§ 24-4-501. Prior service credit generally — Straight life annuity

(a)

1. (1) Any member of the Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System who became a member of the system on July 1, 1957, in the case of a state employee, or who became a member of the system on July 1, 1959, in the case of a county employee, and who was continuously employed by a public employer to June 8, 1961, upon application and submission of proper proof to the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System, as authorized by this chapter, may receive prior service credit for any service rendered a public employer, as defined in § 24-4-101, in the State of Arkansas in a position covered by some other existing retirement system of this state authorized by law, other than Social Security.

2. (2) Prior service credit may be received only if the member does not have standing to his or her credit in the other retirement system for the same period of time and is no longer a member of, or eligible for membership in, or receiving benefits from, the other retirement system or systems.

(b) Any active member of the Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System who would otherwise be eligible for free prior service credit under the provisions of this chapter because of employment with a public employer or with the public schools but who was drafted and was serving in the military on active duty on a date which would have made the member eligible for the free prior service had the member been an employee on that date shall receive, upon application and submission of proper proof to the board, free prior service credit for employment prior to July 1, 1957, in the case of a state, municipal, or school employee, or prior to July 1, 1959, in the case of a county employee, if the following conditions are met:

1. (1) The member was an employee of a public employer immediately preceding his or her involuntary service in the armed forces; and

2. (2) The member was reemployed as an employee within six (6) months of his or her discharge from the United States Armed Forces.

(c) For the purposes of this subsection, prior service credit eligibility dates are:

1. (1) July 1, 1957, for state employees;

2. (2) July 1, 1959, for county employees;

3. (3) October 1, 1957, and October 1, 1965, for school employees;

4. (4) July 1, 1957, and January 1, 1963, for colleges and universities; or

5. (5) The date the employer begins participation in the Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System, for municipalities.