Sec.10-183l-22. Membership and credit in the teachers' retirement system

(a) Eligibility for Membership. A person is a member in the State Teachers' Retirement System if that person is employed in the public schools of Connecticut by a local board of education for an average of one-half time or more in a position requiring certification by the state department of education and that person holds the certificate so required. A person may also be a member in the State Teachers' Retirement System if that person is a member of the professional staff of the state board of education or of the board of governors of higher education or any of its constituent units.

(b) Mandatory Contributions. A person who is a member in the State Teachers' Retirement System shall make mandatory contributions to the Teachers' Retirement Fund each month at the rate specified in section 10-183n of the Connecticut General Statutes. Mandatory contributions shall be forwarded by the employer to the teachers' retirement board by the last day of each month. Monthly contributions shall be in the amount of one-tenth of the member's annual mandatory contributions, and shall be made for any month in which the member was employed on the first school day of that month. No contribution is due from any person for any month in which that person was not employed on the first school day of that month.

(c) Credit for Service. A member shall receive a month of credit for each month of service described in subsection (a), of this section for which mandatory contributions are made in accordance with subsection (b), of this section. Ten months of credited service shall be equal to one year of credited service. A member may not accumulate more than one year of credited service during any school year. No credit is given for any month in which the member was not employed on the first school day of that month.

(d) Service Not Qualifying a Person for Membership. A person who has been employed by a local board of education for an average of one-half time or more in a position not requiring certification by the state department of education, but such position at a later date is regulated by the state department of education and requires an incumbent to hold state certification, and that person while performing services in that position is a certified teacher, may obtain credit for such service. Such credit shall be obtained by payment of the mandatory contributions which would have been assessed on the salary earned in that position had it met the standards of subsection (a), of this section, plus credited interest. Credit obtained under this subsection shall be treated as service which determines the member's eligibility for retirement benefits.

(Effective November 25, 1992)