19-20-408. Creditable service for employment in private 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 private school employment and contributes to the retirement system as provided in subsection (2) may receive up to 5 years of creditable service in the retirement system for employment within the United States in a private elementary, secondary, or postsecondary educational institution.

(b) Employment to be credited must be of an instructional nature, as an administrative officer, or as a member of the scientific staff. If the employment is for teaching kindergarten through grade 12, the service must have been performed as a certified teacher.

(c) Members may not receive credit for service as a student employed by a private elementary, secondary, or postsecondary educational institution.

(2) (a) For each year of service to be credited, a member who became a member before July 1, 1989, shall contribute to the retirement system 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 becoming a member of the retirement system or after returning to the retirement system, whichever is later, plus interest. The contribution rate must be that rate in effect at the time the member is eligible to purchase the service.

(b) 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 may be made in lump-sum payment or in installments as agreed between the person and the retirement board.