Eligible members may buy military service credit in the retirement system, but they must make the required deposits and pay an 8% compounded annual fee.
Sec. 823.302. MILITARY SERVICE CREDIT. (a) An eligible member may establish service credit in the retirement system for military service performed that is creditable as provided by Section 823.301. (b) A member eligible to establish military service credit is one who has at least five years of service credit in the retirement system for actual service in public schools, except that a member meeting this condition does not qualify for insurance coverage under Chapter 1575, Insurance Code, until the member has 10 or more years of membership service credit. (c) A member may establish credit under this section by depositing with the retirement system for each year of military service claimed a contribution in an amount equal to: (1) the member's contributions to the retirement system during the most recent full year of membership service that preceded the military service, if the military service was performed while the person was a member of the retirement system; or (2) the member's contributions to the retirement system during the first full year of membership service, if the military service was performed before the person became a member of the retirement system. (d) In addition to the contribution required by Subsection (c), a member claiming credit for military service must pay a fee of eight percent, compounded annually, of the required contribution from the date of first eligibility to the date of deposit. (e) After a member makes the deposits required by this section, the retirement system shall grant the member one year of military service credit for each year of military service approved. Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1876, ch. 453, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981. Amended by Acts 1981, 67th Leg., 1st C.S., p. 203, ch. 18, Sec. 22, eff. Sept. 1, 1982. Renumbered from Vernon's Ann.Civ.St. Title 110B, Sec. 33.302 and amended by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 179, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., 1st C.S., ch. 13, Sec. 2, eff. Nov. 12, 1991; Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 555, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1995; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1276, Sec. 10A.521, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.