(A) As used in this section, "armed forces" of the United States means the army, navy, air force, marine corps, coast guard, or any reserve components of such forces; the national guard; the commissioned corps of the United States public health service; the merchant marine service during wartime; auxiliary corps as established by congress; service as a red cross nurse with the army, navy, air force, hospital service of the United States, army nurse corps, navy nurse corps, or serving full-time with the American red cross in a combat zone; and such other service as may be designated by congress.

(B) A member of the fund who is an employee of a police or fire department and who enlisted or enlists, was inducted or is inducted, was or is called into active duty, or accepted or accepts a commission in the armed forces, in computing years of service in such police or fire department, shall be given full credit for such time served in the armed forces, provided the person has been honorably discharged from the armed forces or from active duty therein, has made application for reinstatement in the active service of the police or fire department within ninety days from the date of discharge, and employer contributions have been paid pursuant to this section. Service credit given under this section for time served in the armed forces shall not exceed five years.

(C) A member of the fund is ineligible to receive service credit under this section for any time served in the armed forces that is used to obtain service credit under former section 742.18, 742.19, 742.20, or 742.21 or section 742.52 of the Revised Code.

At the time such credit is requested, the member shall certify on a form supplied by the retirement board that the member does and will conform to this requirement. Any benefit paid under this section to which the member is not entitled shall be recovered by any recovery procedures available under this chapter. This section does not cancel any military service credit earned under this chapter prior to October 29, 1996.

(D) An employer of a member entitled to service credit under this section shall pay the Ohio police and fire pension fund an amount equal to that which would have been paid under section 742.33 or 742.34 of the Revised Code had the member continued police or fire employment during the period of military service. The board of trustees may adopt rules setting the manner in which the employer contribution is calculated and paid.

Effective Date: 11-02-1999 .