19-6-301. Membership -- inactive vested members -- inactive nonvested members. (1) All members of the Montana highway patrol, including the supervisor and assistant supervisors, must be members of the retirement system.

(2) (a) An inactive member hired before July 1, 2013, with at least 5 years of membership service is an inactive vested member and retains the right to purchase service and to receive a retirement benefit under the provisions of this chapter.

(b) An inactive member hired on or after July 1, 2013, with at least 10 years of membership service is an inactive vested member and retains the right to purchase service and to receive a retirement benefit under the provisions of this chapter.

(c) If an inactive vested member chooses to take a lump-sum payment rather than a retirement benefit, the lump-sum payment consists of only the member's accumulated contributions and not the employer's contributions.

(3) (a) An inactive member hired before July 1, 2013, with less than 5 years of membership service is an inactive nonvested member and is not eligible for any benefits from the retirement system.

(b) An inactive member hired on or after July 1, 2013, with less than 10 years of membership service is an inactive nonvested member and is not eligible for any benefits from the retirement system.

(c) An inactive nonvested member is eligible only for a refund of the member's accumulated contributions.