(A) As used in this section, "workers' compensation" means benefits paid under Chapter 4121. or 4123. of the Revised Code.

(B) A member of the public employees retirement system may purchase service credit under this section for any period during which the member was out of service with a public employer and receiving workers' compensation if the member returns to employment covered by this chapter.

(C) For credit purchased under this section:

(1) If the member is employed by one public employer, for each year of credit, the member shall pay to the system for credit to the employees' savings fund an amount equal to the employee contribution required under section 145.47 of the Revised Code that would have been paid had the member not been out of service based on the salary of the member before the member was out of service. To this amount shall be added an amount equal to compound interest at a rate established by the public employees retirement board from the first date the member was out of service to the final date of payment.

(2) If the member is employed by more than one public employer, the member is eligible to purchase credit under this section and make payments under division (C)(1) of this section only for the position for which the member received workers' compensation. For each year of credit, the member shall pay to the system for credit to the employees' savings fund an amount equal to the employee contribution required under section 145.47 of the Revised Code that would have been paid had the member not been out of service based on the salary of the member earned for the position for which the member received workers' compensation before the member was out of service. To this amount shall be added an amount equal to compound interest at a rate established by the public employees retirement board from the first date the member was out of service to the final date of payment.

(D) The member may choose to purchase only part of such credit in any one payment, subject to board rules.

(E) If a member makes a payment under division (C) of this section, the employer to which workers' compensation benefits are attributed shall pay to the system for credit to the employers' accumulation fund an amount equal to the employer contribution required under section 145.48 or 145.49 of the Revised Code corresponding to that payment that would have been paid had the member not been out of service based on the salary of the member before the member was out of service.

Compound interest at a rate established by the board from the later of the member's date of re-employment or January 7, 2013, to the date of payment shall be added to this amount if the employer pays all or any portion of the amount after the end of the earlier of the following:

(1) A period of five years ;

(2) A period that is three times the period during which the member was out of service and receiving workers' compensation .

The period described in division (E)(1) or (2) of this section begins with the later of the member's date of re-employment or January 7, 2013.

(F) The number of years purchased under this section shall not exceed three. Credit purchased under this section may be combined pursuant to section 145.37 of the Revised Code with credit purchased or obtained under Chapter 3307. or 3309. of the Revised Code for periods the member was out of service and receiving workers' compensation, but not more than a total of three years of credit may be used in determining retirement eligibility or calculating benefits under section 145.37 of the Revised Code.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 42, §1, eff. 3/23/2015.

Added by 129th General AssemblyFile No.148, SB 343, §1, eff. 1/7/2013.