Source: http://regulations.delaware.gov/AdminCode/title19/2000/2005.shtml
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 02:11:19+00:00

Document:
“Accredited Private School or College”. The term "accredited private school or college" as used in 29 Del.C. §5551(4)(d) shall be interpreted to mean a private school or college which, during the time the pension applicant was employed there, was accredited by its Regional States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools or whose students were routinely able to transfer to a school or college accredited by one of the aforesaid Regional Associations without loss of academic credit.
“Application for Benefits”. The term "date on which the application for such benefit is filed" as used 29 Del.C. §5581 shall mean the date on which the written documentation is received by the Office of Pensions or by the individual's employer.
Was forced to terminate employment due to medical disability. On returning to employment following a period of medical disability for which a leave of absence was not granted, an individual may secure restoration of his or her previously canceled pension credits by submitting medical evidence, of a nature satisfactory to the Executive Secretary to the Board of Pension Trustees, indicating the nature of his or her disability, the date on which it commenced, and date on which said disability terminated or on which he or she was authorized by his or her physician to return to employment.
“Full Time or Annual Basis”. The term "employed on a full time or annual basis" as used in 29 Del.C. §5551(5)(a), shall mean employment in a permanent position which requires at least 130 hours per month for at least 9 months during a period of 12 consecutive months.
“Gubernatorial Appointment”. The term "An official appointed by the Governor" as used in 29 Del.C. §5552(2), shall mean an official appointed directly by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
is employed in a position where the part time rate for the position is at least $200 per month for at least nine (9) months during a period of twelve (12) consecutive months.
“Temporary Employee”. The term "temporary employee" as used in 29 Del.C. §5552(3), shall mean an employee who is not employed on a "full time or annual basis" or as a "regular part time" employee.
2.1	Effective with respect to plan years beginning on and after January 1, 1996, and before January 1, 2002, the annual compensation of a plan participant which exceeds $150,000 (as indexed under section 401(a)(17)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) shall be disregarded for purposes of determining benefits or employee contributions. Effective only for the 1996 plan year, in determining the compensation of an employee eligible for consideration section 414(q)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall apply, except that in applying such rules, the term "family" shall include only the spouse of the member and any lineal descendants of the employee who have not attained age nineteen (19) before the close of the year.
2.2	Effective with respect to plan years beginning on and after January 1, 2002, the annual compensation of a plan participant which exceeds $200,000, as adjusted for cost-of-living increases in accordance with section 401(a)(17)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, may not be taken into account in determining benefits or employee contributions for any plan year. Annual compensation means compensation during the plan year or such other consecutive twelve (12)-month period over which compensation is otherwise determined under the plan (the determination period). The cost-of-living adjustment in effect for a calendar year applies to annual compensation for the determination period that begins with or within such calendar year. If the determination period consists of fewer than twelve (12) months, the annual compensation limit is an amount equal to the otherwise applicable annual compensation limit multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months in the short determination period, and the denominator of which is twelve (12). If the compensation for any prior determination period is taken into account in determining a plan participant's contributions or benefits for the current plan year, the compensation for such prior determination period is subject to the applicable annual compensation limit in effect for that prior period.
2.3	The limits referenced in paragraphs 2.1 and 2.2 above apply only to years beginning after December 31, 1995, and only to individuals who first become plan participants in plan years beginning on and after January 1, 1996. Individuals who become plan participants of before plan years beginning on and after January 1, 1996, are not subject to the limits of section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code. Instead, pursuant to section 13212(d)(3)(A) of Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, and the regulations issued under that section, the annual compensation in effect under section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 does not apply to any such plan participant in any plan year.
This section applies to distributions made on and after January 1, 1993. A distributee may elect to have any portion of an eligible rollover distribution paid directly to an eligible retirement plan specified by the distributee in a transfer made from the Pension Fund.
3.1	Eligible rollover distribution: An eligible rollover distribution is any distribution of all or any portion of the balance to the credit of the distributee, except that an eligible rollover distribution does not include: any distribution that is one of a series of substantially equal periodic payments (not less frequently than annually) made for the life (or the life expectancy) of the distributee or the joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of the distributee and the distributee's designated beneficiary, or for a specified period of ten (10) years or more; any distribution to the extent such distribution is required under section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; the portion of any distribution that is not includible in gross income; and any other distribution that is reasonably expected to total less than $200 during the year. Effective January 1, 2002, a portion of a distribution will not fail to be an eligible rollover distribution merely because the portion consists of after-tax employee contributions that are not includible in gross income. However, such non-taxable portion may be transferred only to an individual retirement account or annuity described in section 408(a) or (b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or to a qualified defined contribution plan described in section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or, in addition, on or after January 1, 2007, to a qualified defined benefit plan described in section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or to an annuity contract described in section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, that agrees to separately account for amounts so transferred (and earnings thereon), including separately accounting for the portion of the distribution that is includible in gross income and the portion of the distribution that is not so includible.
3.2.7	Effective January 1, 2008, a Roth IRA described in section 408A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
3.3	Effective January 1, 2002, the definition of eligible rollover distribution also includes a distribution to a surviving spouse, or to a spouse or former spouse who is an alternate payee under a domestic relations order, as defined in section 414(p) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
3.4	Distributee: A distributee includes an employee or former employee. It also includes the employee's or former employee's surviving spouse and the employee's or former employee's spouse or former spouse who is the alternate payee under a qualified domestic relations order, as defined in section 414(p) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Effective July 1, 2007, a distributee further includes a nonspouse beneficiary who is a designated beneficiary as defined by section 401(a)(9)(E) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. However, a nonspouse beneficiary may rollover the distribution only to an individual retirement account or individual retirement annuity established for the purpose of receiving the distribution and the account or annuity will be treated as an "inherited" individual retirement account or annuity.
3.5	Direct Rollover. A direct rollover is a payment by the Pension Fund to the eligible retirement plan specified by the distributee.
4.0	Maximum Benefit Limits and Maximum Contribution Limits.
4.1	Employee contributions paid to, and retirement benefits paid from, the Pension Fund may not exceed the annual limits on contributions and benefits, respectively, allowed by section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
4.2	For purposes of applying these limits only and for no other purpose, the definition of compensation where applicable will be compensation actually paid or made available during a limitation year, except as noted below and as permitted by Treasury Regulation §1.415(c)-(2), or successor regulation. Specifically, compensation will be defined as wages within the meaning of section 3401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and all other payments of compensation to an employee by an employer for which the employer is required to furnish the employee a written statement under sections 6041(d), 6051(a)(3) and 6052 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Compensation will be determined without regard to any rules under section 3401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that limit the remuneration included in wages based on the nature or location of the employment or the services performed (such as the exception for agricultural labor in section 3401(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
4.2.1	However, for limitation years beginning after December 31, 1997, compensation will also include amounts that would otherwise be included in compensation but for the an election under sections 125(a), 402(e)(3), 402(h)(1)(B), 402(k), or 457(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. For limitation years beginning after December 30, 2000, compensation will also include any elective amounts that are not includible in the gross income of the employee by reason of section 132(f)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
4.2.2	The definition of compensation will exclude employee contributions picked up under section 414(h)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
4.2.3	For limitation years beginning on and after January 1, 2007, compensation for the limitation year will also include compensation paid by the later of 2 ½ months after an employee's severance from employment or the end of the limitation year that includes the date of the employee's severance from employment if the payment is regular compensation for services during the employee's regular working hours, or compensation for services outside the employee's regular working hours (such as overtime or shift differential), commissions, bonuses or other similar payments, and, absent a severance from employment, the payments would have been paid to the employee while the employee continue in employment with the employer.
Compensation shall also include payments for unused accrued bona fide sick, vacation or other leave that the member would have been able to use if employment had continued; and payments pursuant to a nonqualified unfunded deferred compensation plan, but only if the payments would have been paid to the member at the same time if the member had continued employment with the employer and only to the extent that the payment is includible in the member's gross income.
Any payments not described above are not considered compensation if paid after severance from employment, even if they are paid within 2½ months following severance from employment, except for payments to the individual who does not currently perform services for the employer by reason of qualified military service (within the meaning of section 414(u)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) to the extent these payments do not exceed the amounts the individual would have received if the individual had continued to perform services for the employer rather than entering qualified military service.
4.2.4	Back pay, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.415(c)-2(g)(8), shall be treated as compensation for the limitation year to which the back pay relates to the extent the back pay represents wages and compensation that would otherwise be included under this definition.
An employee who is in qualified military service (within the meaning of section 414(u)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) shall be treated as receiving compensation from the employer during such period of qualified military service equal to (i) the compensation the employee would have received during such period if the employee were not in qualified military service, determined based on the rate of pay the employee would have received from the employer but for the absence during the period of qualified military service, or (ii) if the compensation the employee would have received during such period was not reasonably certain, the employee's average compensation from the employer during the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding the qualified military service (or, if shorter, the period of employment immediately preceding the qualified military service).
4.3	Before January 1, 1995, a plan participant may not receive an annual benefit that exceeds the limits specified in section 415(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, subject to the applicable adjustments in that section. On and after January 1, 1995, a plan participant may not receive an annual benefit that exceeds the dollar amount specified in section 415(b)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, subject to the applicable adjustments in Internal Revenue Code § 415(b).
4.4.3	Thereafter, in any subsequent limitation year, the plan participant's annual benefit including any automatic cost of living increase applicable shall be tested under the then applicable benefit limit including any adjustment to the section 415(b)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 dollar limit under section 415(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the regulations thereunder.
The annual amount of the straight life annuity commencing at the same annuity starting date that has the same actuarial present value as the form of benefit payable to the member, computed using a 5% interest assumption (or the applicable statutory interest assumption) and (i) for years prior to January 1, 2009, the applicable mortality tables described in Treasury Regulation § 1.417(e)-1(d)(2) (Revenue Ruling 2001-62 or any subsequent Revenue Ruling modifying the applicable provisions of Revenue Rulings 2001-62), and (ii) for years after December 31, 2008, the applicable mortality tables described in section 417(e)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Notice 2008-85 or any subsequent Internal Revenue Service guidance implementing section 417(e)(3(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986).
The annual amount of the straight life annuity commencing at the annuity starting date that has the same actuarial present value as the particular form of benefit payable (computed using the applicable interest rate for the distribution under Treasury Regulation § 1.417(e)-1(d)(3) (the 30-year Treasury rate (prior to January 1 2007, using the rate in effect for the month prior to retirement, and on and after January 1, 2007, using the rate in effect for the first day of the plan year with a one-year stabilization period)) and (i) for years prior to January 1, 2009, the applicable mortality tables for the distribution under Treasury Regulation § 1.417(e)-1(d)(2) (the mortality table specified in Revenue Ruling 2001-62 or any subsequent Revenue Ruling modifying the applicable provisions of Revenue Ruling 2001-62), and (ii) for years after December 31, 2008, the applicable mortality tables described in section 417(e)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (Notice 2008-85 or any subsequent Internal Revenue Service guidance implementing section 417(e)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986), divided by 1.05.
4.6.1	If the law requires a lump sum payment for the purchase of service credit, the Board may establish a periodic payment plan for the plan participant to avoid a contribution in excess of the limits under sections 415(c) or 415(n) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
4.6.2	If payment pursuant to Rule 4.6.1 will not avoid a contribution in excess of the limits imposed by section 415(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Board may either reduce the plan participant's contribution to an amount within the limits of that section or refuse the plan participant's contribution.
4.7.2	The requirements of section 415(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 are met, determined by treating all such contributions as annual additions for purposes of Code Section 415(c).
For purposes of applying Rule 4.7.1 the Pension Fund will not fail to meet the reduced limit under section 415(b)(2)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 solely by reason of Rule 4.7, and for purposes of applying Rule 4.7.2 the Pension Fund will not fail to meet the percentage limitation under section 415(c)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 solely by reason of this Rule 4.7.
4.7.3.3	Which such plan participant may receive only by making a voluntary additional contribution, in an amount determined under the Pension Fund, which does not exceed the amount necessary to fund the benefit attributable to such service credit.
Effective for permissive service credit contributions made in limitation years beginning after December 31, 1997, such term may include service credit for periods for which there is no performance of service, and, notwithstanding clause 4.7.3.3, may include service credited in order to provide an increased benefit for service credit which a plan participant is receiving under the Pension Fund.
4.7.4.2	Any nonqualified service credit is taken into account under Rule 4.7 before the plan participant has at least five (5) years of participation under the Pension Fund.
4.7.5.4	Military service (other than qualified military service under section 414(u)) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 recognized by such governmental plan.
In the case of service described in Rules 4.7.5.1, 4.7.5.2, or 4.7.5.3 such service will be nonqualified service if recognition of such service would cause a plan participant to receive a retirement benefit for the same service under more than one plan.
4.7.6.2	the distribution rules applicable under federal law to the Pension Fund will apply to such amounts and any benefits attributable to such amounts.
4.7.7	For an eligible plan participant, the limitation of section 415(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall not be applied to reduce the amount of permissive service credit which may be purchased to an amount less than the amount which was allowed to be purchased under the terms of the Delaware Code as in effect on August 5, 1997. For purposes of this subparagraph 4.7.7, an eligible plan participant is an individual who first became a plan participant in the Pension Fund before January 1, 1998.
4.7.8	For purposes of section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the limitation year is January 1 through December 31.
Effective December 12, 1994, notwithstanding any other provision of law, contributions, benefits and service credit with respect to qualified military service are governed by section 414(u) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994. The Military Service credit provisions of this section are to be interpreted in accordance with 29 Del.C., §5551(4)(d) so as not to diminish the rights granted under that section.
Beginning January 1, 2009, to the extent required by section 414(u)(12) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, an individual receiving differential wage payments (as defined under section 3401(h)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) from an employer shall be treated as employed by that employer, and the differential wage payment shall be treated as compensation for purposes of applying the limits on annual additions under section 415(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. This provision shall be applied to all similarly situated individuals in a reasonably equivalent manner.
Effective with respect to deaths occurring on or after January 1, 2007, while a member is performing qualified military service (as defined in chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code), to the extent required by section 401(a)(37) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, survivors of a member in a State or local retirement or pension system, are entitled to any additional benefits that the system would provide if the member had resumed employment and then died, such as accelerated vesting or survivor benefits that are contingent on the member's death while employed. In any event, a deceased member's period of qualified military service must be counted for vesting purposes.
The plan year for the Pension Fund is the twelve (12) month period beginning July 1.
7.1	Review of Disability Pensioners by Medical Committee. The frequency of review of disability pensioners under the age of 60 shall be determined by the Medical Committee based on the relevant facts in individual situations.
7.2	Appeals from Predecessor Boards or Commissions. All appeals from a decision of any predecessor boards or commissions will be automatically denied by the Board of Pension Trustees unless the aggrieved party shows that the Board of Pension Trustees has jurisdiction in the matter.
8.1	Repayment of Withdrawal Benefits.
8.1.1	If a former employee, who withdrew his or her accumulated contributions upon termination of service after the date of affiliation with this Plan by the employer, again becomes an employee, his or her service credits to the date of termination shall be restored in accordance with the provisions of 29 Del.C. §5551(4)(c) if he or she repays the total amount withdrawn, plus an interest rate charge as adopted by the Board, compounded annually, within 90 days after notification from the Office of Pensions.
8.1.2	If the repayment occurs subsequent to 90 days after notification from the Office of Pensions, the repayment shall be equal to the amount in Rule 8.1.1, for each full month or fraction thereof following the last day of the 90-day period, interest rate charge as adopted by the Board.
8.2	Credit for Vacation and Accrued Sick Leave. An employee or his or her survivor may elect to use accrued periods of vacation and/or accrued sick leave as credited service under 29 Del.C. §5551(4), provided that an employee or his or her survivor may not receive a pension for any month during the periods of vacation and/or sick leave so used. Service so credited may be used to establish eligibility for a service, disability, survivor or vested pension.
8.3.2	become eligible for Worker's Compensation in the course of employment as defined in subsection (a) hereof, in which event the employee's accrual of credited service shall continue only so long as he or she shall remain eligible for and be receiving Worker's Compensation and remains an employee as defined under 29 Del.C. §5551(5).
8.4	Leave of Absence Without Pay. Any employee granted a leave of absence without pay shall not incur a break in service under Section 29 Del.C. §5551(4)(c)(i), provided that the leave of absence without pay must be approved in writing and validated by the employer and a copy thereof must be immediately filed with the Office of Pensions and provided further that the leave of absence without pay may not exceed a period of 12 consecutive calendar months.
8.5	Credited Service. In no case shall more than one year of credited service be granted for any employment services during any twelve (12)-month period.
9.1	Erroneous Payments. Any overpayment of benefits to a pensioner shall be recovered by the State Pension Administrator who, after written notice to the pensioner, shall withhold the amount due from the pensioner's monthly pension benefit within a twelve (12) month period, provided that the amount of monthly withholding may not exceed 15% of the monthly pension benefit. If repayment of any overpayment amount will require more than twelve (12) months, the withholding shall be made at the rate of 15% of the monthly pension benefit until the overpayment has been recovered in full.
9.2	Effective Date of Pensions. Under 29 Del.C. §5581 a monthly benefit shall not be payable for any period earlier than the first day of the second month preceding the date on which application for such benefit is filed.
9.3	Deceased Pensioner Monthly Benefit and Survivor's Effective Date of Pension. The full pension benefit shall be payable for the month in which a pensioner's death occurs and shall be payable to the pensioner or his or her estate. Survivor's monthly pension benefit, if any, shall become effective the first day of the next month following the month in which a pensioner's death occurs.
9.4	Reduction Factors for Survivor's Pensions Payable Under 29 Del.C. §5578(d).The Reduction Factors for Survivor's Pensions shall be adopted by resolution of the Board. Such benefits will not be subject to employer discretion.
9.5.1	Employees who return for subsequent terms of employment which equal or exceed five (5) years and who waive the pension benefits accepted upon initial retirement and repay all benefit monies received from the prior retirement(s) shall be eligible for a pension computed in accordance with all provisions of 29 Del.C., ch. 55A.
9.5.2	Employees who return for subsequent terms of employment which total less than 5 years or employees who elect not to re-retire under Rule 9.5.1 above, shall be eligible for an additional pension for each month of credited service during his or her period of re employment, with such additional pension computed in accordance with all provisions of 29 Del.C. Ch. 55A provided, however, that the original pension payable before he or she again became an employee shall not be recomputed and shall be payable in the same amount on the date of his or her subsequent retirement plus any post retirement increases he or she would have been eligible to receive during his or her period of active employment.
9.6	Rights of Disability Pensioners who return to active employment. A disability pension constitutes an individual's involuntary retirement; therefore, a disability pensioner who is reinstated as an employee under 29 Del.C. Ch. 55A, shall be eligible for his or her subsequent retirement to be considered as a regular retirement under the provisions of the pension law in effect at the time of his or her subsequent retirement.
9.7	Withdrawal Benefits. Effective for employees terminating employment, an employee's accumulated contributions with interest rate as adopted by the Board, shall not be paid to him or her until, in the ordinary course of business, the Pension Office has verified the employee's total pension contributions.
9.8	Integration with Social Security Service and Survivor Pensions. In applying the 75% maximum benefit limitation established in 29 Del.C. §5577(1), the old age insurance benefit under the Federal Social Security Act shall be the lesser of the member's imputed benefit using the applicable Social Security benefit table adopted by the Board of Pension Trustees, the member's actual age 62 Social Security benefit, or if the member is receiving survivor benefits from Social Security, the age 62 benefit based on the member's work history as estimated by Social Security.
9.9	Integration with Social Security Disability Pensions. In applying the 75% maximum benefit limitation established in 29 Del.C.§5577(2), the disability insurance benefit or the old age insurance benefit under the Federal Social Security Act shall be the lesser of the member's imputed benefit using the applicable Social Security benefit table adopted by the Board of Pension Trustees or the member's initial Social Security disability benefit.
9.10	Buy-In Cost Factors For Computing Lump Sum Payments To Purchase Credit Under 29 Del.C. §5501 (4)(d).
9.11	The Buy-In Cost Factors shall be adopted by the Board of Pension Trustees.
9.12	If a disabled employee desires to purchase service credit under this Rule 9.12, his or her actual age will be increased by ten (10) years (but not to more than age 65).
10.1	Distributions from the Pension Fund may be made only upon the death of a plan participant, termination of service by voluntary resignation, attainment of normal retirement age under the terms of the Plan, qualification for a disability pension under the terms of the Plan, and/or attainment of the age of 70½ years except for an employee in active status.
10.2	The Pension Fund will pay all benefits in accordance with a good faith interpretation of section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the regulations under that section.
10.3.1	Benefits must begin by the required beginning date, which is the later of April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the plan participant reaches 70½ years of age or April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the plan participant terminates employment. If a plan participant fails to apply for retirement benefits by April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which he or she reaches 70½ years of age or April 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which he or she terminates employment, whichever is later, the Board will begin distributing the benefit as required by this section.
10.3.2	The plan participant's entire interest must be distributed over the plan participant's life or the lives of the plan participant and a designated survivor under state law, or over a period not extending beyond the life expectancy of the plan participant or of the plan participant and a designated survivor under state law. Death benefits must be distributed in accordance with section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, including the incidental death benefit requirement in section 401(a)(9)(G) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the regulations implementing that section.
10.3.3	The life expectancy of a plan participant, the plan participant's spouse or the plan participant's survivor under state law may not be recalculated after the initial determination for purposes of determining benefits.
10.3.4	If a plan participant dies after the required distribution of benefits has begun, the remaining portion of the plan participant's interest must be distributed at least as rapidly as under the method of distribution before the plan participant's death and no longer than the remaining period over which distributions commenced.
10.3.5.2	Distributed by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the plan participant's death.
10.4	The amount of an annuity paid to a plan participant's survivor under state law may not exceed the maximum determined under the incidental death benefit requirement of section 401(a)(9)(G) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
10.5	The death and disability benefits provided by Pension Fund are limited by the incidental benefit rule set forth in Treasury Regulation §1.401-1(b)(1)(ii) or any successor regulation thereto.
11.1	Plan Terminations. In the event of a full or partial termination of, or a complete discontinuance of employer contributions to, the Delaware State Retirement Fund, all accrued benefits which have been vested according to the provisions of 29 Del.C. Ch. 55A shall be 100% vested and nonforfeitable to the extent funded and to the extent required by federal law.
11.2	A plan participant shall be 100% vested in all plan benefits upon attainment of the plan's age and service requirements for the plan's normal retirement benefit in 29 Del.C. §§5572(a) or (b).
11.3	A plan participant shall be 100% vested in his or her employee contributions.
In conformity with section 401(a)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, forfeitures of benefits by members or former members of the Plan will not be used to pay benefit increases. However, such forfeitures shall be used to reduce employer contributions.
13.1	Normal retirement age, for the purposes of the Pension Fund, will be the date the employee becomes eligible for a service pension not reduced because of the employee's age, pursuant to 29 Del.C. §§5572(a) or (b).
13.2	Normal retirement age for purposes of section 457(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to the extent this plan's normal retirement age is referenced in a deferred compensation plan will be the earliest date when the employee has satisfied the requirements of 29 Del.C. §5572(a).
13.3	For purposes of section 402(l) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, normal retirement age will be the earliest date when the employee has satisfied the requirements of 29 Del.C. §5572(a).
The board may not engage in a transaction prohibited by section 503(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
In applying the provisions of 13 Del.C. §§212 and 214, the Board shall interpret the term "spouse" in the provisions of Delaware law that apply to each state pension and benefit set forth in 29 Del.C. §8308(b) in accordance with the federal Defense of Marriage Act to the extent required by that law, federal preemption principles, and guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service and to the extent necessary in order to preserve the qualified governmental plan status of each such state pension plan and benefit under sections 401(a) and 414(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or such other provision of the Internal Revenue Code as applicable. This provision shall apply in the same manner to the terms husband, wife, surviving spouse, survivor, widow, widower, and other terms, whether or not gender-specific, that denote or depend upon a spousal relationship.

References: §5551
 §5581
 §5551
 §5552
 §5552
 §1
 § 1
 § 415
 § 1
 § 1
 § 1
 §5551
 §5551
 §5551
 §5551
 §5551
 §5581
 §5578
 §5577
 §5501
 §1
 §5572
 §5572
 §8308