Okla. Stat. tit. 74, § 74-902v2

As used in Section 901 et seq. of this title:

(1) "System" means the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement

System as established by Section 901 et seq. of this title and as it

may hereafter be amended;

(2) "Accumulated contributions" means the sum of all

contributions by a member to the System which shall be credited to

the member’s account;

(3) "Act" means Sections 901 to 932, inclusive, of this title;

(4) "Actuarial equivalent" means a deferred income benefit of

equal value to the accumulated deposits or benefits when computed

upon the basis of the actuarial tables in use by the System;

(5) "Actuarial tables" means the actuarial tables approved and

in use by the Board at any given time;

(6) "Actuary" means the actuary or firm of actuaries employed

by the Board at any given time;

(7) "Beneficiary" means any person named by a member to receive

any benefits as provided for by Section 901 et seq. of this title.

If there is no beneficiary living at time of member employee’s

death, the member’s estate shall be the beneficiary;

(8) "Board" means the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement

System Board of Trustees;

(9) "Compensation" means all salary and wages, as defined by

the Board of Trustees, including amounts deferred under deferred

compensation agreements entered into between a member and a

participating employer, but exclusive of payment for overtime,

payable to a member of the System for personal services performed

for a participating employer but shall not include compensation or

reimbursement for traveling, or moving expenses, or any compensation

in excess of the maximum compensation level, provided:

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government Page 605

(a) For compensation for service prior to January 1, 1988,

the maximum compensation level shall be Twenty-five

Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) per annum.

For compensation for service on or after January 1,

1988, through June 30, 1994, the maximum compensation

level shall be Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000.00) per

annum.

For compensation for service on or after July 1, 1994,

through June 30, 1995, the maximum compensation level

shall be Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) per

annum; for compensation for service on or after July

1, 1995, through June 30, 1996, the maximum

compensation level shall be Sixty Thousand Dollars

($60,000.00) per annum; for compensation for service

on or after July 1, 1996, through June 30, 1997, the

maximum compensation level shall be Seventy Thousand

Dollars ($70,000.00) per annum; and for compensation

for service on or after July 1, 1997, through June 30,

1998, the maximum compensation level shall be Eighty

Thousand Dollars ($80,000.00) per annum. For

compensation for services on or after July 1, 1998,

there shall be no maximum compensation level for

retirement purposes.

(b) Compensation for retirement purposes shall include any

amount of elective salary reduction under Section 457

of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and any amount of

nonelective salary reduction under Section 414(h) of

the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the

compensation taken into account for any employee in

determining the contribution or benefit accruals for

any plan year is limited to the annual compensation

limit under Section 401(a)(17) of the federal Internal

Revenue Code.
1986 and any amount of

nonelective salary reduction under Section 414(h) of

the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

(c) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, the

compensation taken into account for any employee in

determining the contribution or benefit accruals for

any plan year is limited to the annual compensation

limit under Section 401(a)(17) of the federal Internal

Revenue Code.

(d) Current appointed members of the Oklahoma Tax

Commission whose salary is constitutionally limited

and is less than the highest salary allowed by law for

his or her position shall be allowed, within ninety

(90) days from March 21, 2001, to make an election to

use the highest salary allowed by law for the position

to which the member was appointed for the purposes of

making contributions and determination of retirement

benefits. Such election shall be irrevocable and be

in writing. Reappointment to the same office shall

not permit a new election. Members appointed to the

Oklahoma Tax Commission after the March 21, 2001,

shall make such election, pursuant to this

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government Page 606

subparagraph, within ninety (90) days of taking

office;

(10) "Credited service" means the sum of participating service,

prior service and elected service;

(11) "Dependent" means a parent, child, or spouse of a member

who is dependent upon the member for at least one-half (1/2) of the

member’s support;

(12) "Effective date" means the date upon which the System

becomes effective by operation of law;

(13) "Eligible employer" means the state and any county, county

hospital, city or town, conservation districts, circuit engineering

districts and any public or private trust in which a county, city or

town participates and is the primary beneficiary, is to be an

eligible employer for the purpose of Section 901 et seq. of this

title only, whose employees are covered by Social Security and are

not covered by or eligible for another retirement plan authorized

under the laws of this state which is in operation on the initial

entry date. Emergency medical service districts may join the System

upon proper application to the Board. Provided, affiliation by a

county hospital shall be in the form of a resolution adopted by the

board of control.

(a) If a class or several classes of employees of any

above-defined employers are covered by Social Security

and are not covered by or eligible for and will not

become eligible for another retirement plan authorized

under the laws of this state, which is in operation on

the effective date, such employer shall be deemed an

eligible employer, but only with respect to that class

or those classes of employees as defined in this

section.

(b) A class or several classes of employees who are

covered by Social Security and are not covered by or

eligible for and will not become eligible for another

retirement plan authorized under the laws of this

state, which is in operation on the effective date,

and when the qualifications for employment in such

class or classes are set by state law; and when such

class or classes of employees are employed by a county

or municipal government pursuant to such

qualifications; and when the services provided by such

employees are of such nature that they qualify for

matching by or contributions from state or federal

funds administered by an agency of state government

which qualifies as a participating employer, then the

agency of state government administering the state or

federal funds shall be deemed an eligible employer,

but only with respect to that class or those classes

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government Page 607

of employees as defined in this subsection; provided,

that the required contributions to the retirement plan

may be withheld from the contributions of state or

federal funds administered by the state agency and

transmitted to the System on the same basis as the
an eligible employer,

but only with respect to that class or those classes

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government Page 607

of employees as defined in this subsection; provided,

that the required contributions to the retirement plan

may be withheld from the contributions of state or

federal funds administered by the state agency and

transmitted to the System on the same basis as the

employee and employer contributions are transmitted

for the direct employees of the state agency. The

retirement or eligibility for retirement under the

provisions of law providing pensions for service as a

volunteer firefighter shall not render any person

ineligible for participation in the benefits provided

for in Section 901 et seq. of this title. An employee

of any public or private trust in which a county, city

or town participates and is the primary beneficiary

shall be deemed to be an eligible employee for the

purpose of Section 901 et seq. of this title only.

(c) All employees of the George Nigh Rehabilitation

Institute who elected to retain membership in the

System, pursuant to Section 913.7 of this title, shall

continue to be eligible employees for the purposes of

Section 901 et seq. of this title. The George Nigh

Rehabilitation Institute shall be considered a

participating employer only for such employees.

(d) All employees of CompSource Mutual Insurance Company

who retain membership in the Oklahoma Public Employees

Retirement System pursuant to Section 913.9 of this

title shall continue to be eligible employees for the

purposes of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement

System. CompSource Mutual Insurance Company shall be

considered a participating employer only for such

employees.

(e) All employees of a successor organization, as defined

by Section 5-60.12 of Title 2 of the Oklahoma

Statutes, who retain membership in the Oklahoma Public

Employees Retirement System pursuant to Section 5-

60.35 of Title 2 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall

continue to be eligible employees for the purposes of

the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System. A

successor organization shall be considered a

participating employer only for such employees.

(f) A participating employer of the Teachers’ Retirement

System of Oklahoma, who has one or more employees who

have made an election pursuant to enabling legislation

to retain membership in the System as a result of

change in administration, shall be considered a

participating employer of the Oklahoma Public

Employees Retirement System only for such employees;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government Page 608

(14) "Employee" means any officer or employee of a

participating employer, whose employment is not seasonal or

temporary and whose employment requires at least one thousand

(1,000) hours of work per year and whose salary or wage is equal to

the hourly rate of the monthly minimum wage for state employees.

For those eligible employers outlined in Section 910 of this title,

the rate shall be equal to the hourly rate of the monthly minimum

wage for that employer. Each employer, whose minimum wage is less

than the state’s minimum wage, shall inform the System of the

minimum wage for that employer. This notification shall be by

resolution of the governing body.

(a) Any employee of the county extension agents who is not

currently participating in the Teachers’ Retirement

System of Oklahoma shall be a member of this System.

(b) Eligibility shall not include any employee who is a

contributing member of the United States Civil Service

Retirement System.
he

minimum wage for that employer. This notification shall be by

resolution of the governing body.

(a) Any employee of the county extension agents who is not

currently participating in the Teachers’ Retirement

System of Oklahoma shall be a member of this System.

(b) Eligibility shall not include any employee who is a

contributing member of the United States Civil Service

Retirement System.

(c) It shall be mandatory for an officer, appointee or

employee of the office of district attorney to become

a member of this System if he or she is not currently

participating in a county retirement system. Provided

further, that if an officer, appointee or employee of

the office of district attorney is currently

participating in such county retirement system, he or

she is ineligible for this System as long as he or she

is eligible for such county retirement system. Any

eligible officer, appointee or employee of the office

of district attorney shall be given credit for prior

service as defined in this section. The provisions

outlined in Section 917 of this title shall apply to

those employees who have previously withdrawn their

contributions.

(d) Eligibility shall also not include any officer or

employee of the Oklahoma Employment Security

Commission, except for those officers and employees of

the Commission electing to transfer to this System

pursuant to the provisions of Section 910.1 of this

title or any other class of officers or employees

specifically exempted by the laws of this state,

unless there be a consolidation as provided by Section

912 of this title. Employees of the Oklahoma

Employment Security Commission who are ineligible for

enrollment in the Oklahoma Employment Security

Commission Retirement Plan, that was in effect on

January 1, 1964, shall become members of this System.

(e) Any employee employed by the Legislative Service

Bureau, Senate or House of Representatives for the

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government Page 609

full duration of a regular legislative session shall

be eligible for membership in the System regardless of

classification as a temporary employee and may

participate in the System during the regular

legislative session at the option of the employee.

For purposes of this subparagraph, the determination

of whether an employee is employed for the full

duration of a regular legislative session shall be

made by the Legislative Service Bureau if such

employee is employed by the Legislative Service

Bureau, the Senate if such employee is employed by the

Senate, or by the House of Representatives if such

employee is employed by the House of Representatives.

Each regular legislative session during which the

legislative employee or an employee of the Legislative

Service Bureau participates full time shall be counted

as six (6) months of full-time participating service.
Legislative Service

Bureau, the Senate if such employee is employed by the

Senate, or by the House of Representatives if such

employee is employed by the House of Representatives.

Each regular legislative session during which the

legislative employee or an employee of the Legislative

Service Bureau participates full time shall be counted

as six (6) months of full-time participating service.

(i) Except as otherwise provided by this

subparagraph, once a temporary session employee

makes a choice to participate or not, the choice

shall be binding for all future legislative

sessions during which the employee is employed.

(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of division (i) of

this subparagraph, any employee, who is eligible

for membership in the System because of the

provisions of this subparagraph and who was

employed by the Senate or House of

Representatives after January 1, 1989, may file

an election, in a manner specified by the Board,

to participate as a member of the System prior to

September 1, 1989.

(iii) Notwithstanding the provisions of division (i) of

this subparagraph, a temporary legislative

session employee who elected to become a member

of the System may withdraw from the System

effective the day such employee elected to

participate in the System upon written request to

the Board. Any such request must be received by

the Board prior to October 1, 1990. All employee

contributions made by the temporary legislative

session employee shall be returned to the

employee without interest within four (4) months

of receipt of the written request.

(iv) A member of the System who did not initially

elect to participate as a member of the System

pursuant to this subparagraph shall be able to

acquire service performed as a temporary

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government Page 610

legislative session employee for periods of

service performed prior to the date upon which

the person became a member of the System if:

a. the member files an election with the System

not later than December 31, 2000, to

purchase the prior service; and

b. the member makes payment to the System of

the actuarial cost of the service credit

pursuant to subsection A of Section 913.5 of

this title. The provisions of Section 913.5

of this title shall be applicable to the

purchase of the service credit, including

the provisions for determining service

credit in the event of incomplete payment

due to cessation of payments, death,

termination of employment or retirement, but

the payment may extend for a period not to

exceed ninety-six (96) months;

(15) "Entry date" means the date on which an eligible employer

joins the System. The first entry date pursuant to Section 901 et

seq. of this title shall be January 1, 1964;

(16) "Executive Director" means the managing officer of the

System employed by the Board under Section 901 et seq. of this

title;

(17) "Federal Internal Revenue Code" means the federal Internal

Revenue Code of 1954 or 1986, as amended and as applicable to a

governmental plan as in effect on July 1, 1999;
irst entry date pursuant to Section 901 et

seq. of this title shall be January 1, 1964;

(16) "Executive Director" means the managing officer of the

System employed by the Board under Section 901 et seq. of this

title;

(17) "Federal Internal Revenue Code" means the federal Internal

Revenue Code of 1954 or 1986, as amended and as applicable to a

governmental plan as in effect on July 1, 1999;

(18) "Final average compensation" means the average annual

compensation, including amounts deferred under deferred compensation

agreements entered into between a member and a participating

employer, up to, but not exceeding the maximum compensation levels

as provided in paragraph (9) of this section received during the

highest three (3) of the last ten (10) years of participating

service immediately preceding retirement or termination of

employment and with respect to members whose first participating

service occurs on or after July 1, 2013, the compensation received

during the highest five (5) of the last ten (10) years of

participating service immediately preceding retirement or

termination of employment. Provided, no member shall retire with a

final average compensation unless the member has made the required

contributions on such compensation, as defined by the Board of

Trustees;

(19) "Fiscal year" means the period commencing July 1 of any

year and ending June 30 of the next year. The fiscal year is the

plan year for purposes of the federal Internal Revenue Code;

however, the calendar year is the limitation year for purposes of

Section 415 of the federal Internal Revenue Code;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government Page 611

(20) "Fund" means the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement Fund

as created by Section 901 et seq. of this title;

(21) "Leave of absence" means a period of absence from

employment without pay, authorized and approved by the employer and

acknowledged to the Board, and which after the effective date does

not exceed two (2) years;

(22) "Member" means an eligible employee or elected official

who is in the System and is making the required employee or elected

official contributions, or any former employee or elected official

who shall have made the required contributions to the System and

shall have not received a refund or withdrawal;

(23) "Military service" means service in the Armed Forces of

the United States by an honorably discharged person during the

following time periods, as reflected on such person’s Defense

Department Form 214, not to exceed five (5) years for combined

participating and/or prior service, as follows:

(a) during the following periods, including the beginning

and ending dates, and only for the periods served,

from:

(i) April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918, commonly

referred to as World War I,

(ii) September 16, 1940, to December 7, 1941, as a

member of the 45th Division,

(iii) December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946, commonly

referred to as World War II,

(iv) June 27, 1950, to January 31, 1955, commonly

referred to as the Korean Conflict or the Korean

War,

(v) February 28, 1961, to May 7, 1975, commonly

referred to as the Vietnam era, except that:

a. for the period from February 28, 1961, to

August 4, 1964, military service shall only

include service in the Republic of Vietnam

during that period, and

b. for purposes of determining eligibility for

education and training benefits, such period

shall end on December 31, 1976, or

(vi) August 1, 1990, to December 31, 1991, commonly

referred to as the Gulf War, the Persian Gulf

War, or Operation Desert Storm, but excluding any

person who served on active duty for training

only, unless discharged from such active duty for

a service-connected disability;
poses of determining eligibility for

education and training benefits, such period

shall end on December 31, 1976, or

(vi) August 1, 1990, to December 31, 1991, commonly

referred to as the Gulf War, the Persian Gulf

War, or Operation Desert Storm, but excluding any

person who served on active duty for training

only, unless discharged from such active duty for

a service-connected disability;

(b) during a period of war or combat military operation

other than a conflict, war or era listed in

subparagraph (a) of this paragraph, beginning on the

date of Congressional authorization, Congressional

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government Page 612

resolution, or Executive Order of the President of the

United States, for the use of the Armed Forces of the

United States in a war or combat military operation,

if such war or combat military operation lasted for a

period of ninety (90) days or more, for a person who

served, and only for the period served, in the area of

responsibility of the war or combat military

operation, but excluding a person who served on active

duty for training only, unless discharged from such

active duty for a service-connected disability, and

provided that the burden of proof of military service

during this period shall be with the member, who must

present appropriate documentation establishing such

service.

An eligible member under this paragraph shall include only those

persons who shall have served during the times or in the areas

prescribed in this paragraph, and only if such person provides

appropriate documentation in such time and manner as required by the

System to establish such military service prescribed in this

paragraph, or for service pursuant to subdivision a of division (v)

of subparagraph (a) of this paragraph those persons who were awarded

service medals, as authorized by the United States Department of

Defense as reflected in the veteran’s Defense Department Form 214,

related to the Vietnam Conflict for service prior to August 5, 1964;

(24) "Normal retirement date" means the date on which a member

may retire with full retirement benefits as provided in Section 901

et seq. of this title, such date being whichever occurs first:

(a) the first day of the month coinciding with or

following a member’s:

(1) sixty-second birthday with respect to members

whose first participating service occurs prior to

November 1, 2011, or

(2) sixty-fifth birthday with respect to members

whose first participating service occurs on or

after November 1, 2011, or with respect to

members whose first participating service occurs

on or after November 1, 2011, who reach a minimum

age of sixty (60) years and who also reach a

normal retirement date pursuant to subparagraph c

of this paragraph,

(b) for any person who initially became a member prior to

July 1, 1992, and who does not reach a normal

retirement date pursuant to division (1) of

subparagraph (a) of this paragraph, the first day of

the month coinciding with or following the date at

which the sum of a member’s age and number of years of

credited service total eighty (80); such a normal

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government Page 613

retirement date will also apply to any person who

became a member of the sending system as defined in

Section 901 et seq. of this title, prior to July 1,

1992, regardless of whether there were breaks in

service after July 1, 1992,

(c) for any person who became a member after June 30,

1992, but prior to November 1, 2011, and who does not

reach a normal retirement date pursuant to division

(1) of subparagraph (a) of this paragraph, the first

day of the month coinciding with or following the date

at which the sum of a member’s age and number of years

of credited service total ninety (90),
in

service after July 1, 1992,

(c) for any person who became a member after June 30,

1992, but prior to November 1, 2011, and who does not

reach a normal retirement date pursuant to division

(1) of subparagraph (a) of this paragraph, the first

day of the month coinciding with or following the date

at which the sum of a member’s age and number of years

of credited service total ninety (90),

(d) in addition to subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this

paragraph, the first day of the month coinciding with

or following a member’s completion of at least twenty

(20) years of full-time-equivalent employment as:

(i) a correctional or probation and parole officer

with the Department of Corrections and at the

time of retirement, the member was a correctional

or probation and parole officer with the

Department of Corrections,

(ii) a correctional officer, probation and parole

officer or fugitive apprehension agent with the

Department of Corrections who is in such position

on June 30, 2004, or who is hired after June 30,

2004, and who receives a promotion or change in

job classification after June 30, 2004, to

another position in the Department of

Corrections, so long as such officer or agent has

at least five (5) years of service as a

correctional officer, probation and parole

officer or fugitive apprehension agent with the

Department, has twenty (20) years of full-time-

equivalent employment with the Department and was

employed by the Department at the time of

retirement,

(iii) a firefighter with the Military Department of the

State of Oklahoma either employed for the first

time on or after July 1, 2002, or who was

employed prior to July 1, 2002, in such position

and who makes the election authorized by division

(2) of subparagraph b of paragraph (9) of

subsection A of Section 915 of this title and at

the time of retirement, the member was a

firefighter with the Military Department of the

State of Oklahoma, and such member has at least

twenty (20) years of credited service upon which

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government Page 614

the two and one-half percent (2 1/2%) multiplier

will be used in calculating the retirement

benefit,

(iv) a public safety officer employed by the Grand

River Dam Authority for the first time on or

after July 1, 2016,

(v) a deputy sheriff or jailer employed by any county

that is a participating employer in the System

for the first time as a deputy sheriff or jailer

on or after November 1, 2020, or

(vi) beginning November 1, 2024, a deputy sheriff or

jailer employed by any county that is a

participating employer in the System for the

first time as a deputy sheriff or jailer before

November 1, 2020, including those who make the

election authorized by division (2) of

subparagraph b of paragraph (10) of subsection A

of Section 915 of this title, and at the time of

retirement, if the member was a deputy sheriff or

jailer employed by the participating county, and

such member has at least twenty (20) years of

credited service upon which the two and one-half

percent (2 1/2%) multiplier will be used in

calculating the retirement benefit,

(e) for those fugitive apprehension agents who retire on

or after July 1, 2002, the first day of the month

coinciding with or following a member’s completion of

at least twenty (20) years of full-time-equivalent

employment as a fugitive apprehension agent with the

Department of Corrections and at the time of

retirement, the member was a fugitive apprehension

agent with the Department of Corrections, or
e fugitive apprehension agents who retire on

or after July 1, 2002, the first day of the month

coinciding with or following a member’s completion of

at least twenty (20) years of full-time-equivalent

employment as a fugitive apprehension agent with the

Department of Corrections and at the time of

retirement, the member was a fugitive apprehension

agent with the Department of Corrections, or

(f) for any member who was continuously employed by an

entity or institution within The Oklahoma State System

of Higher Education and whose initial employment with

such entity or institution was prior to July 1, 1992,

and who without a break in service of more than thirty

(30) days became employed by an employer participating

in the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System,

the first day of the month coinciding with or

following the date at which the sum of the member’s

age and number of years of credited service total

eighty (80);

(25) "Participating employer" means an eligible employer who

has agreed to make contributions to the System on behalf of its

employees;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government Page 615

(26) "Participating service" means the period of employment

after the entry date for which credit is granted a member.

Provided, on or after the effective date of this act, military

service credit purchased under Section 913.8 of this title shall

only be considered "participating service" if such service is

immediately preceded by a period of employment with a participating

employer and followed by a return to service as an employee with the

same or another participating employer within ninety (90) days

immediately following discharge from such military service;

(27) "Prior service" means the period of employment of a member

by an eligible employer prior to the member’s entry date for which

credit is granted a member under Section 901 et seq. of this title.

Provided, on or after the effective date of this act, "prior

service" shall also include service purchased under Section 913.8 of

this title which does not meet the requirements of paragraph 26 of

this section;

(28) "Retirant" or "retiree" means a member who has retired

under the System;

(29) "Retirement benefit" means a monthly income with benefits

accruing from the first day of the month coinciding with or

following retirement and ending on the last day of the month in

which death occurs or the actuarial equivalent thereof paid in such

manner as specified by the member pursuant to Section 901 et seq. of

this title or as otherwise allowed to be paid at the discretion of

the Board;

(30) "Retirement coordinator" means the individual designated

by each participating employer through whom System transactions and

communication shall be directed;

(31) "Social Security" means the old-age survivors and

disability section of the federal Social Security Act;

(32) "Total disability" means a physical or mental disability

accepted for disability benefits by the federal Social Security

System;

(33) "Service-connected disability benefits" means military

service benefits which are for a service-connected disability rated

at twenty percent (20%) or more by the Veterans Administration or

the Armed Forces of the United States;

(34) "Elected official" means a person elected to a state

office in the legislative or executive branch of state government or

a person elected to a county office for a definite number of years

and shall include an individual who is appointed to fill the

unexpired term of an elected state official;

(35) "Elected service" means the period of service as an

elected official;

(36) "Limitation year" means the year used in applying the

limitations of Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,

which year shall be the calendar year; and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government Page 616
include an individual who is appointed to fill the

unexpired term of an elected state official;

(35) "Elected service" means the period of service as an

elected official;

(36) "Limitation year" means the year used in applying the

limitations of Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,

which year shall be the calendar year; and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government Page 616

(37) "Public safety officers of the Grand River Dam Authority"

means those persons hired by the Grand River Dam Authority on or

after March 21, 2001, who are certified by the Council on Law

Enforcement Education and Training or an equivalent certifying

entity for law enforcement personnel training and who perform law

enforcement functions as part of their regularly assigned duties and

responsibilities on a full-time basis. With respect to any public

safety officer hired by the Grand River Dam Authority on or after

March 21, 2001, any earned benefits or credits toward retirement

benefits from previous participation within the Oklahoma Public

Employees Retirement System or the Oklahoma Law Enforcement

Retirement System shall remain within that system.