# Ark. Code Ann. § 24-7-711: Refund of member contributions upon termination > Arkansas · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T24_C7_S7_S24-7-711 ## Section - **Citation:** Ark. Code Ann. § 24-7-711 - **Heading:** Refund of member contributions upon termination - **Jurisdiction:** Arkansas - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** AR Code / Title 24 / Chapter 7 / Subchapter 7 / Section 24-7-711 ## Text (a) (1) If a member discontinues covered employment and does not plan to be rehired by a covered employer, the member may elect to be paid a refund of his or her contributions and regular interest credited to the member's deposit account within six (6) months following the date the member's written application is filed with the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System. (2) Any contributions remaining on deposit shall accrue regular interest at the end of each fiscal year as provided by law. (b) (1) If an active member dies and a survivor annuity is not payable under § 24-7-710 , the member's accumulated contributions and regular interest to the time of payment shall be paid to such persons as the member shall have nominated by a written designation that is executed by the member and filed with the system. (2) If there are no designated persons surviving the member, the accumulated contributions are payable to the member's estate. (3) If no annuity is payable to a dependent child on account of the member's death and if the sole beneficiary who can receive the annuity is the member's surviving spouse, then the member's surviving spouse may elect to receive a refund of accumulated contributions and regular interest paid under this subchapter. (4) For members dying before July 1, 2011, with an unpaid residual balance, interest on the deceased member's accumulated contributions under this subsection shall cease to accrue after July 1, 2011. (5) Regular interest on a deceased member's accumulated contributions under this subsection shall cease to accrue on the July 1 after the member's death. (c) A member or surviving spouse who elects to receive a refund of member contributions under this section also cancels all the member's service credit, including noncontributory service credit, and all membership rights and beneficiary designations in the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System. Amended by Act 2021, No. 279,§ 25, eff. 7/1/2021. Amended by Act 2021, No. 279,§ 24, eff. 7/1/2021. Amended by Act 2017, No. 293,§ 6, eff. 2/28/2017. Amended by Act 2013, No. 140,§ 5, eff. 8/16/2013. Acts 1973, No. 427, § 9; 1975, No. 549, §§ 6-13; 1977, No. 541, §§ 5-8; 1977, No. 640, §§ 1, 2; 1977, No. 727, § 1; 1979, No. 681, §§ 5-12; 1979, No. 776, §§ 1, 2; 1981, No. 14, § 1; 1981, No. 365, §§ 6, 7; 1981, No. 435, § 2; 1983, No. 17, § 2; 1983, No. 127, § 2; 1983, No. 619, §§ 9-11; 1983, No. 665, §§ 9-11; 1985, No. 805, § 8; A.S.A. 1947, § 80-1443; Acts 2005, No. 494, § 3; 2007, No. 97, § 17; 2009, No. 468, § 20; 2011, No. 136, § 1; 2011, No. 976, § 1. (a) (1) If a member discontinues covered employment and does not plan to be rehired by a covered employer, the member may elect to be paid a refund of his or her contributions and regular interest credited to the member's deposit account within six (6) months following the date the member's written application is filed with the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System. (2) Any contributions remaining on deposit shall accrue regular interest at the end of each fiscal year as provided by law. (1) If a member discontinues covered employment and does not plan to be rehired by a covered employer, the member may elect to be paid a refund of his or her contributions and regular interest credited to the member's deposit account within six (6) months following the date the member's written application is filed with the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System. (2) Any contributions remaining on deposit shall accrue regular interest at the end of each fiscal year as provided by law. overed employer, the member may elect to be paid a refund of his or her contributions and regular interest credited to the member's deposit account within six (6) months following the date the member's written application is filed with the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System. (2) Any contributions remaining on deposit shall accrue regular interest at the end of each fiscal year as provided by law. (b) (1) If an active member dies and a survivor annuity is not payable under § 24-7-710 , the member's accumulated contributions and regular interest to the time of payment shall be paid to such persons as the member shall have nominated by a written designation that is executed by the member and filed with the system. (2) If there are no designated persons surviving the member, the accumulated contributions are payable to the member's estate. (3) If no annuity is payable to a dependent child on account of the member's death and if the sole beneficiary who can receive the annuity is the member's surviving spouse, then the member's surviving spouse may elect to receive a refund of accumulated contributions and regular interest paid under this subchapter. (4) For members dying before July 1, 2011, with an unpaid residual balance, interest on the deceased member's accumulated contributions under this subsection shall cease to accrue after July 1, 2011. (5) Regular interest on a deceased member's accumulated contributions under this subsection shall cease to accrue on the July 1 after the member's death. (1) If an active member dies and a survivor annuity is not payable under § 24-7-710 , the member's accumulated contributions and regular interest to the time of payment shall be paid to such persons as the member shall have nominated by a written designation that is executed by the member and filed with the system. (2) If there are no designated persons surviving the member, the accumulated contributions are payable to the member's estate. (3) If no annuity is payable to a dependent child on account of the member's death and if the sole beneficiary who can receive the annuity is the member's surviving spouse, then the member's surviving spouse may elect to receive a refund of accumulated contributions and regular interest paid under this subchapter. (4) For members dying before July 1, 2011, with an unpaid residual balance, interest on the deceased member's accumulated contributions under this subsection shall cease to accrue after July 1, 2011. (5) Regular interest on a deceased member's accumulated contributions under this subsection shall cease to accrue on the July 1 after the member's death. (c) A member or surviving spouse who elects to receive a refund of member contributions under this section also cancels all the member's service credit, including noncontributory service credit, and all membership rights and beneficiary designations in the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System. Amended by Act 2021, No. 279,§ 25, eff. 7/1/2021. Amended by Act 2021, No. 279,§ 24, eff. 7/1/2021. Amended by Act 2017, No. 293,§ 6, eff. 2/28/2017. Amended by Act 2013, No. 140,§ 5, eff. 8/16/2013. Acts 1973, No. 427, § 9; 1975, No. 549, §§ 6-13; 1977, No. 541, §§ 5-8; 1977, No. 640, §§ 1, 2; 1977, No. 727, § 1; 1979, No. 681, §§ 5-12; 1979, No. 776, §§ 1, 2; 1981, No. 14, § 1; 1981, No. 365, §§ 6, 7; 1981, No. 435, § 2; 1983, No. 17, § 2; 1983, No. 127, § 2; 1983, No. 619, §§ 9-11; 1983, No. 665, §§ 9-11; 1985, No. 805, § 8; A.S.A. 1947, § 80-1443; Acts 2005, No. 494, § 3; 2007, No. 97, § 17; 2009, No. 468, § 20; 2011, No. 136, § 1; 2011, No. 976, § 1. ## Nearby sections - [Ark. Code Ann. § 24-7-701 Voluntary retirement](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T24_C7_S7_S24-7-701.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 24-7-702 Early voluntary retirement](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T24_C7_S7_S24-7-702.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 24-7-704 Disability retirement](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T24_C7_S7_S24-7-704.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 24-7-705 Life annuity](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T24_C7_S7_S24-7-705.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 24-7-706 Annuity options](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T24_C7_S7_S24-7-706.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 24-7-707 Deferred retirement](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T24_C7_S7_S24-7-707.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 24-7-708 Employment of retired members by covered employers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T24_C7_S7_S24-7-708.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 24-7-709 Disposition of retiree contributions - Residue](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T24_C7_S7_S24-7-709.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 24-7-710 Survivor annuity benefits](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T24_C7_S7_S24-7-710.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 24-7-711 Refund of member contributions upon termination](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T24_C7_S7_S24-7-711.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 24-7-712 Determination of benefit program](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T24_C7_S7_S24-7-712.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 24-7-713 Retirement annuity - Simple cost of living adjustment and monthly benefit stipend - Definition](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T24_C7_S7_S24-7-713.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 24-7-714 Increase in monthly benefits - Acts 1979, No. 655, and Acts 1981, No. 885](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T24_C7_S7_S24-7-714.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 24-7-715 Benefit rights not subject to legal process - Definition](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T24_C7_S7_S24-7-715.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T24_C7_S7_S24-7-711. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.