A. In lieu of terminating employment and accepting a retirement allowance, any member of this system who is eligible for regular retirement may elect to participate in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan subject to the provisions of R.S. 11:447 through 454.
B. For purposes of participation in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan, "regular retirement" shall not include retirement under any early retirement incentive plan.
C. An election to participate in the plan under Subsection A of this Section may be made only once, for a specified period not to exceed three years. The three-year period begins within sixty calendar days after the member first becomes eligible for regular retirement under the retirement provisions applicable to the member. The participation period must end not more than three years and sixty calendar days from the date the member first becomes eligible for regular retirement, and in no case shall the actual participation in the plan exceed three years. Once specified, the period of participation shall not be extended. A member participating in the plan shall not terminate participation in this plan prior to the end of the selected duration without terminating employment.
D. For purposes of this plan, sick and annual leave shall not be converted for purposes of establishing eligibility.
E. A retiree who has been rehired under the provisions of R.S. 11:416(A)(3) shall not be eligible to participate in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan.