Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 38-834 – Credit for military service

A. An active member of the defined contribution system who volunteers or is ordered to perform military service may receive years of service for not more than sixty months of military service as provided by the uniformed services employment and reemployment rights act of 1994 (38 United States Code part III, chapter 43). The member's employer shall make employer contributions and the member shall make the member contributions pursuant to subsection B of this section if the member meets the following requirements:
1. 1. Was an active member of the defined contribution system on the day before the member began military service.
2. 2. Entered into and served in the armed forces of the United States or any military reserve unit of any branch of the armed forces of the United States or is a member of the national guard.
3. 3. Complies with the notice and return to work provisions of 38 United States Code section 4312.
B. Contributions made pursuant to subsection A of this section are for the period of time beginning on the date the member began military service and ending on the later of one of the following dates:
1. 1. The date the member is separated from military service.
2. 2. The date the member is released from service-related hospitalization or two years after initiation of service-related hospitalization, whichever date is earlier.
3. 3. The date the member dies as a result of or during military service.
C. Notwithstanding any other law, on payment of the contributions made pursuant to subsection B of this section, the member shall be credited with service for vesting purposes for the period of military service of not more than sixty months. The member shall submit a copy of the military discharge certificate (DD-256A) and a copy of the military service record (DD-214) or its equivalent with the member's application when applying for service corresponding to the period of military service.
D. The employer and the member shall make contributions pursuant to subsection A of this section as follows:
1. 1. Contributions are based on the compensation that the member would have received but for the period that the member was ordered into or volunteered for military service.
2. 2. If the employer cannot reasonably determine the member's rate of compensation for the period that the member was ordered into or volunteered for military service, contributions are based on the member's average rate of compensation during the twelve-month period immediately preceding the period of military service.
3. 3. If a member has been employed less than twelve months before being ordered into or volunteering for military service, contributions are based on the member's compensation being earned immediately preceding the period of military service.
4. 4. The member has up to three times the length of military service, not to exceed sixty months, to make the member contributions. Once the member has made the member contributions or on receipt of the member's death certificate, the employer shall make the employer contributions in a lump sum. Death benefits shall be calculated as prescribed by law.
5. 5. If the member's employer pays military differential wage pay to members serving in the military, contributions are paid to the defined contribution system pursuant to section 38-833 for any military differential wage pay paid to the member while performing military service.
E. In computing the length of total credited service of a member for the purpose of disability in accordance with article 3.2 of this chapter, the period of military service, as prescribed by this section, is included.
F. If a member performs military service due to a presidential call-up, not to exceed forty-eight months, the employer shall make the employer and member contributions computed pursuant to subsection D of this section on the member's return and in compliance with subsection A of this section.
G. In addition to, but not in duplication of, the provisions of subsection A of this section, beginning January 1, 2014, contributions, benefits and credited service provided pursuant to this section are provided pursuant to section 414(u) of the internal revenue code, and this section shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with that internal revenue code section.
H. For plan years beginning after January 1, 2014, a member who does not currently perform services for an employer by reason of qualified military service as defined in section 414(u)(5) of the internal revenue code is not considered having a severance from employment during that qualified military service. Any payments by the employer to the member during the qualified military service shall be considered compensation to the extent those payments do not exceed the amounts the member would have received if the member had continued to perform services for the employer rather than entering qualified military service.
I. For deaths occurring from and after January 1, 2014, in the case of a member who dies while performing qualified military service as defined in section 414(u)(5) of the internal revenue code, the survivors of the member are entitled to any benefits, other than benefit accruals relating to the period of qualified military service, provided under the defined contribution system as though the member resumed and then terminated employment on account of death.