Iowa Code § 97A.1 — IA Code / Title III / Chapter 97A / Section 97A.1
Definitions of words and phrases.
Status: in_force

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section, except in those instances where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(1) “Actuarial equivalent” shall mean a benefit of equal value, when computed upon the basis of mortality tables adopted by the board of trustees, and interest computed at a rate adopted by the board upon the recommendation of the actuary.

(2) “Amount earned” shall mean the amount of money actually earned by a beneficiary in some definite period of time.

(3) “Average final compensation” shall mean the average earnable compensation of the member during the member’s highest three years of service as a member of the state department of public safety, or if the member has had less than three years of service, then the average earnable compensation of the member’s entire period of service.

(4) “Beneficiary” shall mean any person receiving a retirement allowance or other benefit as provided by this chapter.

(5) “Board of trustees” means the board created in section 97A.5 to direct the administration of the Iowa department of public safety peace officers’ retirement, accident, and disability system.

(6) “Cancer” means a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body.

(7) “Child” means only the surviving issue of a deceased active or retired member, or a child legally adopted by a deceased member prior to the member’s retirement. “Child” includes only an individual who is under the age of eighteen years, an individual who is under the age of twenty-two and is a full-time student, or an individual who is disabled under the definitions used in section 202 of the Social Security Act as amended if the disability occurred to the individual during the time the individual was under the age of eighteen years and the parent of the individual was an active member of the system.

(8) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of public safety of this state.

(9) “Department” means the department of public safety of this state.

(10) “Earnable compensation” or “compensation earnable” shall mean the regular compensation which a member would earn during one year on the basis of the stated compensation for the member’s rank or position including compensation for longevity and the daily amount received for meals under section 80.6 and excluding any amount received for overtime compensation or other special additional compensation, other payments for meal expenses, uniform cleaning allowances, travel expenses, and uniform allowances and excluding any amount received upon termination or retirement in payment for accumulated sick leave or vacation.

(11) “Infectious disease” means HIV or AIDS as defined in section 141A.1, all strains of hepatitis, meningococcal meningitis, and mycobacterium tuberculosis.

(12) “Medical board” shall mean the board of physicians provided for in section 97A.5.

(13) “Member” or “member of system” shall mean a member of the Iowa department of public safety peace officers’ retirement, accident, and disability system as defined by section 97A.3.

(14) “Membership service” shall mean service as a peace officer in the division of state patrol, the division of criminal investigation, or division of narcotics enforcement in the department of public safety and arson investigators rendered since last becoming a member, or, where membership is regained as provided in this chapter, all of such service.

(15) “Peace officer” means a member, except a non-peace officer member, of the division of state patrol, narcotics enforcement, state fire marshal, or criminal investigation, including but not limited to a gaming enforcement officer, who has passed a satisfactory physical and mental examination and has been duly appointed by the department of public safety in accordance with section 80.15.

(16) “Pensions” shall mean annual payments for life derived from the appropriations provided by the state of Iowa and from contributions of the members which are deposited in the retirement fund. All pensions shall be paid in equal monthly installments.

(17) “Retirement allowance” shall mean the pension, or any benefits in lieu thereof, granted to a member upon retirement.

(18) “Surviving spouse” shall mean the surviving spouse or former spouse of a marriage solemnized prior to retirement of a deceased member from active service. Surviving spouse shall include a former spouse only if the division of assets in the dissolution of marriage decree pursuant to section 598.17 grants the former spouse rights of a spouse under this chapter. If there is no surviving spouse of a marriage solemnized prior to retirement of a deceased member, surviving spouse includes a surviving spouse of a marriage of two years or more duration solemnized subsequent to retirement of the member.

(19) “System” shall mean the Iowa department of public safety peace officers’ retirement, accident, and disability system as defined in section 97A.2.

[C50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, §97A.1; C77, 79, 81, §97A.1, 97A.6(8b); 82 Acts, ch 1261, §1, 2]86 Acts, ch 1245, §243; 88 Acts, ch 1242, §2; 92 Acts, ch 1232, §504; 94 Acts, ch 1183, §2; 98 Acts, ch 1074, §11; 2005 Acts, ch 35, §22, 31; 2006 Acts, ch 1010, §47; 2008 Acts, ch 1171, §1, 2; 2010 Acts, ch 1167, §2; 2014 Acts, ch 1138, §25; 2019 Acts, ch 24, §97; 2025 Acts, ch 146, §1