Section 38.17j - Purchase of combined total of more than 10 years prohibited; purchase of service credit in separate increments; future purchases not barred; refund; actuarial cost(1) On and after June 23, 1987, a member who is otherwise entitled to purchase service credit under section 17g, 17h, 17i, 17k, 17l, 17m, or 17n shall not purchase a combined total of more than 10 years of service credit under those sections.(2) On and after June 23, 1987, a member who under section 17c, 17g, 17h, 17i, 17k, 17l, 17m, 17n, or 18(2) is otherwise entitled to purchase service credit may purchase the service credit in separate increments equal to 1 or more full years, or a remaining fraction of a year, if any, or both. Partial purchase of service credit under this section does not bar future purchases otherwise in compliance with this section and the provisions of this act authorizing the purchase, but computation of the amount of payment due shall be made separately for each purchase.(3) If a member who made payment under this section dies and a retirement allowance is not payable or if the member leaves service with this state before his or her retirement allowance becomes effective, the payment made by the member shall be refunded upon request to the member, to the person designated by the member in writing to the board, or if a person is not designated, then to the member's legal representative or estate.(4) Actuarial cost shall be equal to the product of subdivisions (a), (b), and (c), as follows: (a) A percentage, determined by the retirement board and the department, that when multiplied by a member's compensation, as determined under subdivision (b), results in the average actuarial present value of the additional benefits resulting from the crediting of 1 additional year of service. The percentage may vary because of age, credited service, or benefit coverage. An increase or decrease in the percentage under this subdivision shall not become effective before the expiration of 6 months or more after the retirement board notifies the members of the increase or decrease.(b) A member's compensation. The member's compensation shall be the member's full-time or equated full-time compensation earned in the fiscal year immediately before the fiscal year in which the application to purchase and payment for the service are made. The compensation amount used shall not be less than the highest compensation previously earned by the member.(c) The number of years, including any fraction of a year, of credited service a member elects to purchase up to the maximum allowed.Add. 1987, Act 57, Imd. Eff. 6/23/1987 ;--Am. 1989, Act 9, Eff. 7/1/1989 ;--Am. 1998, Act 205, Eff. 8/1/1998 ;--Am. 2002, Act 93, Imd. Eff. 3/27/2002.