(a) Generally. A DROP participation period begins on the first day of a month and expires on the last day of a month.
(b) Term of participation period; extension.
(1) The initial term of a DROP participation period is three years. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (4), the DROP participation period may be extended by no more than three additional one-year terms for all participants who qualify for participation in DROP under § 5-1-503. A DROP participant shall file an election for each extension on the form required by the Personnel Officer no fewer than 30 days before the end of the current term. Failure of a DROP participant to file a timely election for an extension results in the expiration of the DROP participation period at the end of the current term.
(2) A participant who is a member of the Detention Officers’ and Deputy Sheriffs’ Retirement Plan must have the approval of the appointing authority to extend the DROP participation period beyond the initial term and to continue employment with the County.
(3) A participant who is a member of the Fire Service Retirement Plan, who is in the classification of Fire Division Chief, Fire Deputy Chief, Fire Assistant Chief or Fire Chief must have the approval of the appointing authority to extend the DROP participation period to a sixth year.
(4) Effective July 1, 2023, for a participant who is a member of the Police Service Retirement Plan, the DROP participation period may be extended for an additional one-year term, for a total of seven years, subject to the following:
(i) A DROP participant in the classification of Police Captain, Police Major, Police Deputy Chief, Assistant Chief of Police, or Police Chief must have the approval of the appointing authority to extend the DROP participation period beyond the fifth year; and
(ii) A DROP participant in the classification of Police Officer First Class, Police Corporal, Police Sergeant, or Police Lieutenant must have the approval of the appointing authority to extend the DROP participation period beyond the sixth year.
(c) Expiration before end of term. A DROP participation period expires before the end of the current term if the DROP participant dies; voluntarily terminates or is involuntarily terminated from employment; becomes ineligible to participate in the plan for any reason, including a transfer to a position not covered by the plan; or elects to withdraw from participation in the DROP under § 5-1-509(b).
(d) Expiration of DROP participation. Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, a DROP participant shall terminate County service and begin receiving a retirement benefit under § 5-1-512 as of the first day of the month following expiration of the DROP participation period. A participant who fails to submit the documents requesting termination and retirement shall be involuntarily terminated and retired as provided in subsection (c).
(1985 Code, Art. 7, § 1-506) (Bill No. 90-01; Bill No. 64-13; Bill No. 50-15; Bill No. 56-16; Bill No. 66-18; Bill No. 55-20; Bill No. 79-21; Bill No. 61-22; Bill No. 58-23; Bill No. 67-23)