This section lets eligible people establish USERRA credit by making required deposits, bars double credit for the same service, requires the state to make matching deposits, and lets the retirement system and board of trustees take certain compliance actions.
Sec. 823.304. USERRA CREDIT. (a) A person eligible to establish USERRA credit is one who qualifies under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, 38 U.S.C. Section 4301 et seq., for the benefits of reemployment in a position included within the membership of the retirement system and who is entitled under that Act to additional credit and benefits from the retirement system because of the person's active duty in the armed forces of the United States. (b) A person who receives credit under this section may not receive military service credit under Sections 823.301 and 823.302 for the same service. (c) A person may establish credit under this section by depositing with the retirement system for each year of service claimed an amount equal to the member contributions to the retirement system, as determined by the retirement system, that the person would have made had the person continued to be employed in the person's former position covered by the retirement system during the entire period of active duty in the armed forces for which the person is to receive retirement credit. (d) To the extent required by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 and permitted by Sections 401(a) and 415 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Sections 401 and 415), the retirement system may: (1) grant the person service credit for the period of active duty in the armed forces as if the person had been employed in a position eligible for membership and credit with the retirement system if the person establishes credit by making the required deposits, or, if the person has not made the required deposits, consider the period of active duty for the purpose of determining whether the person meets the length-of-service eligibility requirements for retirement or other benefits administered by the retirement system as if the person had established the credit; and (2) include in relevant benefit computations under this subtitle the annual compensation, as determined by the retirement system, that would have been otherwise received by the person for service covered by the retirement system during any year in which the person had active duty in the armed forces. (e) The state shall deposit with the retirement system an amount equal to the state contributions, as determined by the retirement system, that the state would have made had the person continued to be employed in the person's former position covered by the retirement system during the entire period of active duty in the armed forces for which the person has received service credit under this section. The state shall deposit the required amount with the retirement system not later than the 30th day after the date the state receives notice from the retirement system of the amount of state contributions required for service credit established by a person under this section. (f) The board of trustees may adopt rules that modify the terms of this section for the purpose of compliance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (38 U.S.C. Section 4301 et seq.). Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., 1st C.S., ch. 13, Sec. 3, eff. Nov. 12, 1991. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 555, Sec. 9, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 456 (S.B. 1668), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 456 (S.B. 1668), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2011. SUBCHAPTER E. ESTABLISHMENT OF EQUIVALENT MEMBERSHIP SERVICE