(a) (1) “Full-time student” means a student classified as full-time according to the policy of the accredited high school, vocational or vocational-technical school or college or university in which the student is enrolled.

(2) “Retirement system” means the Kansas public employees retirement system, the Kansas police and firemen’s retirement system or the retirement system provided in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 13-14a01 et seq. and amendments thereto or Kan. Stat. Ann. § 14-10a01 et seq. and amendments thereto.

(b) Any benefits on behalf of a child as provided in the retirement system may be continued to the first day of the month in which the child attains the age of 23 years, provided the child is a full-time student in any accredited high school, vocational or vocational-technical school or college or university. Certification of student status from the particular institution shall be submitted at least annually or as deemed necessary by the system. Failure to submit such certification shall be sufficient cause for suspending or discontinuing benefit payments under the retirement system. In the event an eligible child fails to enroll or return to full-time status, benefits paid after attainment of age 18 years or the last month in which the child ceased to be a full-time student, whichever is later, shall be repaid to the system.

(c) The provisions of this section shall be effective on and after July 1, 1989.