(A) As used in this section, "fire department employer" means a fire department that employs a firefighter.

(B) A full-time firefighter who, on November 8, 1990, is a member of the public employees retirement system, in the employ of a fire department employer, and in a position in which the firefighter is required to satisfactorily complete or have satisfactorily completed a firefighter training course approved under former section 3303.07 or section 4765.55 or conducted under section 3737.33 of the Revised Code may, by giving notice to the Ohio police and fire pension fund within ninety days of November 8, 1990, elect to transfer to the fund.

When a firefighter makes such an election, the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall notify the public employees retirement system. All of the firefighter's credit as a full-time firefighter shall be transferred to the Ohio police and fire pension fund. The public employees retirement system shall certify to the Ohio police and fire pension fund a copy of the firefighter's records of service and contributions and for each year or portion of a year of credit to be transferred shall transfer to the Ohio police and fire pension fund all of the following:

(1) All contributions to the credit of the firefighter as a full-time firefighter;

(2) An amount equal to the total employer contributions paid on service as a full-time firefighter at the rates in effect during that year;

(3) Any amount paid by the member or the employer to the retirement system for the purchase of service credit for full-time service, including credit for military service and any other credit the member or employer was eligible to purchase for the benefit of the member.

(C) The fire department employer by which a firefighter is employed at the time of a transfer made pursuant to division (B) of this section shall, at the request of the Ohio police and fire pension fund, certify to the fund the firefighter's salary as a firefighter.

(D) In computing years of active service under division (C) of section 742.37 or section 742.39 of the Revised Code, a member transferred pursuant to this section shall be given full credit by the Ohio police and fire pension fund for the firefighter's service as a full-time firefighter and for any service credit for full-time service purchased by the firefighter, or by the firefighter's employer on the firefighter's behalf, from the public employees retirement system.

Effective Date: 11-02-1999 .