KRS 21.345: Definitions.

(1) For the purposes of KRS 21.350 to 21.510, "retirement" means a voluntary

resignation or a failure of reelection, but does not include a removal for cause.

(2) The word "service" as used in KRS 21.370 to 21.480 means service transferred

from the Kentucky Retirement Systems pursuant to KRS 21.370(2), service as a city

police judge purchased pursuant to KRS 21.370(3), and service as a Justice of the

Supreme Court, as a Judge of the Court of Appeals created by Section 111 of the

Constitution of Kentucky, as a r egular Circuit Judge, or as a regular Judge of the

District Court, including service in one (1) and then another of those capacities. It

also includes service as a special Circuit Judge under the conditions described in

subsection (3) of this section, as a Judge or commissioner of the former Court of

Appeals, or as director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, prior to January

1, 1976, and service continuing beyond that date, in any capacity in or for the Court

of Justice, by any person who held the office of commissioner of the former Court

of Appeals, or director of the Administrative Office of the Courts, on December 31,

1975. The word "service" embraces only service performed while a member of the

retirement system established by KRS 21.350 to 21. 510, except that service in any

of the positions mentioned, before the Judicial Retirement System was made

applicable to that category of position, and service transferred from the Kentucky

Retirement Systems pursuant to KRS 21.370(2), shall be included.

(3) For the purposes of KRS 21.345 to 21.510, a "year" of service means a total of

twelve (12) months of service, which need not be in the same calendar year. Service

for any part of the calendar month in which the member's term of service begins or

ends shall be deemed to constitute a month of service.

(4) The term "accumulated employer credit" as used in KRS 21.345 to 21.580 means

the employer pay credit deposited to the member's account and interest credited on

such amounts as provided by KRS 21.402.

(5) The term "accumulated contributions" as used in KRS 21.345 to 21.580, means:

(a) For a member who began participating in the Judicial Retirement Plan prior to

January 1, 2014, the contributions made by the member to the Judicial

Retirement Plan; and

(b) For a member who begins participating in the Judicial Retirement Plan on or

after January 1, 2014, in the hybrid cash balance plan, the contributions made

by the member to the Judicial Retirement Plan and interest credited on such

amounts as provided by KRS 21.402.

(6) The term "accumulated account balance" as used in KRS 21.345 to 21.580 means:

(a) For members who began participating in the Judicial Retirement Plan prior to

January 1, 2014, the member's accumulated contributions; or

(b) For members who begin participating in the Judicial Retirement Plan on or

after January 1, 2014, in the hybrid cash balance plan as provided by KRS

21.402, the combined sum of the member's accumulated contributions and the

member's accumulated employer credit.

(7) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any director of the Administrative

Office of the Courts appointed after January 1, 1976, nor shall they apply to any

commissioner of the Court of Appeals not appointed prior to January 1, 1976. The

administrative direc tor of the courts and commissioners of the Court of Appeals

appointed prior to January 1, 1976, shall continue to be members of the system so

long as they continue to render service in any capacity in or for the Court of Justice.