Sec. 20. 5 MRSA §18451, sub-§2, ¶B, as amended by PL 1989, c. 78, §6, is repealed.

Sec. 21. 5 MRSA §18451, sub-§2, ¶D is enacted to read:

D.__Effective October 1, 1999:

(1)__Was in service on October 1, 1999;

(2)__Had left service prior to October 1, 1999 with or without withdrawing contributions and on or after October 1, 1999 returned to service; or

(3)__Was first in service on or after October 1, 1999 and has at least 5 years of creditable service, which, for the purpose of determining completion of the 5-year requirement, may include creditable service as a member of the Maine Legislative Retirement System.

Sec. 22. 5 MRSA §18451, sub-§3, as repealed and replaced by PL 1987, c. 256, §38, is amended to read:

3. Member with creditable service of 25 years or more. A member whether or not in service at retirement who has completed 25 or more years of creditable service qualifies for a service retirement benefit if he the member retires at any time after completing 25 years of service, which may include, for the purpose of meeting eligibility requirements, creditable service as a member of the Maine Legislative Retirement System under Title 3, section 701, subsection 8, before becoming a member of the Maine State Retirement System.

Sec. 23. 5 MRSA §18451, sub-§3-A is enacted to read:

3-A.__Five-year minimum creditable service requirement for eligibility to receive service retirement benefit at applicable age; applicability.__The minimum requirement of 5 years of creditable service for eligibility to receive service retirement benefits under subsection 1, paragraph E or subsection 2, paragraph D applies only to:

A.__A member who is in service on October 1, 1999;

B.__Upon return to service, a member who had left service prior to October 1, 1999 with or without withdrawing that member's contributions and on or after October 1, 1999 returned to service; or