As used in this subchapter:
(1) “Deferred retirement option plan” means an option for retirement under a reciprocal system whereby the retirement system members, in lieu of terminating employment, can continue with employment with covered employers and can accept a service retirement benefit pursuant to deferred retirement option plan provisions in § 24-7-1301 et seq. for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System or for any other deferred retirement option plan which might be created by, or authorized for creation by, law under a reciprocal system;
(2) “Public safety service covered by the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System” means service as a public safety member as defined in § 24-4-101(34);
(3) “Reciprocal system” means:
(A) The Arkansas Teacher Retirement System in operation June 30, 1957, and continued by §§ 24-7-202 — 24-7-205, 24-7-301 — 24-7-305, 24-7-401 — 24-7-411, 24-7-501, 24-7-502, 24-7-601 — 24-7-604, 24-7-606, 24-7-701, 24-7-702, 24-7-704 — 24-7-713, 24-7-715, and 24-7-716;
(B) The Arkansas State Highway Employees' Retirement System, established by § 24-5-103;
(C) The Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System, established by § 24-4-103;
(D) The State Police Retirement System, established by § 24-6-203;
(E) The Arkansas Judicial Retirement System, established by § 24-8-201 et seq.;
(F) An alternate retirement plan for:
(i) A college, university, or the Division of Higher Education provided for under § 24-7-801 et seq.; or
(ii) A vocational-technical school or the Division of Career and Technical Education, the Adult Education Section, and the Office of Skills Development, provided for under § 24-7-901 et seq.; or
(G) The Arkansas Local Police and Fire Retirement System provided for under § 24-10-101 et seq.; and
(4) “State employer” means:
(A) The public employer whose employees are covered under:
(i) The Arkansas Teacher Retirement System;
(ii) The Arkansas State Highway Employees' Retirement System;
(iii) The Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System; or
(iv) The State Police Retirement System;
(B) The public employer whose employees are circuit court judges, judges of the Court of Appeals, and justices of the Supreme Court, whether elected or appointed to office, covered under the Arkansas Judicial Retirement System;
(C) The public employer whose employees are district court judges, whether elected or appointed to office, covered under the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System; or
(D) A public employer who is:
(i) A college, university, or the Division of Higher Education whose employees are covered by an alternate retirement plan provided for under § 24-7-801 et seq.; or
(ii) A vocational-technical school or the Division of Career and Technical Education, the Adult Education Section, and the Office of Skills Development, whose employees are covered by an alternate retirement plan provided for under § 24-7-901 et seq.