Subdivision 1. Service credit purchase authorized. (a) If paragraph (b) does not apply, a teacher who has at least three years of allowable service credit with the Teachers Retirement Association and who performed service in the United States armed forces before becoming a teacher as defined in section 354.05, subdivision 2, or who failed to obtain service credit for a military leave of absence under the provisions of section 354.53, is entitled to purchase allowable and formula service credit for the initial period of enlistment, induction, or call to active duty without any voluntary extension by making payment under section 356.551.
(b) A service credit purchase is prohibited if:
(1) the teacher separated from service with the United States armed forces with a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge or under other than honorable conditions; or
(2) the teacher has purchased or otherwise received service credit from any Minnesota defined benefit public employee pension plan, other than a volunteer fire plan, for the same period of service.
Subd. 2. Application and documentation. A teacher who desires to purchase service credit under subdivision 1 must apply with the executive director to make the purchase. The application must include all necessary documentation of the teacher's qualifications to make the purchase, signed written permission to allow the executive director to request and receive necessary verification of applicable facts and eligibility requirements, and any other relevant information that the executive director may require.
Subd. 3. Service credit grant. Allowable and formula service credit for the purchase period must be granted by the Teachers Retirement Association to the purchasing teacher upon receipt of the purchase payment amount. Payment must be made before the teacher's termination of teaching service. Purchasing allowable and formula service credit under this section does not change the date the teacher first became a member of the association for the purpose of computing an annuity under section 354.44, subdivision 6.
2009 c 169 art 4 s 31; 2020 c 108 art 8 s 7
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 352 - 356B — Retirement
Chapter 354 — Teachers Retirement
Section 354.06 — Board Of Trustees; Membership; Duties.
Section 354.07 — Powers Of The Board.
Section 354.091 — Service Credit.
Section 354.092 — Sabbatical Leave.
Section 354.093 — Parental Leave.
Section 354.094 — Extended Leaves Of Absence.
Section 354.095 — Medical Leave.
Section 354.096 — Family Leave.
Section 354.10 — Funds Not Subject To Assignment Or Process; Beneficiaries.
Section 354.105 — Payments Using Pretax Transfers.
Section 354.35 — Optional Accelerated Retirement Annuity Before Normal Retirement Age.
Section 354.41 — Teachers Retirement Association, Eligibility For Membership.
Section 354.42 — Contributions By Employer And Employee.
Section 354.435 — Additional Contributions By Special School District No. 1 And City Of Minneapolis.
Section 354.44 — Retirement Benefits.
Section 354.444 — Return To Work Agreement.
Section 354.445 — No Annuity Reduction.
Section 354.45 — Optional Retirement Annuities; Unpaid Annuities, Disposition.
Section 354.46 — Payments After Death.
Section 354.47 — Payment After Death.
Section 354.471 — Account Termination; Restoration.
Section 354.48 — Permanent Disability Benefits.
Section 354.50 — Termination Of Service Credits.
Section 354.51 — Payments To Receive Credit For Prior Service; Shortages In Member Deductions.
Section 354.512 — Recovery Of Deficiencies.
Section 354.53 — Credit For Break In Service To Provide Uniformed Service.
Section 354.543 — Prior Or Uncredited Military Service Credit Purchase.
Section 354.544 — Service Credit Purchase For Teaching Service In Other States.
Section 354.55 — Options To Certain Members.
Section 354.64 — Effect Of Records.
Section 354.66 — Qualified Part-time Teachers; Membership In Association.
Section 354.69 — Information Supplied By District.
Section 354.70 — Consolidation Of Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association.
Section 354.72 — Authorized Leave Of Absence And Strike Period Service Credit Purchase Procedure.