1. Unless otherwise provided, a member shall receive creditable service for the member’s entire period of service as a county employee. In addition, absences for sickness or injury of less than twelve months shall be counted as creditable service. However, a member who opted out of the retirement system but has rejoined the system shall not receive creditable service for either the period the employee opted out of the system or employment before August 28, 1994, unless the member purchases his or her creditable service in accordance with subsection 3 of section 50.1040.

2. Any county employee as defined in section 50.1000 who was employed on January 1, 1990, and who was not employed on August 28, 1994, and who had prior service as a county employee for at least eight years may apply to the board and shall be made and employed by the board of trustees as a special consultant on the problems of retirement for the remainder of the person‘s life. Upon request of the board, the consultant shall give opinions or be available to give opinions in writing or orally in response to such requests. As compensation the consultant may elect to become a member of the system and purchase a portion of such prior service as prior creditable service. The election shall be made in writing to the board at the time the person applies to be made a consultant pursuant to the provisions of this subsection. The purchase shall be, for those who are not also members of the local government employees’ retirement system, at the rate of three percent of the retiring member’s average final compensation times the number of years purchased. The purchase for those who are also members of the local government employees’ retirement system will be at the rate of two percent of the retiring member’s average final compensation times the number of years purchased. Fifty percent of the purchase of prior creditable service shall be made prior to receiving retirement benefits and the balance may be in one lump sum payment at the time of application for appointment as a consultant or may be deducted in equal monthly installments from the retirement benefits paid to the consultant over a period of years to be agreed upon by the consultant and the board but not to exceed four years. If the consultant dies prior to payment of the full amount due, no further payment shall be due and the surviving spouse of the deceased shall receive the benefits required pursuant to the provisions of sections 50.1000 to 50.1300.

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3. The provisions of this section shall not be construed as authorizing or permitting the accumulation of prior creditable service to an extent that a retired member would receive or be eligible to receive benefits in excess of those permitted for qualifying public retirement plans pursuant to federal tax law.

4. The county employees’ retirement system shall be responsible for verifying all members’ records with those of the local government employees’ retirement systems and with any other applicable plans to ensure compliance with 26 U.S.C. § 415.

5. Before January 1, 2000, an employee’s creditable service did not include the employee’s prior service unless it was purchased in accordance with the provisions of this section in effect before January 1, 2000. Since, on or after January 1, 2000, a county employee’s prior service is included in creditable service, an active employee who is a member of the retirement system may request the refund of any voluntary early buyback contribution made to purchase prior service in accordance with procedures to be established by the board. The refund shall not apply to contributions made in accordance with section 50.1040, whether made before, on or after January 1, 2000, or with this section in effect before January 1, 2000.