[Rev. 6/29/2024 2:46:04 PM--2023]
CHAPTER 1A - JUDICIAL RETIREMENT
GENERAL PROVISIONS
NRS 1A.010 Definitions.
NRS 1A.020 “Board” defined.
NRS 1A.030 “Compensation” defined.
NRS 1A.040 “Disability retirement allowance” defined.
NRS 1A.050 “Judicial Retirement Plan” defined.
NRS 1A.060 “Retired justice or judge” defined.
NRS 1A.070 “Service” defined.
NRS 1A.080 “Service retirement allowance” defined.
NRS 1A.090 “System” defined.
NRS 1A.100 Judicial Retirement System: Establishment; public inspection of records; administration by Public Employees’ Retirement Board; legislative review.
NRS 1A.110 Limitations on review and copying of records; waiver.
NRS 1A.120 Right to benefits not subject to taxes, process, bankruptcy, assignment or assessment for impairment or insolvency of insurance company; exceptions.
NRS 1A.130 Application for allowances for service retirement or disability retirement; effective date of retirement; rights of present or former spouse; System exempted from liability for false designation of marital status by member or justice or judge who retires.
NRS 1A.140 Person convicted of murder or voluntary manslaughter of member of System ineligible to receive benefits.
NRS 1A.150 False statement or certification; withholding of information.
NRS 1A.155 Forfeiture of rights and benefits upon conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to certain felonies; return of contributions; applicability.
ADMINISTRATION
NRS 1A.160 Judicial Retirement Fund: Establishment; policy; sources; payments.
NRS 1A.170 Administration and investment of Judicial Retirement Fund.
NRS 1A.190 Transfer of unpaid check for benefits or refund to Judicial Retirement Fund; claim for payment of money; period of limitation.
NRS 1A.200 Judicial Retirement Administrative Fund; administrative fees.
NRS 1A.210 Fund to pay accrued benefits that are not payable because of certain limitations; benefits paid from fund.
NRS 1A.220 System managed by Public Employees’ Retirement Board; general powers and duties of Board.
NRS 1A.230 Actuarial assumptions used in computing benefits: Availability; changes prohibited.
NRS 1A.240 Persons receiving benefits from System entitled to cost-of-living increases.
NRS 1A.250 Administration of accounts of members and recipients of benefits.
MEMBERSHIP
NRS 1A.260 Conditions for membership in System.
NRS 1A.270 Membership of Supreme Court justices, judges of the Court of Appeals and district judges who are elected, reelected or appointed on or after November 5, 2002; membership of Supreme Court justices and district judges who are serving on November 5, 2002; restriction on benefits.
NRS 1A.280 Withdrawal from Public Employees’ Retirement System to become member of Judicial Retirement Plan; transfer of liability and service; re-establishment of service prohibited; restriction on benefits.
NRS 1A.285 Membership of justices of the peace and municipal judges; withdrawal from Public Employees’ Retirement System to become member of Judicial Retirement Plan; transfer of liability and service; re-establishment of service prohibited; restriction on benefits.
NRS 1A.290 Termination of membership; rights of justices or judges who have retired.
JUDICIAL RETIREMENT PLAN
General Provisions
NRS 1A.300 Establishment; members; benefits.
NRS 1A.310 Purchase of credit for service: Requirements; sources; installments.
Contributions
NRS 1A.312 Contributions to Judicial Retirement Fund; adjustment of contribution rate.
NRS 1A.314 Amount of contribution by members of Plan; deduction from payroll; return of contributions.
Service and Vesting of Allowances and Benefits
NRS 1A.320 Service credit: Commencement; termination.
NRS 1A.330 Service credited in another system ineligible; exception.
NRS 1A.340 Time of vesting; vesting of benefits upon termination of System.
Retirement
NRS 1A.350 Eligibility: Age and service; reduction of benefit for retirement before required age.
NRS 1A.360 Employment of retired justice or judge: Consequences; payment of contributions for justice or judge who does not enroll in Plan.
NRS 1A.370 Employment of retired justice or judge: Enrollment in Plan; rights of membership; accrual of credit for service; benefits for survivor.
Benefits
NRS 1A.390 Limitation on distributions to members.
NRS 1A.400 Limitation on compensation used to determine retirement benefit.
NRS 1A.410 Limitations on benefits and contributions.
NRS 1A.420 Prohibition against applying forfeitures to increase benefits.
NRS 1A.430 Consent of spouse to retirement plan of member.
NRS 1A.440 Determination of monthly allowance for service retirement.
NRS 1A.450 Optional plans: Alternatives to unmodified allowance for service retirement.
NRS 1A.460 Optional plans: Death of beneficiary; change of selection; effective date of termination or adjustment of allowance.
NRS 1A.470 Optional deduction from benefits for payment of premium or contribution for group insurance or other obligations; regulations; exemption of Executive Officer, Board and System from liability for errors or omissions.
NRS 1A.480 Disability retirement allowance: Eligibility; calculation of amount; beneficiaries; effective date of termination or adjustment of allowance.
NRS 1A.490 Disability retirement allowance: Applicability of certain provisions.
NRS 1A.500 Disability retirement allowance: Cancellation.
NRS 1A.510 Disability retirement allowance: Consequences of employment of recipient.
NRS 1A.520 Payment of allowance or benefit to alternate payee pursuant to domestic relations order.
Benefits for Survivors
NRS 1A.530 Definitions.
NRS 1A.540 “Child” defined.
NRS 1A.550 “Dependent parent” defined.
NRS 1A.555 “Domestic partner” defined.
NRS 1A.560 “Spouse” defined.
NRS 1A.570 Eligibility.
NRS 1A.580 Payments to child of deceased member.
NRS 1A.590 Payments to spouse of deceased member.
NRS 1A.600 Payments to spouse of deceased member who had 10 or more years of creditable service.
NRS 1A.610 Payments to spouse if deceased member was eligible to retire.
NRS 1A.615 Payments to spouse of deceased member killed in course of judicial service.
NRS 1A.620 Designation of survivor beneficiary and additional payees by member.
NRS 1A.630 Payments to survivor beneficiary of and to additional payees designated by deceased member.
NRS 1A.640 Payments to survivor beneficiary of and to additional payees designated by deceased member who had 10 or more years of creditable service.
NRS 1A.650 Payments to survivor beneficiary and to additional payees designated by deceased member if deceased member was eligible to retire.
NRS 1A.655 Payments to survivor beneficiary of deceased member killed in course of judicial service.
NRS 1A.660 Payments to dependent parents; conditions.
NRS 1A.670 Limitation on and reduction of amount of monthly allowance.
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GENERAL PROVISIONS
NRS 1A.010 Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the words and terms defined in NRS 1A.020 to 1A.090, inclusive, have the meanings ascribed to them in those sections.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 68)
NRS 1A.020 “Board” defined. “Board” means the Public Employees’ Retirement Board.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 68)
NRS 1A.030 “Compensation” defined.
1. “Compensation” means the salary paid to a justice of the Supreme Court, a judge of the Court of Appeals or a district judge by this State, to a justice of the peace by a county or to a municipal judge by a city, including:
(a) Base pay, which is the monthly rate of pay excluding all fringe benefits;
(b) Additional payment for longevity; and
(c) Payment for extra duty assignments if it is the standard practice of this State, the county or the city to include such pay in the employment contract or official job description for the calendar year in which it is paid and such pay is specifically included in the justice’s or judge’s employment contract or official job description.
2. The term does not include any type of payment not specifically described in this section.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 68; A 2005, 990; 2013, 1713)
NRS 1A.040 “Disability retirement allowance” defined. “Disability retirement allowance” means monthly payments from the Judicial Retirement Fund paid to persons with disabilities who are retired justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals, district judges, justices of the peace or municipal judges pursuant to the Judicial Retirement Plan.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 68; A 2005, 990; 2013, 1714)
NRS 1A.050 “Judicial Retirement Plan” defined. “Judicial Retirement Plan” means the retirement plan established pursuant to NRS 1A.300.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 68)
NRS 1A.060 “Retired justice or judge” defined. “Retired justice or judge” means a justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, district judge, justice of the peace or municipal judge who was a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan at the time he or she retired or a justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge who decides, pursuant to NRS 1A.270 or 1A.280, to receive benefits for retirement pursuant to the Judicial Retirement Plan.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 68; A 2005, 990; 2013, 1714)
NRS 1A.070 “Service” defined. “Service” means all creditable employment which is validated pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and can be used in determining eligibility and scope of benefits for justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals, district judges, justices of the peace or municipal judges pursuant to the Judicial Retirement Plan.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 68; A 2005, 991; 2013, 1714)
NRS 1A.080 “Service retirement allowance” defined. “Service retirement allowance” means monthly payments from the Judicial Retirement Fund paid to a retired justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, district judge, justice of the peace or municipal judge pursuant to the Judicial Retirement Plan for the remainder of his or her life.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 69; A 2005, 991; 2013, 1714)
NRS 1A.090 “System” defined. “System” means the Judicial Retirement System established pursuant to this chapter.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 69)
NRS 1A.100 Judicial Retirement System: Establishment; public inspection of records; administration by Public Employees’ Retirement Board; legislative review.
1. A system of retirement providing benefits for the retirement, disability or death of all justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals and district judges, and certain justices of the peace and municipal judges, and funded on an actuarial reserve basis is hereby established and must be known as the Judicial Retirement System.
2. The System consists of the Judicial Retirement Plan and the provisions set forth in NRS 2.060 to 2.083, inclusive, 2A.100 to 2A.150, inclusive, and 3.090 to 3.099, inclusive, for providing benefits to justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals or district judges who served either as a justice of the Supreme Court or district judge before November 5, 2002. Each justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge who is not a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System is a member of the Judicial Retirement System.
3. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 286.118, the official correspondence and records and, except as otherwise provided in NRS 241.035, the minutes, audio recordings, transcripts and books of the System are public records and are available for public inspection. A copy of the minutes or audio recordings must be made available to a member of the public upon request at no charge pursuant to NRS 241.035.
4. The System must be administered exclusively by the Board, which shall make all necessary rules and regulations for the administration of the System. The rules must include, without limitation, rules relating to the administration of the retirement plans in accordance with federal law. The Legislature shall regularly review the System.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 69; A 2005, 991, 1405; 2013, 325, 1714; 2019, 1175).
NRS 1A.110 Limitations on review and copying of records; waiver. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 286.118, all records and files maintained for a member of the System, retired justice or judge, justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge who retired pursuant to NRS 2.060 to 2.083, inclusive, 2A.100 to 2A.150, inclusive, or 3.090 to 3.099, inclusive, or the beneficiary of any of them may be reviewed and copied only by the System, the member, the Court Administrator, the board of county commissioners if the records concern a justice of the peace or retired justice of the peace whom the board of county commissioners allowed to participate in the Judicial Retirement Plan pursuant to NRS 1A.285, the city council if the records concern a municipal judge or retired municipal judge whom the city council allowed to participate in the Judicial Retirement Plan pursuant to NRS 1A.285, the spouse of the member, or the retired justice or judge or his or her spouse, or pursuant to a court order, or by a beneficiary after the death of the justice or judge on whose account benefits are received pursuant to the System. Any member, retired justice or judge, justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge who retired pursuant to NRS 2.060 to 2.083, inclusive, 2A.100 to 2A.150, inclusive, or 3.090 to 3.099, inclusive, or beneficiary may submit a written waiver to the System authorizing his or her representative to review or copy all such records.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 69; A 2005, 991; 2013, 1715; 2019, 1175)
NRS 1A.120 Right to benefits not subject to taxes, process, bankruptcy, assignment or assessment for impairment or insolvency of insurance company; exceptions.
1. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 1A.520 and 31A.150 and as limited by subsection 2, the right of a person to a pension, an annuity, a retirement allowance, the pension, annuity or retirement allowance itself, any optional benefit or death benefit or any other right accrued or accruing to any person under the provisions of this chapter, and the money in the Judicial Retirement Fund, is:
(a) Exempt from all state, county and municipal taxes;
(b) Not subject to execution, garnishment, attachment or any other process;
(c) Not subject to the operation of any bankruptcy or insolvency law;
(d) Not assignable, by power of attorney or otherwise; and
(e) Exempt from assessment for the impairment or insolvency of any life or health insurance company.
2. The System may withhold money from a benefit when the person applying for or receiving the benefit owes money to the System.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 82)
NRS 1A.130 Application for allowances for service retirement or disability retirement; effective date of retirement; rights of present or former spouse; System exempted from liability for false designation of marital status by member or justice or judge who retires.
1. Applications for service retirement allowances or disability retirement allowances must be submitted to the offices of the System on forms approved by the Executive Officer of the Board. The form must not be deemed filed unless it contains:
(a) The member of the Judicial Retirement Plan’s selection of the retirement plan contained in NRS 1A.440 or one of the optional plans provided in NRS 1A.450;
(b) A notarized statement of the marital status of the member of the Judicial Retirement Plan; and
(c) If the member of the System is married, a statement of the spouse’s consent or objection to the chosen retirement plan, signed by the spouse and notarized.
2. Except as otherwise required by NRS 1A.390, retirement becomes effective on whichever of the following days is the later:
(a) The day immediately following the applicant’s last day of employment;
(b) The day the completed application form is filed with the System;
(c) The day immediately following the applicant’s last day of creditable service; or
(d) The effective date of retirement specified on the application form.
3. The selection of a retirement plan by a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan and consent or objection to that plan by the spouse pursuant to this section does not affect the responsibility of the member concerning the rights of any present or former spouse.
4. The System is not liable for any damages resulting from the false designation of marital status by a member of the System or a retired justice or judge, or a justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge who retires pursuant to NRS 2.060 to 2.083, inclusive, 2A.100 to 2A.150, inclusive, or 3.090 to 3.099, inclusive.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 77; A 2013, 1715)
NRS 1A.140 Person convicted of murder or voluntary manslaughter of member of System ineligible to receive benefits. Any person convicted of the murder or voluntary manslaughter of a member of the System is ineligible to receive any benefit conferred by any provision of this chapter or NRS 2.060 to 2.083, inclusive, 2A.100 to 2A.150, inclusive, or 3.090 to 3.099, inclusive, by reason of the death of that member. The System may withhold the payment of any benefit otherwise payable under this chapter by reason of the death of any member of the System from any person charged with the murder or voluntary manslaughter of that member, pending final determination of those charges.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 82; A 2013, 1716)
NRS 1A.150 False statement or certification; withholding of information. A person who knowingly makes a false statement, certifies to an incorrect document or withholds information for the purpose of receiving or assisting another person in receiving benefits under this chapter to which he or she is not entitled is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 87)
NRS 1A.155 Forfeiture of rights and benefits upon conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to certain felonies; return of contributions; applicability.
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 2 and 3, a member of the System who is convicted of or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to any felony involving:
(a) Accepting or giving, or offering to give, any bribe;
(b) Embezzlement of public money;
(c) Extortion or theft of public money;
(d) Perjury; or
(e) Conspiracy to commit any crime set forth in paragraphs (a) to (d), inclusive,
Ê and arising directly out of his or her duties in judicial service, forfeits all rights and benefits under the System.
2. Upon a conviction described in subsection 1, the System must return to the member, without interest, all contributions which the member has made and which were credited to the member’s individual account.
3. The provisions of subsections 1 and 2 apply only to persons who become members of the System on or after July 1, 2015.
(Added to NRS by 2015, 2733)
ADMINISTRATION
NRS 1A.160 Judicial Retirement Fund: Establishment; policy; sources; payments.
1. The Judicial Retirement Fund is hereby established as a trust fund.
2. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the Legislature that the Judicial Retirement Fund is established to afford a degree of security to long-time justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals, district judges, justices of the peace and municipal judges in this State. The money in the Fund must not be used or appropriated for any purpose incompatible with the provisions of this chapter or NRS 2.060 to 2.083, inclusive, 2A.100 to 2A.150, inclusive, or 3.090 to 3.099, inclusive. The Fund must be invested and administered to ensure the highest return consistent with safety in accordance with accepted investment practices.
3. All money appropriated by the Legislature to the Judicial Retirement Fund, all money submitted to the System for deposit in the Fund pursuant to NRS 1A.312 and 1A.314, and all income accruing to the Fund from all other sources must be deposited in the Fund.
4. The interest and income earned on the money in the Judicial Retirement Fund, after deducting any applicable charges, must be credited to the Fund.
5. The System must pay all retirement allowances, benefits, optional settlements and other obligations or payments payable by the System pursuant to this chapter and NRS 2.060 to 2.083, inclusive, 2A.100 to 2A.150, inclusive, and 3.090 to 3.099, inclusive, from the Judicial Retirement Fund. The money in the Fund must be expended by the Board for the payment of expenses authorized by law to be paid from the Fund.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 69; A 2005, 992; 2013, 1716; 2015, 2733)
NRS 1A.170 Administration and investment of Judicial Retirement Fund. The Board has the exclusive control of the administration and investment of the Judicial Retirement Fund, with the same powers and duties and subject to the same limitations and restrictions that are applicable to the administration and investment of the Public Employees’ Retirement Fund.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 70)
NRS 1A.190 Transfer of unpaid check for benefits or refund to Judicial Retirement Fund; claim for payment of money; period of limitation.
1. Any check for benefits which has not been paid within 5 years after being transferred to the Account for Unclaimed Benefits must be transferred to the Judicial Retirement Fund.
2. If, within 6 years after a check for benefits has been transferred pursuant to subsection 1, any person appears and claims the money, the claimant may file a petition in the District Court for Carson City stating the nature of the claim, with an appropriate prayer for the relief demanded. A copy of the petition must be served upon the Attorney General before or at the time it is filed. Within 20 days after service, the Attorney General shall appear in the proceeding and respond to the petition. If, after examining all the facts, the Attorney General is convinced that the System has no legal defense against the petition, the Attorney General may, with the consent of the Court, confess judgment on behalf of the System.
3. If judgment is not confessed, the petition must be considered at issue on the 20th day after its filing, and may be heard by the Court on that day, or at such future day as the Court may order. Upon the hearing, the Court shall examine into the claim and hear the allegations and proofs. If the Court finds that the claimant is entitled to any money transferred pursuant to subsection 1 to the Judicial Retirement Fund, it shall order the Board to pay the money forthwith to the claimant, but without interest or cost to the Board.
4. All persons, except minors and persons of unsound mind, who fail to appear and file their petitions within the time limited in subsection 2 are forever barred. Minors and persons of unsound mind may appear and file their petitions at any time within 5 years after their respective disabilities are removed.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 83)
NRS 1A.200 Judicial Retirement Administrative Fund; administrative fees.
1. The Board shall establish a fund known as the Judicial Retirement Administrative Fund in which must be deposited all administrative fees.
2. The Board shall fix an administrative fee per capita sufficient to pay the expense of operating the Judicial Retirement System.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 70)
NRS 1A.210 Fund to pay accrued benefits that are not payable because of certain limitations; benefits paid from fund.
1. The Board may establish a fund to pay the accrued benefits of a member of the System that are not payable because of the limitations set forth in NRS 1A.410. The fund must be established in accordance with the provisions of section 415(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 415(m), and must be separate from the Judicial Retirement Fund.
2. If the Board establishes a fund pursuant to subsection 1, the benefits that are required to be paid from the fund must be paid from money in the fund.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 70)
NRS 1A.220 System managed by Public Employees’ Retirement Board; general powers and duties of Board.
1. The Board, subject to the limitations of this chapter, is responsible for managing the System.
2. The Board shall:
(a) Arrange for a biennial actuarial valuation and report of the actuarial soundness of the System to be prepared by an independent actuary based upon data compiled and supplied by employees of the System, and shall adopt actuarial tables and formulas prepared and recommended by the actuary;
(b) Provide for a biennial audit of the System, including, without limitation, the Judicial Retirement Administrative Fund, by an independent certified public accountant; and
(c) Provide an annual report concerning the System established pursuant to this chapter to the Court Administrator, each board of county commissioners that allows justices of the peace to participate in the Judicial Retirement Plan pursuant to NRS 1A.285, each city council that allows municipal judges to participate in the Judicial Retirement Plan pursuant to NRS 1A.285, the Governor and each member of the Legislature, and make the report available to all members of the System upon request. The report must contain, when available, a review of the actuarial valuation required by paragraph (a).
3. The Board may:
(a) Adjust the service or correct the records, allowance or benefits of any member of the System, retired justice or judge or beneficiary after an error or inequity has been determined, and require repayment of any money determined to have been paid by the System in error, if the money was paid within 6 years before demand for its repayment.
(b) Examine and copy personnel and financial records of:
(1) A justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge that are maintained by the Court Administrator;
(2) A justice of the peace who participates in the Judicial Retirement Plan pursuant to NRS 1A.285 that are maintained by a county; and
(3) A municipal judge who participates in the Judicial Retirement Plan pursuant to NRS 1A.285 that are maintained by a city.
(c) Require an annual notarized statement from a retired justice or judge or beneficiary that he or she is in fact receiving an allowance or benefits, and withhold the allowance or benefits if he or she fails to provide the statement.
4. As used in this section, “error or inequity” means the existence of extenuating circumstances, including, without limitation, a member’s reasonable and detrimental reliance on representations made by the System which prove to be erroneous, or the mental incapacity of the member.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 71; A 2005, 993; 2013, 1717)
NRS 1A.230 Actuarial assumptions used in computing benefits: Availability; changes prohibited.
1. The Board shall not change the actuarial assumptions used in computing the benefits provided to a member of the System.
2. The Board shall make available to every member of the System upon request the actuarial assumptions used in computing the benefits provided to a member of the System.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 71)
NRS 1A.240 Persons receiving benefits from System entitled to cost-of-living increases. Each person who receives benefits from the Judicial Retirement Fund pursuant to the System is entitled to receive cost-of-living increases equivalent to those provided for retirees and beneficiaries of the Public Employees’ Retirement System.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 79)
NRS 1A.250 Administration of accounts of members and recipients of benefits. Except as specifically provided in this chapter, the accounts of members of the System and recipients of benefits of the System must be administered in accordance with the provisions of chapter 286 of NRS as if the justice of the Supreme Court, the judge of the Court of Appeals, the district judge, the justice of the peace or the municipal judge were or had been a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 71; A 2005, 994; 2013, 1718)
MEMBERSHIP
NRS 1A.260 Conditions for membership in System.
1. No person may become a member of the System unless the person is a justice of the Supreme Court, a judge of the Court of Appeals or a district judge, or a justice of the peace or municipal judge who is allowed and elects to participate in the Judicial Retirement Plan pursuant to NRS 1A.285.
2. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 1A.370, persons retired under the provisions of this chapter who are employed as a justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, district judge, justice of the peace or municipal judge in any judicial capacity, including, without limitation, employment as a senior justice, senior judge, senior justice of the peace or senior municipal judge of the Nevada Court System, are not eligible to become members of the System.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 71; A 2005, 994, 2067; 2013, 1718)
NRS 1A.270 Membership of Supreme Court justices, judges of the Court of Appeals and district judges who are elected, reelected or appointed on or after November 5, 2002; membership of Supreme Court justices and district judges who are serving on November 5, 2002; restriction on benefits.
1. Each justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge who is elected or appointed as a justice of the Supreme Court, a judge of the Court of Appeals or a district judge on or after November 5, 2002, who takes office on or after January 1, 2003, and who previously has not served as either a justice of the Supreme Court, a judge of the Court of Appeals or a district judge must receive benefits for retirement, benefits for disability and survivor benefits under the Judicial Retirement Plan, if eligible to receive such benefits under the Judicial Retirement Plan, unless the justice or judge is a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System. If the justice or judge is a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System, he or she will remain a member unless he or she withdraws from the Public Employees’ Retirement System pursuant to NRS 1A.280, if eligible to do so.
2. Each justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge who is elected or appointed as a justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge on or after November 5, 2002, and who previously has served as either a justice of the Supreme Court or a district judge and each justice of the Supreme Court or district judge who is serving as a justice of the Supreme Court or district judge on November 5, 2002, must receive benefits for retirement, benefits for disability and survivor benefits pursuant to:
(a) NRS 2.060 to 2.083, inclusive, or 3.090 to 3.099, inclusive, as those sections existed on November 5, 2002, if eligible to receive such benefits under such provisions;
(b) NRS 2A.100 to 2A.150, inclusive, if eligible to receive such benefits under such provisions; or
(c) The Judicial Retirement Plan, if eligible to receive such benefits under the Judicial Retirement Plan,
Ê whichever is most beneficial to the justice or judge or his or her survivor, as determined by the justice or judge at the time of retirement or the time at which the justice or judge becomes disabled, or as determined by his or her survivor at the time of his or her death, unless the justice or judge is a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System. If the justice or judge is a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System, the justice or judge will remain a member unless the justice or judge withdraws from the Public Employees’ Retirement System pursuant to NRS 1A.280, if eligible to do so. A survivor may not change a determination that affects the survivor and which was made by a justice or judge pursuant to this section while the justice or judge was alive.
3. A determination made pursuant to subsection 2 is final and if a justice or judge or the survivor of the justice or judge determines pursuant to subsection 2:
(a) To receive benefits pursuant to the Judicial Retirement Plan, the justice, judge or survivor may not receive benefits pursuant to NRS 2.060 to 2.083, inclusive, 2A.100 to 2A.150, inclusive, or 3.090 to 3.099, inclusive; or
(b) To receive benefits pursuant to NRS 2.060 to 2.083, inclusive, 2A.100 to 2A.150, inclusive, or 3.090 to 3.099, inclusive, the justice, judge or survivor may not receive benefits pursuant to the Judicial Retirement Plan.
4. No justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge or survivor of a justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge may receive benefits under both this chapter and:
(a) NRS 2.060 to 2.083, inclusive;
(b) NRS 2A.100 to 2A.150, inclusive; or
(c) NRS 3.090 to 3.099, inclusive.
5. A justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge or a survivor of a justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge who is receiving retirement allowances pursuant to NRS 2.060 to 2.083, inclusive, or pursuant to NRS 3.090 to 3.099, inclusive, on January 1, 2003, is not eligible for transfer to the Judicial Retirement Plan.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 72; A 2003, 2069; 2005, 1067; 2013, 1718)
NRS 1A.280 Withdrawal from Public Employees’ Retirement System to become member of Judicial Retirement Plan; transfer of liability and service; re-establishment of service prohibited; restriction on benefits.
1. A person who is elected or appointed as a justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge on or after November 5, 2002, and takes office on or after January 1, 2003, and who is a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System established pursuant to chapter 286 of NRS on the date that he or she is elected or appointed may withdraw from the Public Employees’ Retirement System and become a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan if the justice or judge gives written notice to the Board of his or her intention to withdraw from the Public Employees’ Retirement System and to become a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan. Such notice must be given to the Board within the time set forth in subsection 3 and must be given the first time that the justice or judge is elected or appointed while he or she is a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System.
2. A justice or judge may not become a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan pursuant to subsection 1 if the justice or judge has previously been elected or appointed on or after November 5, 2002, and taken office on or after January 1, 2003, while the justice or judge was a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System and the justice or judge did not give notice of his or her intention to withdraw from the Public Employees’ Retirement System and to become a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan in the manner set forth in this section.
3. Written notice given pursuant to subsection 1 must be received by the Board:
(a) If the justice or judge is elected, by March 31 of the year immediately following the year in which he or she was elected; or
(b) If the justice or judge is appointed, within 90 days after his or her appointment.
4. If the Board receives notice pursuant to this section that a justice or judge intends to withdraw from the Public Employees’ Retirement System, it shall transfer from the Public Employees’ Retirement Fund to the Judicial Retirement Plan the accrued actuarial liability and credit for service earned by the justice or judge while a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System as determined by an actuary of the Judicial Retirement System. The service so transferred must be accredited under the Judicial Retirement Plan as if performed in the Public Employees’ Retirement System.
5. If the Board does not receive written notice that a justice or judge intends to withdraw from the Public Employees’ Retirement System pursuant to subsection 3, the justice or judge will remain a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System.
6. A justice or judge who exercises the option granted by this section may not re-establish the service for which the liabilities were transferred.
7. No justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge or survivor of a justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge may receive benefits under both this chapter and chapter 286 of NRS.
8. A justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge or survivor of a justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge who is receiving a retirement allowance from the Public Employees’ Retirement System on January 1, 2003, is not eligible for transfer to the Judicial Retirement Plan.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 73; A 2005, 1068; 2013, 1720)
NRS 1A.285 Membership of justices of the peace and municipal judges; withdrawal from Public Employees’ Retirement System to become member of Judicial Retirement Plan; transfer of liability and service; re-establishment of service prohibited; restriction on benefits.
1. A justice of the peace or municipal judge may participate in the Judicial Retirement Plan if:
(a) The board of county commissioners elects to allow the justices of the peace of the county or the city council elects to allow the municipal judges of the city to participate in the Judicial Retirement Plan; and
(b) The justice of the peace or the municipal judge elects to participate in the Judicial Retirement Plan and submits written notice to the Board of his or her intention to withdraw from the Public Employees’ Retirement System and become a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan. Such notice must be given to the Board within the time set forth in subsection 2 and, except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, must be given the first time that the justice of the peace or municipal judge is elected or appointed while the justice of the peace or municipal judge is a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System.
2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, written notice given pursuant to paragraph (b) of subsection 1 must be received by the Board:
(a) If the justice of the peace or municipal judge is elected, by March 31 of the year immediately following the year in which he or she was elected; or
(b) If the justice of the peace or municipal judge is appointed, within 90 days after his or her appointment.
3. A justice of the peace or municipal judge who is a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System on the date that the board of county commissioners or city council elects to allow justices of the peace or municipal judges to participate in the Judicial Retirement Plan has 90 days following such date to submit written notice to the Board of his or her intention to withdraw from the Public Employees’ Retirement System and become a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan.
4. Each justice of the peace or municipal judge who is allowed and who elects to participate in the Judicial Retirement Plan pursuant to this section must receive benefits for retirement, benefits for disability and survivor benefits under the Judicial Retirement Plan, if eligible to receive such benefits under the Judicial Retirement Plan.
5. If the board of county commissioners rescinds its election to allow the justices of the peace of the county or the city council rescinds its election to allow the municipal judges of the city to participate in the Judicial Retirement Plan, any justice of the peace or municipal judge who elected to participate in the Judicial Retirement Plan before the effective date of the rescission is entitled to continue to participate in the Judicial Retirement Plan.
6. If the Board receives proper notice pursuant to this section that a justice of the peace or municipal judge intends to withdraw from the Public Employees’ Retirement System and become a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan, it shall transfer from the Public Employees’ Retirement Fund to the Judicial Retirement Plan the accrued actuarial liability and credit for service earned by the justice or judge while a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System as determined by an actuary of the System. The service so transferred must be accredited under the Judicial Retirement Plan as if performed in the Public Employees’ Retirement System.
7. A justice of the peace or municipal judge who exercises the option granted by this section may not re-establish the service for which the liabilities were transferred.
8. No justice of the peace or municipal judge or survivor of a justice of the peace or municipal judge may receive benefits under both this chapter and chapter 286 of NRS.
9. A justice of the peace or municipal judge or survivor of a justice of the peace or municipal judge who is receiving a retirement allowance from the Public Employees’ Retirement System on July 1, 2005, is not eligible for transfer to the Judicial Retirement Plan.
(Added to NRS by 2005, 989; A 2009, 1577)
NRS 1A.290 Termination of membership; rights of justices or judges who have retired.
1. Membership of a justice of the Supreme Court, a judge of the Court of Appeals or a district judge in the System terminates upon:
(a) The death of the member;
(b) Receipt of retirement allowances by the member of the Judicial Retirement Plan or retirement benefits pursuant to NRS 2.060 to 2.083, inclusive, 2A.100 to 2A.150, inclusive, or 3.090 to 3.099, inclusive; or
(c) Receipt of disability allowances by the member of the Judicial Retirement Plan or disability benefits pursuant to NRS 2.060 to 2.083, inclusive, 2A.100 to 2A.150, inclusive, or 3.090 to 3.099, inclusive.
2. Membership of a justice of the peace or municipal judge in the System terminates upon:
(a) The death of the member;
(b) Receipt of retirement allowances; or
(c) Receipt of disability allowances.
3. A retired justice or judge is not entitled to any right conferred by this chapter upon a member of the System unless the provision conferring that right expressly states that it is conferred upon a retired justice or judge.
4. A justice of the Supreme Court, a judge of the Court of Appeals or a district judge who retired pursuant to NRS 2.060 to 2.083, inclusive, 2A.100 to 2A.150, inclusive, or 3.090 to 3.099, inclusive, is not entitled to any right conferred by this chapter upon a member of the System unless the provision conferring that right expressly states that it is conferred upon a justice or judge who retired pursuant to NRS 2.060 to 2.083, inclusive, 2A.100 to 2A.150, inclusive, or 3.090 to 3.099, inclusive.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 72; A 2005, 994; 2013, 1721)
JUDICIAL RETIREMENT PLAN
General Provisions
NRS 1A.300 Establishment; members; benefits.
1. A plan under which all justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals and district judges who are elected or appointed for the first time as a justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge on or after November 5, 2002, and who take office on or after January 1, 2003, and who withdraw from the Public Employees’ Retirement System, if eligible to do so, must receive benefits for retirement, disability and death, and under which justices of the peace and municipal judges who are allowed to participate in the plan pursuant to NRS 1A.285 may receive benefits for retirement, disability and death, is hereby established and must be known as the Judicial Retirement Plan.
2. Each justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge elected or appointed for the first time as a justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge on or after November 5, 2002, and who takes office on or after January 1, 2003, and who withdraws pursuant to NRS 1A.280 from the Public Employees’ Retirement System, if eligible to do so, is a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan.
3. Each justice of the peace and municipal judge who is allowed and who elects to participate in the Judicial Retirement Plan pursuant to NRS 1A.285 is a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan.
4. Benefits are earned pursuant to the Judicial Retirement Plan in the manner set forth in NRS 1A.120 to 1A.150, inclusive, 1A.190, 1A.240 and 1A.310 to 1A.670, inclusive.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 74; A 2005, 995, 1069; 2013, 1721)
NRS 1A.310 Purchase of credit for service: Requirements; sources; installments. Except as otherwise required as a result of NRS 1A.410:
1. A member of the Judicial Retirement Plan who has 5 years of creditable service may, except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, purchase up to 5 years of service. The member must pay the full actuarial cost of the service as determined by an actuary of the System.
2. A justice or judge may purchase creditable service pursuant to subsection 1 only if, at the time of the purchase, the justice or judge is employed in a position eligible for membership in the Judicial Retirement Plan.
3. A member of the Judicial Retirement Plan may use:
(a) All or any portion of the balance of the member’s interest in a qualified trust pursuant to section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 401(a); or
(b) The money contained in an individual retirement account or in an individual retirement annuity of a member, the entire amount of which is:
(1) Attributable to a qualified distribution from a qualified trust pursuant to section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 401(a); and
(2) Qualified as an eligible rollover distribution pursuant to section 402 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 402,
Ê to purchase creditable service pursuant to subsection 1.
4. If a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan enters into an agreement whereby the member agrees to pay for the purchase of service credit in installments and the member defaults on that agreement, the member is entitled to receive service credit in the proportion that the principal paid bears to the principal due under the agreement.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 74; A 2003, 2070)
Contributions
NRS 1A.312 Contributions to Judicial Retirement Fund; adjustment of contribution rate. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 1A.314:
1. The Court Administrator shall submit to the System for deposit in the Judicial Retirement Fund on behalf of each justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge who is a member of the System the percentage of compensation of the member that is determined by the actuary of the System to be required to pay the normal cost incurred in making payments for such members pursuant to subsection 5 of NRS 1A.160 and the administrative expenses of the System that are attributable to such members. Such payments must be:
(a) Accompanied by payroll reports that include information deemed necessary by the Board to carry out its duties; and
(b) Received by the System not later than 15 days after the calendar month for which the compensation and service credits of members of the System are reported and certified by the Court Administrator. The compensation must be reported separately for each month that it is paid.
2. The State of Nevada shall make an appropriation to the Court Administrator and the Court Administrator shall pay to the System for deposit in the Judicial Retirement Fund from any fund created for the purpose of paying pension benefits to justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals or district judges an amount as the contribution of the State of Nevada as employer which is actuarially determined to be sufficient to provide the System with enough money to pay the benefits for justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals and district judges for which the System will be liable.
3. Upon the participation of a justice of the peace or municipal judge in the Judicial Retirement Plan pursuant to NRS 1A.285, the county or city shall submit to the System for deposit in the Judicial Retirement Fund on behalf of each justice of the peace or municipal judge who is a member of the System the percentage of compensation of the member that is determined by the actuary of the System to be required to pay the normal cost incurred in making payments for such members pursuant to subsection 5 of NRS 1A.160 and the administrative expenses of the System that are attributable to such members. Such payments must be:
(a) Accompanied by payroll reports that include information deemed necessary by the Board to carry out its duties; and
(b) Received by the System not later than 15 days after the calendar month for which the compensation and service credits of members of the System are reported and certified by the county or city. The compensation must be reported separately for each month that it is paid.
4. Upon the participation of a justice of the peace or municipal judge in the Judicial Retirement Plan pursuant to NRS 1A.285, the county or city shall pay to the System for deposit in the Judicial Retirement Fund an amount as the contribution of the county or city as employer which is actuarially determined to be sufficient to provide the System with enough money to pay the benefits for justices of the peace and municipal judges for which the System will be liable.
5. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the total contribution rate that is actuarially determined for members of the Judicial Retirement Plan must be adjusted on the first monthly retirement reporting period commencing on or after July 1 of each odd-numbered year based on the actuarially determined contribution rate indicated in the biennial actuarial valuation and report. The adjusted rate must be rounded to the nearest one-quarter of 1 percent. The total contribution rate must not be adjusted pursuant to this subsection if the existing rate is within one-half of 1 percent of the actuarially determined rate.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 70; A 2003, 2069; 2005, 992; 2011, 1380; 2013, 1716; 2015, 2734)—(Substituted in revision for NRS 1A.180)
NRS 1A.314 Amount of contribution by members of Plan; deduction from payroll; return of contributions. For members of the Judicial Retirement Plan who have an effective date of membership on or after July 1, 2015:
1. A member must pay 50 percent of the total contribution rate that is actuarially determined for members of the Judicial Retirement Plan pursuant to NRS 1A.312.
2. The amount described in subsection 1 must be deducted from each payroll during the period of the member’s membership in the Judicial Retirement Plan and transmitted to the Board at intervals designated and upon forms prescribed by the Board. The contributions must be paid on compensation earned by a member from the member’s first day of service.
3. The Judicial Retirement Plan shall guarantee to each member the return of at least the total contributions which the member has made and which were credited to the member’s individual account. These contributions may be returned to the member, the member’s estate or beneficiary or a combination thereof in monthly benefits, a lump-sum refund or both. The relevant provisions of NRS 286.430 apply to a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan who withdraws his or her contributions to the Plan pursuant to this section.
(Added to NRS by 2015, 2732)
Service and Vesting of Allowances and Benefits
NRS 1A.320 Service credit: Commencement; termination. Service credit for a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan begins on the day the member’s term of office begins and terminates on the day the term of office expires, unless sooner terminated on the day of the member’s death, resignation or removal from office.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 75)
NRS 1A.330 Service credited in another system ineligible; exception. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan must not receive credit in the Plan for service that entitled the member to credit for retirement purposes in any other retirement system operated by the federal or a state government, or any of their agencies or political subdivisions, including, without limitation, the Social Security Act.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 75)
NRS 1A.340 Time of vesting; vesting of benefits upon termination of System.
1. The retirement allowance for a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan becomes vested on the date that the member completes 5 years of creditable service.
2. Benefits for survivors offered pursuant to this chapter become vested on the date that the member of the Judicial Retirement Plan completes 10 years of creditable service or becomes entitled to begin receiving benefits or on the date of the member’s death, whichever event occurs first.
3. Unless otherwise specifically provided by law, any change in the provisions of this chapter is retroactive for all service of any member of the Judicial Retirement Plan before the date of vesting, but no change may impair any vested allowance or benefit.
4. Upon the termination or partial termination of the System, all accrued benefits that are funded become 100 percent vested and nonforfeitable.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 87)
Retirement
NRS 1A.350 Eligibility: Age and service; reduction of benefit for retirement before required age.
1. A member of the Judicial Retirement Plan:
(a) Who has an effective date of membership before July 1, 2015, is eligible to retire at the age of 65 years if the member has at least 5 years of service, at the age of 60 years if the member has at least 10 years of service and at any age if the member has at least 30 years of service.
(b) Who has an effective date of membership on or after July 1, 2015, is eligible to retire at the age of 65 years if the member has at least 5 years of service, at the age of 62 years if the member has at least 10 years of service, at the age of 55 years if the member has at least 30 years of service and at any age if the member has at least 33 1/3 years of service. For the purposes of this paragraph, any year or part of a year of service purchased pursuant to NRS 1A.310 by a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan who has an effective date of membership on or after July 1, 2015, must not be considered in determining the number of years of service of the member unless the member has a family medical emergency. For the purposes of this paragraph, the Board shall define by regulation “family medical emergency” and set forth by regulation the circumstances in which purchased service credit may be considered in determining the number of years of service of a member who has a family medical emergency.
2. Any member of the Judicial Retirement Plan who has the years of creditable service necessary to retire, but has not attained the required age, if any, may retire at any age with a benefit actuarially reduced to the required retirement age. Except as otherwise required as a result of NRS 1A.410, a retirement benefit pursuant to this subsection must be reduced by 4 percent of the unmodified benefit for each full year that the member is under the appropriate retirement age, and an additional 0.33 percent for each additional month that the member is under the appropriate retirement age. Any option selected pursuant to this subsection must be reduced by an amount proportionate to the reduction provided in this subsection for the unmodified benefit. The Board may adjust the actuarial reduction based upon an experience study of the System and recommendation by the actuary.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 75; A 2015, 2735)
NRS 1A.360 Employment of retired justice or judge: Consequences; payment of contributions for justice or judge who does not enroll in Plan.
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4 and NRS 1A.370, if a retired justice or judge accepts employment as a justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, district judge, justice of the peace or municipal judge in any judicial capacity, including, without limitation, employment as a senior justice, senior judge, senior justice of the peace or senior municipal judge of the Nevada Court System, the retired justice or judge is disqualified from receiving any allowances under the Judicial Retirement Plan for the duration of his or her active service.
2. If a retired justice or judge accepts any employment other than that described in subsection 1, the justice or judge is entitled to the same allowances as a retired justice or judge who has no employment.
3. If a retired justice or judge who accepts employment as a justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, district judge, justice of the peace or municipal judge in a judicial capacity pursuant to this section elects not to reenroll in the Judicial Retirement Plan pursuant to subsection 1 of NRS 1A.370, the Court Administrator if the retired justice or judge is a justice of the Supreme Court, a judge of the Court of Appeals or a district judge, the county if the retired justice or judge is a justice of the peace or the city if the retired justice or judge is a municipal judge, may pay contributions on behalf of the retired justice or judge to a retirement fund which is not a part of the Judicial Retirement Plan in an amount not to exceed the amount of the contributions that the Court Administrator, county or city would pay to the System on behalf of a participating justice or judge who is employed in a similar position.
4. The provisions of subsection 1 do not apply to a retired justice or judge who accepts employment as a senior justice, senior judge, senior justice of the peace or senior municipal judge of the Nevada Court System if the retired justice or judge:
(a) At the time of reemployment, is receiving:
(1) A benefit that is not actuarially reduced pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 1A.350; or
(2) A benefit actuarially reduced pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 1A.350 and the retired justice or judge has reached the required age at which he or she could have retired with a benefit that was not actuarially reduced pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 1A.350; and
(b) Accepts the employment at least 90 days after the effective date of his or her retirement pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 1A.130.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 75; A 2001 Special Session, 98; 2005, 995, 2067; 2009, 2216, 2222; 2013, 1722; 2015, 3067, 3069)
NRS 1A.370 Employment of retired justice or judge: Enrollment in Plan; rights of membership; accrual of credit for service; benefits for survivor.
1. A retired justice or judge who accepts employment as a justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, district judge, justice of the peace or municipal judge in any judicial capacity, including, without limitation, employment as a senior justice, senior judge, senior justice of the peace or senior municipal judge of the Nevada Court System, may enroll in the Judicial Retirement Plan as of the effective date of that employment unless the retired justice or judge is reemployed pursuant to subsection 4 of NRS 1A.360. As of the date of enrollment:
(a) The retired justice or judge forfeits all retirement allowances for the duration of that employment; and
(b) Except as otherwise required as a result of NRS 1A.400 or 1A.410, if the duration of the employment is at least 6 months, the retired justice or judge gains additional service credit for that employment and is entitled to have a separate service retirement allowance calculated based on his or her compensation and service, effective upon the termination of that employment. If the duration of the employment is:
(1) Less than 5 years, the additional allowance must be added to the retired justice’s or judge’s original allowance and must be under the same option and designate the same beneficiary as the original allowance; or
(2) Five years or more, the additional allowance may be under any option and designate any beneficiary in accordance with NRS 1A.430.
2. The original service retirement allowance of such a retired justice or judge must not be recalculated based upon the additional service credit, nor is the retired justice or judge entitled to any of the rights of membership that were not in effect at the time of his or her original retirement. The accrual of service credit pursuant to this section is subject to the limits imposed by:
(a) NRS 1A.440; and
(b) Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 415.
3. Except as otherwise required as a result of NRS 1A.400 or 1A.410, a retired justice or judge who has been receiving a retirement allowance pursuant to the Judicial Retirement Plan and who is reemployed and is enrolled in the Plan for at least 5 years may have his or her additional credit for service added to his or her previous credit for service. This additional credit for service must not apply to more than one period of employment after the original retirement.
4. The survivor of a deceased member of the Judicial Retirement Plan who had previously retired and was reemployed and enrolled in the Plan, who qualifies for benefits pursuant to NRS 1A.340 and 1A.530 to 1A.670, inclusive, is eligible for the benefits based on the service accrued through the second period of employment.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 76; A 2003, 2071; 2005, 996, 2068; 2009, 2217, 2222; 2013, 1722; 2015, 3069)
Benefits
NRS 1A.390 Limitation on distributions to members. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, every distribution to a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan must be made pursuant to the provisions of section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 401(a)(9), that apply to governmental plans.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 77)
NRS 1A.400 Limitation on compensation used to determine retirement benefit. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the amount of compensation used to determine the retirement benefit of a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan must not exceed:
1. If the member has an effective date of membership before July 1, 2015, the limitation provided by section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 401(a)(17).
2. If the member has an effective date of membership on or after July 1, 2015, the lesser of:
(a) The limitation provided by section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 401(a)(17); or
(b) Two hundred thousand dollars. The limitation set forth in this paragraph must be adjusted by the Board every year by an amount equal to the average percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (All Items) for the immediately preceding 3-year period.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 77; A 2015, 2736)
NRS 1A.410 Limitations on benefits and contributions. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the benefits payable to and the contributions made for the benefit of a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan are limited pursuant to the provisions of sections 415(b) and 415(c) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. §§ 415(b) and 415(c), that apply to governmental plans.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 75)
NRS 1A.420 Prohibition against applying forfeitures to increase benefits. Forfeitures must not be applied to increase the benefits any member of the Judicial Retirement Plan would otherwise receive pursuant to the provisions governing the Plan as provided by section 401(a)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 401(a)(8).
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 77)
NRS 1A.430 Consent of spouse to retirement plan of member.
1. If the spouse of the member of the Judicial Retirement Plan does not consent to the retirement plan chosen by the member before the date on which the retirement becomes effective pursuant to NRS 1A.130 the System must:
(a) Notify the spouse that the spouse has 90 days to consent or have the member change the selection; and
(b) Pay the retirement at the amount calculated for Option 2 provided in NRS 1A.450 until the spouse consents or for 90 days, whichever is less.
2. Upon consent of the spouse or at the end of the 90 days, the retirement benefit must be recalculated and paid under the terms of the option originally selected by the member retroactively to the date on which the retirement became effective.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 78)
NRS 1A.440 Determination of monthly allowance for service retirement. Except as otherwise required as a result of NRS 1A.400 or 1A.410:
1. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a monthly service retirement allowance must be determined by multiplying a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan’s average compensation:
(a) If the member has an effective date of membership before July 1, 2015, by 3.4091 percent for each year of service, except that a member of the Plan is entitled to a benefit of not more than 75 percent of the member’s average compensation.
(b) If the member has an effective date of membership on or after July 1, 2015, by 3.1591 percent for each year of service, except that a member of the Plan is entitled to a benefit of not more than 75 percent of the member’s average compensation.
2. For the purposes of this section, “average compensation” means the average of a member of the Plan’s 36 consecutive months of highest compensation as certified by the Court Administrator if the member is a justice of the Supreme Court, a judge of the Court of Appeals or a district judge, by the county if the member is a justice of the peace or by the city if the member is a municipal judge.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 78; A 2003, 2072; 2005, 997; 2013, 1723; 2015, 2736)
NRS 1A.450 Optional plans: Alternatives to unmodified allowance for service retirement.
1. The alternatives to an unmodified service retirement allowance are as follows:
(a) Option 2 consists of a reduced service retirement allowance payable monthly during the retired justice’s or judge’s life, with the provision that it continue after the death of the justice or judge for the life of the beneficiary whom the justice or judge nominates by written designation acknowledged and filed with the Board at the time of retirement should the beneficiary survive the justice or judge.
(b) Option 3 consists of a reduced service retirement allowance payable monthly during the retired justice’s or judge’s life, with the provision that it continue after the death of the justice or judge at one-half the rate paid to the justice or judge and be paid for the life of the beneficiary whom the justice or judge nominates by written designation acknowledged and filed with the Board at the time of retirement should the beneficiary survive the justice or judge.
(c) Option 4 consists of a reduced service retirement allowance payable monthly during the retired justice’s or judge’s life, with the provision that it continue after the death of the justice or judge for the life of his or her beneficiary, whom the justice or judge nominates by written designation acknowledged and filed with the Board at the time of the election, should the beneficiary survive the justice or judge, beginning on the attainment by the surviving beneficiary of age 60 years.
(d) Option 5 consists of a reduced service retirement allowance payable monthly during the retired justice’s or judge’s life, with the provision that it continue after the death of the justice or judge at one-half the rate paid to the justice or judge and be paid for the life of the beneficiary whom the justice or judge nominates by written designation acknowledged and filed with the Board at the time of the election, should the beneficiary survive the justice or judge, beginning on the attainment by the surviving beneficiary of age 60 years.
(e) Option 6 consists of a reduced service retirement allowance payable monthly during the retired justice’s or judge’s life, with the provision that a specific sum per month, which cannot exceed the monthly allowance paid to the retired justice or judge, be paid after the death of the justice or judge to the beneficiary for the life of the beneficiary whom the justice or judge nominates by written designation acknowledged and filed with the Board at the time of retirement, should the beneficiary survive the justice or judge.
(f) Option 7 consists of a reduced service retirement allowance payable monthly during the retired justice’s or judge’s life, with the provision that a specific sum per month, which cannot exceed the monthly allowance paid to the retired justice or judge, be paid after the death of the justice or judge to the beneficiary for the life of the beneficiary whom the justice or judge nominates by written designation acknowledged and filed with the Board at the time of election, should the beneficiary survive the justice or judge, beginning on the attainment by the surviving beneficiary of age 60 years.
2. Postretirement allowances must be considered a part of a retired justice’s or judge’s monthly benefit and included in the allowance paid to a beneficiary under one of the optional plans set forth in this section.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 78)
NRS 1A.460 Optional plans: Death of beneficiary; change of selection; effective date of termination or adjustment of allowance.
1. If a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan enters retirement status under one of the optional plans described in NRS 1A.450 and the designated beneficiary predeceases the retired justice or judge, the monthly retirement allowance must be automatically adjusted to the unmodified retirement allowance provided in NRS 1A.440.
2. A retired justice or judge may not change the selected option or designated beneficiary after the effective date of retirement except as otherwise provided in subsection 3 of this section and subsection 3 of NRS 1A.370.
3. A retired justice or judge may cancel the selected option and designation of beneficiary and revert to the unmodified retirement allowance. The retired justice or judge shall make this election by written designation, acknowledged and filed with the Board. The written election must be accompanied by a written, notarized acknowledgment of the change by the beneficiary if the beneficiary is the spouse of the retired justice or judge. The election to cancel a selected option and revert to the unmodified allowance does not abrogate any obligation of the retired justice or judge respecting community property.
4. The termination or adjustment of a monthly retirement allowance resulting from the death of a justice or judge or beneficiary must not become effective until the first day of the month immediately following the death of the retired justice or judge or beneficiary.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 79; A 2005, 2069)
NRS 1A.470 Optional deduction from benefits for payment of premium or contribution for group insurance or other obligations; regulations; exemption of Executive Officer, Board and System from liability for errors or omissions.
1. In addition to the options provided in NRS 287.023 and subject to the requirements of that section, any justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, district judge, justice of the peace or municipal judge who retires under the conditions set forth in NRS 1A.350 and, at the time of retirement, was covered or had his or her dependents covered by any group insurance or medical and hospital service established pursuant to NRS 287.010, 287.020 or paragraph (b), (c) or (d) of subsection 1 of NRS 287.025, has the option of having the Executive Officer of the Board deduct and pay his or her premium or contribution for that group insurance or medical and hospital service coverage, as well as the amount due or to become due upon any obligation designated by the Board pursuant to subsection 2, from his or her monthly retirement allowance until:
(a) The justice or judge notifies the Executive Officer of the Board to discontinue the deduction; or
(b) Any of the dependents of the justice or judge elect to assume the premium or contribution applicable to the dependent’s coverage before the death of such a retired justice or judge and continue coverage pursuant to NRS 287.023 after the justice’s or judge’s death.
2. The Board may adopt regulations to carry out the provisions of subsection 1, including, without limitation, regulations governing the number and types of obligations, amounts for the payment of which may be deducted and paid by the Board at the option of the retired justice or judge pursuant to this section.
3. The Executive Officer of the Board, the Board and the System are not liable for any damages resulting from errors or omissions concerning the deductions and payment of premiums or contributions authorized pursuant to this section unless willful neglect or gross negligence is proven.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 79; A 2003, 3273; 2005, 997; 2013, 1723)
NRS 1A.480 Disability retirement allowance: Eligibility; calculation of amount; beneficiaries; effective date of termination or adjustment of allowance.
1. A member of the Judicial Retirement Plan who has 5 years or more of service credit and who becomes totally unable to perform his or her current job or any comparable job for which he or she is qualified by training and experience because of injury or mental or physical illness of a permanent nature is eligible to apply for disability retirement if:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5, the member’s employment as a justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, district judge, justice of the peace or municipal judge will be terminated because of the disability;
(b) The member is employed as a justice of the Supreme Court, a judge of the Court of Appeals, a district judge, a justice of the peace or a municipal judge at the time of application for disability retirement;
(c) The member proves that the disability renders the member unable to perform the duties of his or her present position and of any other position the member has held within the past year;
(d) The member files a notarized application for disability retirement with the System which indicates a selection of option and to which is attached a personal statement by the member of the Judicial Retirement Plan describing the disability, the duties which the member can and cannot perform, and any benefits the member is entitled to receive for disability from any other public source; and
(e) The Court Administrator if the member is a justice of the Supreme Court, a judge of the Court of Appeals or a district judge, the county if the member is a justice of the peace or the city if the member is a municipal judge, files an official statement certifying the member’s employment record, record of disability, absences that have occurred because of the disability, the effect upon the work of the member after the disability, and job functions that can and cannot be performed because of the disability.
2. Except as otherwise required as a result of NRS 1A.410, the amount of the disability retirement allowance must be calculated in the same manner as provided for service retirement calculations in NRS 1A.440, except that no reduction for the age of a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan may be made and that the allowance must be reduced by the amount of any other benefit received from any source on account of the same disability:
(a) If the benefit is provided or was purchased by the expenditure of money by a Nevada public employer; and
(b) To the extent that the total of the unmodified benefit and the other benefit would otherwise exceed the member’s average compensation.
3. A member of the Judicial Retirement Plan may apply for disability retirement even if the member is eligible for service retirement.
4. Each child of a deceased recipient of a disability retirement allowance is entitled to receive the benefits provided by NRS 1A.580 only if the decedent had not reached the age and completed the service required to be eligible for a service retirement allowance, except that these benefits must not be paid to anyone who is named as a beneficiary under one of the options to an unmodified allowance.
5. If a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan whose application for disability retirement has been:
(a) Approved dies before his or her employment is terminated, but within 60 days after the application was approved; or
(b) Mailed before his or her death, as indicated by the date of the postmark dated by the post office on the envelope in which it was mailed, dies before the Board has acted upon the application and the Board approves thereafter the application,
Ê the beneficiary of the member is entitled to receive an allowance under the option selected rather than the benefit otherwise provided for a survivor.
6. The termination or adjustment of a disability retirement allowance resulting from the death of a recipient of an allowance pursuant to this section must not become effective until the first day of the month immediately following the death of the recipient.
7. As used in this section, “public employer” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 286.070.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 80; A 2005, 998; 2013, 1724)
NRS 1A.490 Disability retirement allowance: Applicability of certain provisions. The provisions of NRS 286.630, 286.634 and 286.637, concerning disability retirement, apply to a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan who is receiving a disability retirement allowance pursuant to NRS 1A.480.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 81)
NRS 1A.500 Disability retirement allowance: Cancellation.
1. When the recipient of a disability retirement allowance is determined by the Board to be no longer disabled, the recipient’s allowance must be cancelled.
2. A retired justice or judge who retired on account of disability whose benefit is cancelled may:
(a) Suspend his or her monthly benefit until eligible for service retirement; or
(b) Elect a service retirement reduced for his or her age if the justice or judge has the service credit necessary to retire.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 81)
NRS 1A.510 Disability retirement allowance: Consequences of employment of recipient.
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, whenever a recipient of a disability retirement allowance pursuant to NRS 1A.480 returns to employment as a justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, district judge, justice of the peace or municipal judge, the allowance must be discontinued and the member’s service credit at the time of disability retirement must be restored. The member shall retire under the same retirement plan previously selected for retirement on account of disability if the member returns to disability retirement or elects service retirement within 1 year after the member’s return to employment.
2. A recipient of a disability retirement allowance may be employed and continue to receive his or her allowance if the member applies to the Board for approval of the employment before the member begins to work and the Board approves the member’s application. The application must include:
(a) A full description of the proposed employment; and
(b) A statement written by the member of the System declaring the reasons why the proposed employment should not be found to conflict with the member’s disability.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 81; A 2005, 999; 2013, 1725)
NRS 1A.520 Payment of allowance or benefit to alternate payee pursuant to domestic relations order.
1. A person may submit a judgment, decree or order of a district court, the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court of the State of Nevada relating to child support, alimony or the disposition of community property to the Executive Officer of the Board or the Executive Officer’s designee for a determination of whether the judgment, decree or order entitles an alternate payee to receive from the System all or a portion of the allowance or benefit of a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan or a retired justice or judge.
2. The judgment, decree or order submitted to the Executive Officer of the Board or the Executive Officer’s designee must be signed by a district judge, the judges of the Court of Appeals or the justices of the Supreme Court and entered and certified by the clerk of the district court or the Clerk of the Supreme Court.
3. The Executive Officer of the Board or the Executive Officer’s designee shall, in accordance with rules prescribed by the Board, determine whether the judgment, decree or order entitles the alternate payee to receive an allowance or benefit from the System. An alternate payee is entitled to receive an allowance or benefit from the Judicial Retirement Plan if the judgment, decree or order:
(a) Specifies clearly the names and last known mailing addresses, if any, of the member of the Judicial Retirement Plan or retired justice or judge and the alternate payee;
(b) Specifies clearly the amount, percentage or manner of determining the amount of the allowance or benefit of the member of the Judicial Retirement Plan or retired justice or judge that must be paid by the System to each alternate payee;
(c) Specifically directs the System to pay an allowance or benefit to the alternate payee;
(d) Does not require the System to provide an allowance or benefit or any option not otherwise provided under this chapter; and
(e) Does not require the payment of an allowance or benefit to an alternate payee before the retirement of a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan.
4. For the purposes of this subsection, “alternate payee” means a spouse, former spouse, child or other dependent of a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan or retired justice or judge who, pursuant to a judgment, decree or order relating to child support, alimony or the disposition of community property, is entitled to receive all or a portion of the allowance or benefit of a member or retired justice or judge from the System.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 82; A 2005, 1069; 2013, 1725)
Benefits for Survivors
NRS 1A.530 Definitions. As used in NRS 1A.530 to 1A.670, inclusive, unless the context otherwise requires, the words and terms defined in NRS 1A.540 to 1A.560, inclusive, have the meanings ascribed to them in those sections.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 83; A 2015, 2736)
NRS 1A.540 “Child” defined. “Child” means an unmarried person under 18 years of age who is the issue or legally adopted child of a deceased member of the Judicial Retirement Plan. As used in this section, “issue” means the progeny or biological offspring of the deceased member.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 83)
NRS 1A.550 “Dependent parent” defined. “Dependent parent” means the surviving parent of a deceased member of the Judicial Retirement Plan who was dependent upon the deceased member for at least 50 percent of his or her support for at least 6 months immediately preceding the death of the deceased member.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 83)
NRS 1A.555 “Domestic partner” defined. “Domestic partner” means a person who is in a domestic partnership which is registered or recognized pursuant to chapter 122A of NRS and which has not been terminated pursuant to that chapter.
(Added to NRS by 2015, 2732; A 2017, 291)
NRS 1A.560 “Spouse” defined. “Spouse” means the surviving husband, wife or domestic partner of a deceased member of the Judicial Retirement Plan.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 84; A 2015, 2736)
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, if a deceased member of the Judicial Retirement Plan had 2 years of creditable service in the 2 1/2 years immediately preceding the member’s death, or if the employee had 10 or more years of creditable service, certain of his or her dependents are eligible for payments as provided in NRS 1A.530 to 1A.670, inclusive. If the death of the member resulted from a mental or physical condition which required the member to leave his or her position as a justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, district judge, justice of the peace or municipal judge or go on leave without pay, eligibility pursuant to the provisions of this section extends for 18 months after the member’s termination or commencement of leave without pay.
2. If the death of a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan occurs while the member is on leave of absence for further training and if the member met the requirements of subsection 1 at the time his or her leave began, certain of the member’s dependents are eligible for payments as provided in subsection 1.
3. If the death of a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan is caused by an occupational disease or an accident or motor vehicle crash arising out of and in the course of the member’s employment, no prior creditable service is required to make the member’s dependents eligible for payments pursuant to NRS 1A.530 to 1A.670, inclusive, except that this subsection does not apply to an accident or motor vehicle crash occurring while the member is traveling between the member’s home and his or her principal place of employment.
4. As used in this section, “dependent” includes a survivor beneficiary designated pursuant to NRS 1A.620.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 84; A 2005, 999; 2013, 1726; 2015, 1655)
NRS 1A.580 Payments to child of deceased member.
1. Each child of a deceased member of the Judicial Retirement Plan is entitled to receive a cumulative benefit of at least $400 per month, beginning on the first day of the month following the member’s death.
2. Payments to any child cease on the last day of the month of the child’s:
(a) Death;
(b) Marriage; or
(c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, 4 or 5, attaining the age of 18 years.
3. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, these benefits may be paid to the child of a deceased member of the Judicial Retirement Plan until the last day of the month of the child’s 23rd birthday if, at the time that the child attains 18 years, the child is, and continues thereafter to be, a full-time student in any accredited:
(a) High school;
(b) Vocational or technical school; or
(c) College or university.
4. If the Board ceases the payment of benefits to a child of a deceased member who received benefits pursuant to subsection 3 because the child ceased being a full-time student, the Board may resume the payment of such benefits until the last day of the month of the child’s 23rd birthday if the child returns to full-time status at an accredited:
(a) High school;
(b) Vocational or technical school; or
(c) College or university.
5. These benefits may be commenced or extended indefinitely beyond a child’s 18th birthday if and so long as the child is determined by the System to be:
(a) Financially dependent; and
(b) Physically or mentally incompetent.
6. All benefits under this section may be paid by the System to the child’s:
(a) Surviving parent; or
(b) Legal guardian.
7. The Board shall establish uniform standards and procedures for determining whether a child is:
(a) A full-time student;
(b) Financially dependent; and
(c) Physically or mentally incompetent.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 84; A 2005, 1070; 2019, 678)
NRS 1A.590 Payments to spouse of deceased member.
1. The spouse of a deceased member of the Judicial Retirement Plan is entitled to receive a cumulative benefit of at least $450 per month. The payments must begin on the first day of the month immediately following the death of the member and must cease on the last day of the month in which the spouse dies.
2. The benefits paid pursuant to this section are in addition to any benefits paid pursuant to NRS 1A.580.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 85)
NRS 1A.600 Payments to spouse of deceased member who had 10 or more years of creditable service.
1. The spouse of a deceased member of the Judicial Retirement Plan who had 10 or more years of creditable service is entitled to receive a monthly allowance equivalent to that provided by:
(a) Option 3 in NRS 1A.450, if the deceased member had less than 15 years of service on the date of the death of the member; or
(b) Option 2 in NRS 1A.450, if the deceased member had 15 or more years of service on the date of the death of the member.
Ê To apply the provisions of Options 2 and 3, the deceased member shall be deemed to have retired on the date of the death of the member immediately after having named the spouse as beneficiary under the applicable option. This benefit must be computed without any reduction for age for the deceased member. The benefits provided by this subsection must be paid to the spouse for the remainder of the spouse’s life.
2. The spouse may elect to receive the benefits provided by any one of the following only:
(a) This section; or
(b) NRS 1A.590.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 85)
NRS 1A.610 Payments to spouse if deceased member was eligible to retire. The spouse of a deceased member of the Judicial Retirement Plan who was fully eligible to retire, both as to service and age, is entitled to receive a monthly allowance equivalent to that provided by Option 2 in NRS 1A.450. This section does not apply to the spouse of a member who was eligible to retire only under subsection 2 of NRS 1A.350. For the purposes of applying the provisions of Option 2, the deceased member shall be deemed to have retired on the date of the death of the member immediately after having named the spouse as beneficiary under Option 2. The benefits provided by this section must be paid to the spouse for the remainder of the spouse’s life. The spouse may elect to receive the benefits provided by any one of the following only:
1. This section;
2. NRS 1A.590; or
3. NRS 1A.600.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 86)
NRS 1A.615 Payments to spouse of deceased member killed in course of judicial service.
1. The spouse of a member killed in the course of judicial service on or after July 1, 2013, is entitled to receive a monthly allowance equivalent to the greater of:
(a) Fifty percent of the salary of the member on the date of the member’s death; or
(b) One hundred percent of the retirement allowance that the member was eligible to receive based on the member’s years of service obtained before the member’s death without any reduction for age for the deceased member.
2. The benefits provided by this section must be paid to the spouse for the remainder of the spouse’s life.
3. The spouse may elect to receive the benefits by any one of the following only:
(a) This section;
(b) NRS 1A.590;
(c) NRS 1A.600; or
(d) NRS 1A.610.
4. For the purposes of this section, the Board shall define by regulation “killed in the course of judicial service.”
(Added to NRS by 2015, 2732)
NRS 1A.620 Designation of survivor beneficiary and additional payees by member.
1. A member of the Judicial Retirement Plan may designate, in writing, a survivor beneficiary and one or more additional payees to receive the payments provided pursuant to NRS 1A.630, 1A.640 or 1A.650 if the member is unmarried on the date of the death of the member.
2. A designation pursuant to subsection 1 must be made on a form approved by the Executive Officer of the Board. If a member has designated one or more payees in addition to the survivor beneficiary, the member must designate the percentage of the payments that the survivor beneficiary and each additional payee is entitled to receive.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 85; A 2003, 2072)
NRS 1A.630 Payments to survivor beneficiary of and to additional payees designated by deceased member.
1. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the survivor beneficiary of a deceased member of the Judicial Retirement Plan is entitled to receive a cumulative benefit of at least $450 per month. If a member has designated one or more payees in addition to the survivor beneficiary pursuant to NRS 1A.620, the cumulative benefit paid pursuant to this subsection must be divided between the survivor beneficiary and any additional payee in the proportion designated by the member pursuant to NRS 1A.620. The payments must begin on the first day of the month immediately following the death of the member and must cease on the last day of the month in which the survivor beneficiary dies.
2. The benefits paid pursuant to this section are in addition to any benefits paid pursuant to NRS 1A.580.
3. As used in this section, “survivor beneficiary” means a person designated pursuant to NRS 1A.620.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 85; A 2003, 2072)
NRS 1A.640 Payments to survivor beneficiary of and to additional payees designated by deceased member who had 10 or more years of creditable service.
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, the survivor beneficiary of a deceased member of the Judicial Retirement Plan who had 10 or more years of creditable service is entitled to receive a monthly allowance equivalent to that provided by:
(a) Option 3 in NRS 1A.450, if the deceased member had less than 15 years of service on the date of the death of the member; or
(b) Option 2 in NRS 1A.450, if the deceased member had 15 or more years of service on the date of the death of the member.
Ê To apply the provisions of Options 2 and 3, the deceased member shall be deemed to have retired on the date of the death of the member immediately after having named the survivor beneficiary as beneficiary pursuant to the applicable option. This benefit must be computed without any reduction for age for the deceased member. The benefits provided by this subsection must be paid to the survivor beneficiary for the remainder of the life of the survivor beneficiary.
2. If the member had designated one or more payees in addition to the survivor beneficiary pursuant to NRS 1A.620, the monthly allowance to which a survivor beneficiary is entitled pursuant to subsection 1 must be divided between the survivor beneficiary and any additional payee in the proportion designated by the member pursuant to NRS 1A.620.
3. The survivor beneficiary may elect to receive the benefits provided by any one of the following only:
(a) This section; or
(b) NRS 1A.630.
4. As used in this section, “survivor beneficiary” means a person designated pursuant to NRS 1A.620.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 85; A 2003, 2073)
NRS 1A.650 Payments to survivor beneficiary and to additional payees designated by deceased member if deceased member was eligible to retire.
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, the survivor beneficiary of a deceased member of the Judicial Retirement Plan who was fully eligible to retire, both as to service and age, is entitled to receive a monthly allowance equivalent to that provided by Option 2 in NRS 1A.450. This section does not apply to the survivor beneficiary of a member who was eligible to retire only pursuant to subsection 2 of NRS 1A.350. For the purposes of applying the provisions of Option 2, the deceased member shall be deemed to have retired on the date of the death of the member immediately after having named the survivor beneficiary as beneficiary pursuant to Option 2. The benefits provided by this section must be paid to the survivor beneficiary for the remainder of the life of the survivor beneficiary. The survivor beneficiary may elect to receive the benefits provided by any one of the following only:
(a) This section;
(b) NRS 1A.630; or
(c) NRS 1A.640.
2. If the member had designated one or more payees in addition to the survivor beneficiary pursuant to NRS 1A.620, the monthly allowance to which a survivor beneficiary is entitled pursuant to subsection 1 must be divided between the survivor beneficiary and any additional payee in the proportion designated by the member pursuant to NRS 1A.620.
3. As used in this section, “survivor beneficiary” means a person designated pursuant to NRS 1A.620.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 86; A 2003, 2073)
NRS 1A.655 Payments to survivor beneficiary of deceased member killed in course of judicial service.
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 2, the survivor beneficiary of a member of the Judicial Retirement Plan killed in the course of judicial service on or after July 1, 2013, is entitled to receive a monthly allowance equivalent to the greater of:
(a) Fifty percent of the salary of the member on the date of the member’s death; or
(b) One hundred percent of the retirement allowance that the member was eligible to receive based on the member’s years of service obtained before the member’s death without any reduction for age for the deceased member.
2. If the member had designated one or more payees in addition to the survivor beneficiary pursuant to NRS 1A.620, the monthly allowance to which a survivor beneficiary is entitled pursuant to subsection 1 must be divided between the survivor beneficiary and any additional payees in the proportion designated by the member pursuant to NRS 1A.620.
3. The benefits provided by this section must be paid to the survivor beneficiary for the remainder of the beneficiary’s life.
4. The survivor beneficiary may elect to receive the benefits provided by any one of the following only:
(a) This section;
(b) NRS 1A.630;
(c) NRS 1A.640; or
(d) NRS 1A.650.
5. For the purposes of this section, the Board shall define by regulation “killed in the course of judicial service.”
6. As used in this section, “survivor beneficiary” means a person designated pursuant to NRS 1A.620.
(Added to NRS by 2015, 2733)
NRS 1A.660 Payments to dependent parents; conditions. If payments are not made pursuant to the provisions of NRS 1A.580, 1A.590, 1A.600, 1A.630 or 1A.640, the dependent parent of a deceased member of the Judicial Retirement Plan is entitled to receive a cumulative benefit of at least $400 per month, and if there are two dependent parents, each is entitled to receive a cumulative benefit of at least $400 per month. Payments to any parent pursuant to this section must cease upon the death of that parent.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 86)
NRS 1A.670 Limitation on and reduction of amount of monthly allowance. The amount of each monthly allowance paid as specified in NRS 1A.580 to 1A.660, inclusive, must not exceed the deceased member of the Judicial Retirement Plan’s average compensation and must be reduced by the amount of any other benefit received from any source:
1. If that benefit was provided or purchased by the expenditure of money by this State if the deceased member was a justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals or district judge, by the county if the deceased member was a justice of the peace or by the city if the deceased member was a municipal judge, except for lump-sum payments under a group insurance program; and
2. To the extent that the total of the allowance and the other benefit would otherwise exceed the deceased member’s average compensation.
(Added to NRS by 2001 Special Session, 86; A 2005, 1000; 2013, 1727)