19-20-402. Creditable service for employment in out-of-state public and federal schools. (1) (a) Subject to 19-20-405, a vested member who has completed 1 full year of active membership in the retirement system subsequent to the member's out-of-state service and contributes to the retirement system as provided in subsection (2) may receive creditable service in the retirement system for out-of-state service that would have been acceptable under the provisions of this chapter if the service had been performed in the state of Montana.

(b) If the member contributed to a public retirement plan, other than social security, while performing the out-of-state service, the member shall roll the member's contributions over into the retirement system or must receive a refund of the member's contributions for the service before purchasing service under this section.

(c) For the purpose of this section, out-of-state service means service performed:

(i) within the United States in a federal or other public school or institution; and

(ii) outside the United States in a federal or other public or private school or institution.

(2) (a) To purchase the service described in subsection (1)(c)(i), a member who became a member before July 1, 1989, shall contribute for each year of service to be purchased an amount equal to the combined employer and employee contribution for the member's first full year's salary earned in a position reportable to the retirement system after the member's out-of-state service, plus interest. The contribution rate must be the rate in effect at the time the member is eligible for the service.

(b) To purchase the service described in subsection (1)(c)(ii), a member who became a member before July 1, 1989, shall contribute for each year of service to be purchased an amount equal to the combined employer and employee contribution for the member's first full year's teaching salary earned in Montana after the member's out-of-state service or after the salary was reported to the system for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1989, whichever date is later, plus interest. The contribution rate must be the rate in effect at the time the member is eligible to purchase the service or the rate in effect on July 1, 1989, whichever date is later.

(c) For each year of service to be credited under this section, a member who became a member on or after July 1, 1989, shall contribute the actuarial cost of the service based on the most recent valuation of the system.

(3) The interest on contributions required under subsection (2)(a) must be paid:

(a) if a written application to purchase service was signed prior to July 1, 2012, at the rate that the contributions would have earned had the contributions been in the member's account from the date the member was eligible to purchase the service; or

(b) if a written application to purchase service is signed on or after July 1, 2012, at the actuarially assumed interest rate in effect on the date the written application is signed.

(4) The contributions and interest required under subsection (2) may be made in a lump-sum payment or in installments as agreed between the member and the retirement board.

(5) The provisions of 19-20-405 apply to creditable service purchased under this section.