(A) Employees, as defined in § 34.36, who are covered under the retirement program provided by the city and funded in part by Chapters 175 and 185, Florida Statutes, as of February 19, 1981, shall become members of the system. At the time of adoption of this retirement system, the city shall transfer into the Pension Fund of this system all of the accumulated total credit on the pension account of each transferring member with interest to date.
(B) Any other police officer or firefighter shall be eligible to become a member if at least 18.
(C) Each present and future employee who is eligible to become a member of this system in accordance with the eligibility provisions of divisions (A) and (B) above, shall be required to become a member as a condition of continued employment by the city. However, the Police Chief and Fire Chief have the option whether to participate in the plan.
(D) Re-entry into the system after discontinuance of prior participation shall be permitted on a uniform, nondiscriminatory basis and on compliance with the provisions of (B) above. In no circumstances shall re-entry of any member result in duplication of benefits or rights.
(E) All employees in similar circumstances shall be treated alike on a uniform, nondiscriminatory basis.
(‘69 Code, § 5-153) (Ord. 557, passed 2-19-81; Am. Ord. 1325, passed 1-19-00; Am. Ord. 1353, passed 9-20-00; Am. Ord. 1443, passed 6-18-03; Am. Ord. 1480, passed 3-17-04; Am. Ord.1767, passed 1-15-14)