Sec. 13. The fund must satisfy the qualification requirements in Section 401 of the Internal Revenue Code, as applicable to the fund. In order to meet those requirements, the fund is subject to the following provisions, notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter IC 33-38-7, or IC 33-38-8:
(1) The board shall distribute the corpus and income of the fund to participants and their beneficiaries in accordance with this chapter, IC 33-38-7, and IC 33-38-8.
(2) A part of the corpus or income of the fund may not be used or diverted to a purpose other than the exclusive benefit of the participants and their beneficiaries.
(3) Forfeitures arising from severance of employment, death, or for any other reason may not be applied to increase the benefits a participant would otherwise receive under the fund.
(4) If the fund is terminated or if all contributions to the fund are completely discontinued, the rights of each affected participant to the benefits accrued at the date of the termination or discontinuance, to the extent then funded, are nonforfeitable.
(5) All benefits paid from the fund shall be distributed in accordance with the requirements of Section 401(a)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations under that section. In order to meet those requirements, the fund is subject to the following provisions:
(A) The life expectancy of a participant, the participant’s spouse, or the participant’s beneficiary shall not be recalculated after the initial determination, for purposes of determining benefits.
(B) If a participant dies before the distribution of the participant’s benefits has begun, distributions to beneficiaries must begin not later than December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the participant died.
(6) The board may not:
(A) determine eligibility for benefits;
(B) compute rates of contribution; or
(C) compute benefits of participants or beneficiaries;
in a manner that discriminates in favor of participants who are considered officers, supervisors, or highly compensated, as prohibited under Section 401(a)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(7) The salary taken into account under this chapter, IC 33-38-7, or IC 33-38-8 may not exceed the applicable amount under Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code.
[Pre-2004 Recodification Citation: 33-13-8-3.5.]As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.17.