Fla. Admin. Code R. 60S-11.002 (2026)

(1) Eligibility – A member of the FRS Pension Plan or the Teachers’ Retirement System shall be eligible to participate in the DROP provided the member attains normal retirement date as provided in section 121.021, F.S., for FRS Pension Plan members, or normal retirement date as provided in chapter 238, F.S., for Teachers’ Retirement System members.

(2) Election to Participate – An eligible member may elect to participate in the DROP as provided in section 121.091(13), F.S.

(3) Application to Participate –

(a) Member’s Responsibility – In order to participate in the DROP, it shall be the responsibility of the eligible member to ensure a properly completed application is received by the Division. To apply for the DROP, the member’s completed application shall include:

1. Form DP-ELE, effective 08/26, http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19513, Florida Retirement System Pension Plan Notice of Election to Participate in the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) and Resignation of Employment, herein adopted by reference, which shall specify the DROP begin date and the DROP termination and resignation date, and shall be acknowledged by the employer. Such termination and resignation date shall constitute a binding letter of resignation with the employer. If the member is simultaneously employed by more than one FRS employer, the member must submit a completed DP-ELE form from each employer. The DP-ELE form may be submitted to the Division up to 6 months prior to the intended DROP begin date. The DP-ELE form may also be obtained from the forms page of the Division’s website, www.frs.MyFlorida.com, or by calling the Division Toll Free at (844)377-1888, if calling from outside the Tallahassee calling area or locally at (850)907-6500. Individuals with hearing or speech impairment may call the Division via T.D.D at the Florida Relay System by dialing 711 or (800)955-8771.

2. Form DP-11, effective 08/26, http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19514, Florida Retirement System Pension Plan Application for Service Retirement and the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP); or Form DT-11, effective 08/26, http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-19515, Teachers’ Retirement System Application for Service Retirement and the Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP), as applicable. The submitted form shall be acknowledged by the employer. Both forms are herein adopted by reference and may also be obtained from the forms page of the Division’s website, www.frs.MyFlorida.com, or by calling the Division Toll Free at (844)377-1888, if calling from outside the Tallahassee calling area or locally at (850)907-6500. Individuals with a hearing or speech impairment may call the Division via T.D.D. at the Florida Relay System by dialing 711 or (800)955-8771.

(b) Division’s Responsibility – When the Division receives a member’s application for the DROP the Division will:

1. Acknowledge receipt of the member’s application and advise him or her of any required information or documents that have not yet been received. Such information may include, but is not limited to, birth date verification as required by subsection 60S-4.0035(2), F.A.C., beneficiary designation as required by subsection 60S-11.004(2), F.A.C., option selection as required by Rule 60S-4.010, F.A.C., spousal acknowledgment if Option 1 or 2 is selected as required by subsection 60S-4.010(9), F.A.C., recorded marriage certificate if option 3 or 4 is selected as required in subsection 60S-4.0035(3), F.A.C., any payments due the member’s account for purchase of optional service credit or a written statement from the member that the member does not wish to claim such service credit, and certification of accumulated annual leave payments as defined in section 121.021, F.S.

2. Establish the “DROP begin date” as defined in Rule 60S-11.001, F.A.C.

3. Send a follow-up notice, reminding the member of any required information or documents that have not yet been received.

(c) Subject to timely submission of all required documents, the effective date of DROP participation shall be the “effective retirement date” as defined in Rule 60S-6.001, F.A.C. The DROP participant may not cancel his or her DROP participation or modify his or her DROP begin date after the last day of the month of the “DROP begin date” as defined in Rule 60S-11.001, F.A.C. The DROP benefit shall be deemed cashed or deposited, or credited to the DROP, as required in subsection 60S-4.002(4), F.A.C., as of the first day of the month following the DROP begin date.

(d) Cancellation of DROP Application by the Division – If all the required documentation has not been received by the Division within six months after the DROP begin date, the Division will send a final Division decision letter to the member advising the member that his or her application is canceled and that he or she must reapply to join the DROP with a new effective DROP begin date to be established upon receipt of the new application by the Division.

Rulemaking Authority 121.031, 121.091(13) FS. Law Implemented 121.021, 121.091, 1012.01 FS. History–New 9-16-03, Amended 4-5-12, 3-25-13, 10-23-16, 4-30-17, 9-30-18, 8-6-26.

Effective: 8/6/2026.