Section 47-3-87.1. Credit for service rendered in independent school system prior to, but not later than, June 30, 1979

   (a) As used in this Code section, the terms "independent school system" and "local retirement fund" shall have the same meaning as defined by paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 47-3-66.

(b) Any active member who was employed by an independent school system prior to, but not later than, June 30, 1979, and who was, while so employed, a member of a local retirement fund of such independent school system and had a vested right to benefits thereunder and who has not withdrawn employee contributions from the local retirement system shall receive creditable service under this chapter equivalent to the creditable service the member had under said local retirement fund subject to the following conditions:

   (1) The fiscal authority or other governing body, by whatever name designated, of the local retirement fund of the independent school system shall pay to the board of trustees the total amount of employee contributions credited to the member under the local retirement fund plus applicable accrued regular interest, as determined by the board of trustees, which would have accumulated on such contributions. Such payment must be paid to the board of trustees, in a manner prescribed by the board, by not later than January 1, 1983, or by the date of retirement, if the member retires prior to January 1, 1983;

   (2) The member shall pay to the board of trustees the amount of contributions which would have been paid by the member to the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia if the member had been a member of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia for the period of creditable service the member had under the local retirement fund plus applicable accrued regular interest, as determined by the board of trustees, which would have accumulated on such contributions, but the amount otherwise payable hereunder shall be reduced by the amount paid to the board of trustees under paragraph (1) of this subsection. Such payment must be made to the board of trustees, in a manner prescribed by the board, by not later than January 1, 1983, or by the date of retirement if the member retires prior to January 1, 1983. Creditable service under this subsection shall not be granted to the member until the payment required by this paragraph has been made to the board of trustees;

   (3) The fiscal authority or other governing body, by whatever name designated, of the local retirement fund of the independent school system shall pay to the board of trustees the amount of employer contributions for such creditable service, which would have been paid to the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia had the teacher been a member of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia at the time the service was rendered, plus applicable accrued regular interest thereon, as determined by the board of trustees;

   (4) No creditable service under this subsection may be obtained for creditable service under a local retirement fund unless the member has forfeited any right to receive a retirement benefit under the local retirement fund;

   (5) No creditable service under this subsection may be obtained if such creditable service would not be allowable under other provisions of this chapter; and

   (6) Subsections (i), (j), and (k) of Code Section 47-3-66 shall apply to payments required by this subsection.

(c) Any active member who was employed by an independent school system prior to, but not later than, June 30, 1979, and who was, while so employed, a member of a local retirement fund of such independent school system and had no vested right to benefits thereunder and who has withdrawn employee contributions from the local retirement fund and who had 17 years or more of creditable service with that local retirement fund shall receive creditable service under this chapter equivalent to the creditable service the member had under said local retirement fund upon the payment by the member to the board of trustees of the amount of contributions which would have been paid by the member to the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia if the member had been a member of the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia for the period of creditable service the member had under the local retirement fund, plus applicable accrued regular interest, as determined by the board of trustees, which would have accumulated on such contributions. Such payment must be paid to the board of trustees in a manner prescribed by the board by not later than January 1, 1983, or by the date of retirement if the member retires prior to January 1, 1983. Creditable service under this subsection shall not be granted until the payment required by this subsection has been made to the board of trustees. Paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection (b) of this Code section shall apply to creditable service obtained under this subsection.

Ga. L. 1982, p. 1192, § 1; Code 1981, § 47-3-87.1, enacted by Ga. L. 1982, p. 1192, § 2; Ga. L. 1985, p. 209, § 1; Ga. L. 2000, p. 131, § 1.