§ 2-132. Eligibility criteria.

All Okaloosa County employees, including the employees of any elected constitutional officer who elects to participate in the program, are eligible to participate, at their sole option, in the program authorized by this section if they meet the following qualifications:

(1)

The employee must be a full-time employee of the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners or of any elected constitutional officer who elects to participate in the program. Part-time employees, temporary employees, emergency relief and contract employees are not eligible to participate in the program.

(2)

The employee must have worked in an FRS covered position for no less than six years for the county commissioners or for their respective constitutional officer as of September 19, 2010.

(3)

Notwithstanding subsection (2), an employee shall not be eligible to participate in the program if the employee is scheduled to terminate employment in calendar year 2010 under the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) as defined by the Florida Retirement Systems Act, Chapter 121, Florida Statutes.

(4)

An employee who accepts any benefit through this program shall not be eligible to be employed by the county board of county commissioners or their elected constitutional officer in a regular, full-time capacity for a five-year period. However, this provision does not prohibit the employee from working for the board of county commissioners on a temporary, part-time, emergency relief or contract basis.

(5)

Notwithstanding any other criteria, any employee who works for the county extension department is only eligible for a payout based on a portion of the salary paid by the county.

(6)

Eligibility criteria may be broadened or narrowed by resolution of the board of county commissioners.

If an employee meets the criteria established under this section, the county administrator, or his or her designee(s), shall review the employee's application and approve or deny the application.

(Ord. No. 10-05, § 2, 4-6-10)