(a) (1) A member who is appointed or employed prior to July 1, 1989, and who did not make an election pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. § 74-4955a, and amendments thereto, may elect to participate in the DROP by making application in such form prescribed by the system at the attainment of age 55 and the completion of 20 years of credited service or at the completion of 32 years of credited service regardless of the age of such member.

(2) A member who is appointed or employed on or after July 1, 1989, or who made an election pursuant to Kan. Stat. Ann. § 74-4955a, and amendments thereto, may elect to participate in the DROP by making application in such form prescribed by the system at the attainment of age 55 and the completion of 20 years of credited service, age 50 and the completion of 25 years of credited service or age 60 with the completion of 15 years of credited service.

(b) A member shall indicate on the application the DROP period such member wishes to participate in the DROP. A member may elect to participate in the DROP for a minimum of three years and may not participate for more than five years from the effective date of the election to participate in the DROP. A member may participate in the DROP only once. Once the application is accepted by the system, such member becomes a DROP participant. If a member fails to participate in the DROP for a minimum of three years, all of the member’s interest credits shall be forfeited, unless such member retires due to disability as defined in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 74-4952, and amendments thereto. A member who remains in active service at the expiration of the member’s elected DROP period shall not be eligible for any additional interest credits. A member who first elected a DROP period of less than five years may extend, with the employer’s authorization, such DROP period upon making application to the system. The total aggregate DROP period for a member shall be consecutive and shall not exceed five years from the effective date of the initial election to participate in the DROP.

(c) A member who makes an election under this section shall continue in the active service under the Kansas police and firemen’s retirement system but shall not earn service credit under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 74-4951 et seq., and amendments thereto, after the election’s effective date. On and after the effective date of the member’s election to participate, such member is ineligible to purchase service credit under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 74-4901 et seq., and amendments thereto.

(d) Participation in the DROP by a member does not guarantee continued employment. During a member’s participation in the DROP, employer contributions under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 74-4967, and amendments thereto, and member contributions under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 74-4965, and amendments thereto, shall be made to the retirement system. No member or employer contributions shall be applied to a member’s DROP account.