§ 244-a. Credit to members of public retirement systems for military service performed during war. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a member of a public retirement system of the state, as defined in subdivision twenty-three of section five hundred one of the retirement and social security law, shall be eligible for credit for military service performed during a period of war upon attainment of no less than ten years of service and may obtain, upon application to such retirement system, a total not to exceed three years of service credit within three years prior to retirement for up to three years of military service as a member of the armed forces of the United States if such service was rendered during a period of war. For purposes of the New York state and local employees' retirement system and the New York state and local police and fire retirement system all such service shall be credible in all plans specified in the retirement and social security law.

2. In order to purchase credit pursuant to this subdivision, the member shall pay into the pension accumulation fund the contribution amount as determined by the comptroller, either in a lump sum or in installments, necessary to pay in full the cost of such previous service. If such payment be made in installments, the same shall be paid within a period no greater than the number of months of such member service granted.

3. In no event shall the credit granted pursuant to this section, when added to credit granted for military service with any retirement system pursuant to this section or any other provision of law, exceed a total of three years.