Participation in the GESE Trust is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees except for those employees who are precluded from participation in the Plan pursuant to the City of Miami Code Section 40-351.  Employees working in the office of an elected official have the ability to opt out of participation in the Plan.

Pursuant to the City of Miami Code Section 40-249, any regular, permanent, and full-time  employee of the City of Miami (the “City”) other than a fire fighter or police officer becomes a member upon employment unless he/she is a member of any other pension or retirement system supported wholly or in part by the City.

An employee will cease to be a member if he or she is absent from service for more than three years of any five consecutive year period, withdraws his or her contributions, becomes a member of any other City-sponsored retirement plan or system, or dies.

Membership Service is the service as an employee for which contributions to the GESE Trust are made as required.