Section 3307.78. Purchasing credit for service as school board member

(A) As used in this section, "school board member" means a member of a city, local, exempted village, or joint vocational school district board of education and "governing board member" means a member of an educational service center governing board.

(B) A member of the state teachers retirement system participating in the STRS defined benefit plan who does both of the following may purchase credit under section 3307.70 of the Revised Code for service as a school board or governing board member, other than service subject to the tax on wages imposed by the "Federal Insurance Contributions Act," 68A Stat. 415 (1954), 26 U.S.C.A. 3101, as amended, if the member is eligible to retire under this chapter or will become eligible to retire as a result of purchasing the credit:

(1) Agrees to retire within ninety days after receiving notice of the additional liability under division (C) of this section;

(2) Provides evidence satisfactory to the state teachers retirement board of service as a school board or governing board member during the years for which the member wishes to purchase credit.

Credit may be purchased for service as a school board or governing board member between September 1, 1920, and the first day of January of the year in which the credit is purchased. A member is eligible to purchase one-quarter of a year's credit for each year of service as a school board or governing board member.

(C) On receipt of a request from a member eligible to purchase credit described in this section, the system shall obtain from its actuary certification of the additional liability to the system for each quarter year of credit the member is eligible to purchase and shall notify the member of such additional liability. Within ninety days after receiving notice of the additional liability, the member may purchase in quarter-year increments any portion of the credit the member is eligible to purchase. Payment shall be made in full at the time of purchase.

(D) If the member does not retire within ninety days after purchasing credit described in this section, the system shall withdraw the credit and refund the amount paid by the member.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.147, SB 342, §1, eff. 1/7/2013.

Effective Date: 07-13-2000