(A) Whenever a member of this retirement system becomes separated from the county service because of a lay-off or leave of absence without pay for a cause other than sickness or disability for a period longer than 2 months, or because of abolishment of position, or, except as provided in subsection “B” hereof, for any other reason other than retirement or entry into military or naval service of the United States, re-enters the service of the county within 5 years after such separation, all the rights and benefits hereunder enjoyed by such employee prior to such separation shall be restored upon payment of all refunds given to him upon his separation from the service; provided, however, that such employee shall not be entitled to receive credit for pension purposes for the time elapsing during such separation period unless he shall pay into this retirement system, in the manner in subsection (C) hereof provided, a sum of money equal in amount to all accrued deductions from his salary which would have been made had such employee continued to be a member of the retirement system since the date of his separation therefrom.

(B) Whenever a member of this retirement system becomes separated from the county service because of (a) a lay-off or leave of absence for a period of time not in excess of 2 months, (b) a leave of absence with pay, or (c) a leave of absence because of sickness or disability, all the rights and benefits of such member hereunder shall continue, except that such employee’s pension benefits hereunder shall be computed by excluding the period of time of such separation period unless he shall pay into this retirement system, in the manner in subsection (C) hereof provided, a sum of money equal in amount to all accrued deductions from his salary which would have been made during the period of time of such separation.

(C) Such payment may be made either (1) in one sum, or (2) by equal semimonthly installments over a period of not more than 5 years, whichever method the member may elect, but in no event to extend beyond the date upon which such employee attains the age of 55 years, such installments to be deducted in addition to other regular deductions from his salary for this retirement system; provided, however, that only so much of the said period will be credited as the employee has paid for.

L.1948, c. 310, p. 1251, s. 19. Amended by L.1966, c. 210, s. 7.