§ 2-1253. Creditable service.

(a)

Generally. As defined in section 2-1251, creditable service shall be the total of service as a firefighter rendered since last becoming a member after July 1, 1953.

(b)

Portability. The board of trustees may enter into cooperative agreements to transfer creditable service from one retirement plan to another in accordance with provisions set forth in RSMo § 105.985.

(c)

Military leave.

(1)

To the extent required by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994, a member shall be entitled to creditable service considering each month of military service as a month of employment with the city.

(2)

A termination refund of contributions and interest shall not be paid to a member on military leave.

(d)

Leave of absence.

(1)

A member may be granted a leave of absence as set forth in section 2-1105. Such member shall receive membership service if the member makes contributions in the manner set forth in section 2-1105.

(2)

A termination refund of contributions and interest shall not be paid to a member on leave of absence.

(e)

Reemployment.

(1)

Provided election is made within three years of reemployment, a member who terminated and withdrew accumulated contributions and interest, and was later reemployed, may receive credit for prior service and previous membership service after reemployment of two consecutive years.

(2)

The member shall repay in one lump sum all contributions and interest withdrawn, plus interest calculated from date of withdrawal to date of repayment at the rate then assumed for actuarial calculation.

(f)

Vacation and sick leave conversion on retirement.

(1)

At retirement date, a member may elect to convert credited sick leave or vacation leave to creditable service of this pension system to be added to creditable service calculated as provided in subsection (a) of this section.

(2)

Effective for member deaths on or after December 1, 2009, the surviving spouse or approved domestic partner, as recognized by the city, of a deceased member may convert accrued vacation and/or sick leave of the member, or accept donations of vacation and sick leave of other members donated within a reasonable time after the date of the member's death, and convert such leave to creditable service calculated as provided in subsection (a) of this section.

(3)

Such conversion shall be made in units of full months with 215 hours equaling one month of creditable service, up to the maximum number of hours allowed for conversion under the collective bargaining agreement between the city and Local 42 of the International Association for Fire Fighters, but not to exceed 25 years of credited service.

(4)

All hours converted to creditable service shall be deducted from those compensated under section 2-1099, and paid by the City to the pension system, equal to the amount of employer and employee contributions for service hours.

(Ord. No. 991491, § 1, 11-23-99; Ord. No. 100606, § 1, 9-9-10)