19-6-801. Application to purchase military service. (1) (a) Except as provided in subsection (1)(b) and subject to 19-6-805, an eligible member may, at any time prior to retirement, file a written application with the board to purchase service credit and membership service for up to 5 years of the member's active service in the armed forces of the United States.
     (b) A member is not eligible to purchase active military service credit and membership service under subsection (1)(a) if the member:
     (i) has retired from active duty in the armed forces of the United States with military retirement benefits based on that military service;
     (ii) is eligible, pursuant to 19-2-707, to receive credit in the system for that service; or
     (iii) is eligible to receive credit for that service in any other retirement system or plan.
     (2) (a) Except as provided in subsection (3) and subject to subsection (2)(b) and 19-6-805, a member may, at any time prior to retirement, file a written application with the board to purchase service credit and membership service for up to 5 years of the member's reserve military service in the armed forces of the United States.
     (b) A member must have at least the following years of membership service to apply to purchase service credit under subsection (2)(a):
     (i) for a member hired before July 1, 2013, 5 years; and
     (ii) for a member hired on or after July 1, 2013, 10 years.
     (3) A member is not eligible to purchase reserve military service credit and membership service under subsection (2)(a) if the member is eligible, pursuant to 19-2-707, to receive credit in the system for that service.
     (4) To purchase service credit and membership service under this section:
     (a) a member with at least 15 years of service credit who is not covered by 19-6-710 shall contribute the amount determined by the board to be due based on the member's compensation and regular contribution rate in the member's 16th year for the 1st year purchased and, for each subsequent year purchased, an amount based on the member's compensation and contribution rate in each of as many years succeeding the member's 16th year as are required to complete the purchase, with regular interest from the date the member becomes eligible for this benefit to the date the purchase is complete. The combined total of active and reserve military service credit and membership service that a member may purchase may be no more than the member's service credit in excess of 15 years or 5 years, whichever is less.
     (b) (i) a member with at least 5 years of membership service who is covered by 19-6-710 shall pay the actuarial cost of the member's active or reserve military service credit based on the system's most recent actuarial valuation;
     (ii) a member with at least 10 years of membership service who is covered by 19-6-712 shall pay the actuarial cost of the member's active or reserve military service credit based on the system's most recent actuarial valuation.

     History: En. Sec. 23, Ch. 37, L. 1945; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 243, L. 1955; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 326, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 361, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 65, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 31-223(2); amd. Sec. 118, Ch. 265, L. 1993; Sec. 19-6-304, MCA 1991; redes. 19-6-801 by Code Commissioner, 1993; amd. Sec. 22, Ch. 287, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 28, Ch. 58, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 52, Ch. 562, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 61, Ch. 99, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 26, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 289, L. 2003; amd. Secs. 66, 122(2), Ch. 429, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 272, L. 2013.