly, retirement allowances continue as provided by Section 9-8-60(1).

(3) Subject to the limitations contained in Section 14-1-215, a retired justice or judge may be called upon and appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to perform judicial duties in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, circuit courts, and family courts as he may be willing and able to undertake. A retired justice or judge serving as an acting associate justice or as a judge shall serve without pay except for his actual expenses while serving. If a retired justice or judge has performed for a period of three or more consecutive months full judicial duties as an acting associate justice or as a judge his retirement pay for each full month during this period must be increased by an amount equal to the difference between retirement payment and active pay. Upon certification by the Chief Justice setting forth the number of full months of the service the State Treasurer shall make payment accordingly.

(4) A justice or judge drawing retirement compensation who engages in the practice of law may not serve as a justice or judge in any court in this State. Within thirty days of his retirement under this chapter, a retired judge or justice shall make an election as to whether he wishes to engage in the practice of law or be eligible for appointment by the Chief Justice as a judge or justice in the courts of this State. If his election is to engage in the practice of law, it is irrevocable and he may not thereafter be appointed by the Chief Justice to serve as a justice or judge in the courts of this State. If his election is to be eligible for appointment to serve as a justice or judge in the courts of this State and not to practice law, he may at any time thereafter change such election and decide to engage in the practice of law, at which point his decision becomes irrevocable.

SECTION 9-8-125. Election to receive benefits from General Assembly retirement system while employed as judge or solicitor.

A member of the system who is at least sixty-five years of age and eligible to receive benefits pursuant to Chapter 9 of this title but for the member's current employment as a judge or solicitor may elect to receive retirement benefits from the Retirement System for members of the General Assembly by written notice to the board.

SECTION 9-8-130. Members' contributions; deduction from compensation; employer to pay required member contributions on earnings after July 1, 1982; tax treatment; funding; retirement treatment.

(1)(a) Each member of the system shall contribute a percentage of each installment of compensation, as provided in item (b) of this subsection. These contributions must be made through payroll deductions and remitted within thirty days after the close of each month to the system.

(b) Percentage of Compensation Beginning

8 percent July 1, 2004

9 percent July 1, 2005

10 percent July 1, 2006.

SECTION 9-8-140. Contributions of State to System.

The contributions of the State to the System shall be determined by the Board each year on the basis of annual actuarial valuations of the System. Each year the Board shall certify to the State the amount of its contribution due the System. The State's contributions shall be appropriated annually from the general fund to the System and shall include such sums as are found necessary in order to create reserves in the System sufficient to cover the cost of the allowances currently accruing under this chapter, to include a contribution each year toward the cost of prior service credits and to cover any administrative expenses which the Board may incur in the operation of the System.

The employer contribution shall be remitted to the System within thirty days after the beginning of each fiscal year.

SECTION 9-8-150. Director of Retirement System for Judges and Solicitors.

There is hereby created an office to be known as Director of the Retirement System for Judges and Solicitors of the State of South Carolina. The Director of the South Carolina Retirement System shall serve as Director of the System.

SECTION 9-8-160. Investment of funds; conflicts of interest.

(1) The board is the trustee of the funds of the system and may invest and reinvest the funds in the same manner as funds of the South Carolina Retirement System are invested and reinvested pursuant to Section 9-1-1310.

(2) Except as otherwise herein provided, no member of or person employed by the Board shall have a direct interest in the gains or profits of any investment made by the Board. No member of the Board or employee of the Board shall, directly or indirectly, for himself or as an agent, in any manner use the funds of the System except to make such current and necessary payments as are authorized by the Board; nor shall any member or employee of the Board become an endorser or surety, or in any manner an obligor, for moneys loaned or borrowed from the Board.

SECTION 9-8-170. Custody of funds; disbursements; cash kept available for disbursements.

(1) The State Treasurer shall be the custodian of the funds of the System. All payments from such funds shall be made by him only upon vouchers signed by two persons designated by the Board. No voucher shall be drawn unless it has previously been authorized by resolution of the Board.

(2) For the purpose of meeting disbursements for retirement allowances and other payments, there may be kept available cash, not exceeding ten percent of the total funds of the System, on deposit with the State Treasurer.

SECTION 9-8-180. Assets shall be credited to two funds.

(1) All of the assets of the System shall be credited, according to the purpose for which they are held, to one of two accounts; namely, the members' account and the accumulation account.

(2) The members' account shall be the account in which shall be held the contributions made by members.

(3) The accumulation account shall be the account in which shall be held all reserves for the payment of the part of all retirement allowances and other benefits payable from contributions made by the State, and from which shall be paid all retirement allowances payable under the System. All interest and dividends earned on the funds of the System shall be credited to the accumulation account. If a beneficiary is restored to membership, the part of his contributions then standing to his credit shall be transferred from the accumulation account to the members' account.

SECTION 9-8-190. Exemption of retirement allowance and certain other rights from taxation and legal process; exceptions; assignment.

Except as provided in Section 8-1-115 and subject to the doctrine of constructive trust ex maleficio, the right of a person to a retirement allowance or to the return of contributions, a retirement allowance itself, any optional allowance or payment on death or any other right accrued or accruing to any person under the provisions of this chapter, and the monies of the system are exempted from state or municipal tax, except the taxes imposed pursuant to Chapters 6 and 16 of Title 12, and exempted from levy and sale, garnishment, attachment, or any other process and are unassignable except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

SECTION 9-8-200. Credit of state not pledged; rights upon termination of System.

All agreements or contracts with the members of the System pursuant to any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed solely obligations of the System and the full faith and credit of the State and of its departments, institutions and political subdivisions is not, and shall not be, pledged or obligated beyond the amounts which may be hereafter annually appropriated in the annual state general appropriation act, and other periodic appropriations for the purposes of this chapter. In case of termination of the System, the rights of all members of the System to benefits accrued to the date of such termination, to the extent then funded, shall be nonforfeitable.

SECTION 9-8-210. Property of System exempt from state and local taxes.

All property owned or acquired by the System for the purposes of this chapter shall be exempt from all taxes imposed by the State or any political subdivision thereof.

SECTION 9-8-220. Penalty for false statement or falsification of records.

Any person who shall knowingly make any false statement, or shall falsify or permit to be falsified any record of the System in any attempt to defraud the System, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than twelve months, or both, in the discretion of the court.

SECTION 9-8-240. Compensation used for determining benefits to be subject to federal limitations.

Effective as of January 1, 1996, the annual compensation of a member taken into account for determining all benefits provided under this retirement system is subject to the limitations set forth in Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and any regulations promulgated thereunder. However, the limitation on compensation does not apply to the compensation of an individual who became a member of this retirement system before January 1, 1996.