Sec. 4.6. (a) Subject to the provisions of this section, a member may purchase and claim service credit for the member’s prior service in a position covered by the 1925 police pension fund under IC 36-8-6, the 1937 firefighters’ pension fund under IC 36-8-7, or the 1953 police pension fund under IC 36-8-7.5 if the member meets the following requirements:

(1) The member has at least one (1) year of credited service in the fund.

(2) The member has not attained vested status in and is not an active member of the 1925 police pension fund, the 1937 firefighters’ pension fund, or the 1953 police pension fund.

(3) Before the member retires, the member makes contributions to the fund as follows:

(A) Contributions that are equal to the product of the following:

(i) The member’s salary at the time the member actually makes a contribution for the service credit.

(ii) A rate, determined by the actuary of the fund, based on the age of the member at the time the member actually makes a contribution for service credit and computed to result in a contribution amount that approximates the actuarial present value of the benefit attributable to the service credit purchased.

(iii) The number of years of service credit the member intends to purchase.

(B) Contributions for any accrued interest, at a rate determined by the actuary for the fund, for the period from the member’s initial membership in the fund to the date payment is made by the member.

(4) The member has received verification from the fund that the service in the 1925 police pension fund, the 1937 firefighters’ pension fund, or the 1953 police pension fund is, as of that date, valid.

     (b) At least ten (10) years of service in Indiana is required before a member may receive a benefit based on service credits purchased under this section.

     (c) A member who:

(1) terminates employment before satisfying the eligibility requirements necessary to receive a monthly allowance; or

(2) receives a monthly allowance for the same service from another tax supported public employee retirement plan other than under the Social Security Act;

may withdraw the purchase amount plus accumulated interest after submitting a properly completed application for a refund to the fund.

     (d) The following apply to the purchase of service credit under this section:

(1) The board may allow a member to make periodic payments of the contributions required for the purchase of the service credit. The board shall determine the length of the period during which the payments must be made.

(2) The board may deny an application for the purchase of service credit if the purchase would exceed the limitations under Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code.

(3) A member may not claim the service credit for purposes of determining eligibility or computing benefits unless the member has made all payments required for the purchase of the service credit.

As added by P.L.195-1999, SEC.22. Amended by P.L.8-2015, SEC.3.