Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §17760, sub-§3, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 693, §3, is amended to read:

A. A member may purchase service credit at the cost set forth in subsection 4 if the member has at least 15 years of creditable service at the time of retirement, the member makes payment as required under subsection 4 and the member:

(1) Began membership prior to January 1, 1976;.

(2) Served in the United States Armed Forces during any federally recognized period of conflict; or

(3) Was awarded an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, a Combat Action Ribbon, a Combat Infantry Badge or any other campaign or expeditionary medal and the receipt of such a medal would allow the member to be considered "preference eligible" under 5 United States Code, Section 2108(3)(A) or 2108(3)(B). A member described in this subparagraph is entitled to purchase service credit at the cost set forth in subsection 4 only if a cost subsidy for that member's service credit has been paid to the retirement system as provided in subsection 6.

Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §17760, sub-§3, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 693, §3, is repealed.

Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §17760, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 693, §3, is repealed.

SUMMARY

This bill allows members of the Maine State Retirement System with at least 15 years of creditable service who served in the Armed Forces of the United States to purchase service credit for the time spent in the armed forces at a subsidized cost, whether or not the military time was during a federally recognized period of conflict or the member was awarded a campaign or expeditionary medal.