(1) An employee eligible for optional membership under 19-3-412 , MCA, who chooses to be a member of the PERS on or after July 1, 2002, will initially be a participant of the PERS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan (DBRP). The DBRP participant will have one year from the date he or she elects to be a member of the PERS to file a retirement plan choice election form with the MPERA pursuant to ARM 2.43.1010.

(2) An employee who declines optional membership under 19-3-412 , MCA, is not a member of the PERS and has no retirement plan choice.