As used in this section, "school board member" means a member of a city, local, exempted village, or joint vocational school district board of education and a "governing board member" means a member of an educational service center governing board.

(A) A member of the school employees retirement system who does both of the following may purchase credit for service as a school board or governing board member if the member is eligible to retire under this chapter or will become eligible to retire as a result of purchasing the credit:

(1) Agrees to retire within ninety days after receiving notice of the additional liability under division (C) of this section;

(2) Provides evidence satisfactory to the retirement board of service as a school board or governing board member during the years for which the member wishes to purchase credit.

(B) Credit may be purchased under division (A) of this section for service as a school board or governing board member between September 1, 1937, and June 30, 1991. A member is eligible to purchase one-quarter of a year's credit for each year of service as a school board or governing board member.

(C) On receipt of a request from a member eligible to purchase credit under this section, the system shall obtain from its actuary a certification of the additional liability to the system for each quarter year of credit the member is eligible to purchase. Any portion of the credit a member is eligible to purchase may be purchased in quarter-year increments. For each quarter year of credit purchased, the member shall pay to the system an amount equal to the additional liability to the system resulting from the purchase. Payment shall be made in full at the time of purchase.

(D) The school employees retirement board shall adopt rules in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code concerning the purchase of credit under this section. In addition to any other matters considered relevant by the retirement board, the rules shall specify the procedure to be followed by a member to inform the system of a desire to purchase credit for service as a school board or governing board member.

(E) If the member does not retire within ninety days after purchasing credit under this section, the system shall withdraw the credit and refund the amount paid by the member.

Effective Date: 11-23-1995.