18A:66-106. a. Persons heretofore permanently or provisionally employed by such boards of education who became members of the pension fund at any time prior to June 26, 1962, shall be permitted to purchase credit covering any period of temporary, permanent or provisional service preceding said permanent or provisional employment, by making application therefor, and in such case, the payments to be made by the employee and board of education for such previous service shall be based on appropriate tables of factors submitted by the actuary as being applicable to the salary and contribution rate in effect at the time of making the application to purchase such credit. Persons becoming members thereafter shall be permitted to purchase credit for any temporary service which immediately precedes their permanent or provisional appointment by making application therefor at the time of becoming members and paying into the fund, the amount determined to be due for such service on the basis of appropriate tables of factors submitted by the actuary as being applicable to the salary and contribution rate in effect based on the salary at that time.

Any person coming into the employ of any such board of education as a provisional employee after June 26, 1962, shall become a member of the pension fund as a condition of employment.

A member shall have the right to purchase credit for any period of service in other municipalities or governmental units in this State or in any other State of the United States of America, rendered by the member prior to becoming a member up to the nearest number of years and months but not exceeding 10 years, by making application therefor at the time of becoming a member or for present members within two years of the effective date of this 1968 amendatory act and in such case the payments to be made by the employee and the employing board of education for such service credits shall be on the basis of appropriate tables of factors submitted by the actuary as being applicable to the salary and contribution rate in effect based on the salary at the time of making application.

b. For a period of two years after the effective date of this act, (P.L.1995, c.240), any member who meets the definition of “veteran” as set forth in N.J.S. 18A:66-104 may, upon filing an application with the board of trustees of the pension fund, purchase credit for up to five years of military service in the Armed Forces of the United States prior to his enrollment in the retirement system. The member may purchase credit for the service by paying into the pension fund the amount required by applying the factor, supplied by the actuary as being applicable to the member’s age at the time of the purchase, to the member’s salary at that time or to the highest annual compensation for service in the school district for which contributions were made during any prior fiscal year of membership, whichever is greater. Any member electing to purchase this service credit who retires prior to completing payment shall receive credit only for the service purchased, unless at the time of retirement the member makes a lump sum payment necessary to purchase full credit.

c. After the effective date of this act, P.L.2001, c.454, a member of the pension fund may, upon filing an application with the board of trustees of the pension fund, purchase credit for the types of prior service described in subsection a. of this section, or for time during which the member shall have been absent on an official leave without pay. Credit for an official leave without pay shall be purchased for a period of time equal to: (1) three months or the duration of the leave, whichever is less; or (2) if the leave was due to the member’s personal illness, including maternity leave and child care, two years or the duration of the leave, whichever is less. The member may purchase credit by paying into the pension fund the amount required by applying the factor, supplied by the actuary as being applicable at the time of the purchase, to the member’s salary at that time. Any member electing to purchase this service credit who retires prior to completing payment shall receive credit only for the service purchased, unless at the time of retirement the member makes a lump sum payment necessary to purchase full credit.

L.1967, c.271; amended 1968, c.364, s.3; 1995, c.240, s.2; 2001, c.454, s.2.