Sec. 17. Any participant whose employment as an officer is terminated before accumulating fifteen (15) years of creditable service and before attaining the age of forty-five (45) years shall be entitled to a lump-sum refund of all contributions standing to his credit in the participants' savings fund plus accumulated interest thereon.

(b) If a participant dies before accumulating fifteen (15) years of creditable service, all contributions standing to his credit in the participants' savings fund plus the accumulated interest thereon shall be paid by the board to the person the participant shall nominate by written direction duly acknowledged and filed with the board. The payment may be in the form of a lump sum or a series of payments, at the discretion of the board.

(c) If a participant dies before accumulating fifteen (15) years of creditable service and has nominated no beneficiary, or in the event that the participant's nominee predeceases him, all contributions standing to his credit in the participants' savings fund, plus accumulated interest thereon shall be paid by the board to the estate of the deceased participant. The payment may be in the form of a lump sum or a series of payments, at the discretion of the board.

(d) If a participant terminates his employment after accumulating fifteen (15) years of creditable service, but before becoming eligible for any benefits under this chapter, no refund of contributions and interest shall be allowed. In such case, the participant's contributions shall be retained by the board until the participant becomes eligible for benefits. At that time, benefits shall be paid to, or on behalf of the participant in the same manner and in the same amount as all similar benefits are paid.

Formerly: Acts 1972, P.L.1, SEC.1.