Subd. 1. Authorization.

Subject to restrictions stated in this section, a volunteer firefighter who is absent from firefighting service due to service in the uniformed services, as defined in United States Code, title 38, section 4303(13), may obtain service credit if the relief association is a defined benefit plan or an allocation of any fire state aid, any municipal contributions, and any investment return received by the relief association if the relief association is a defined contribution plan for the period of the uniformed service, not to exceed five years, unless a longer period is required under United States Code, title 38, section 4312.

Subd. 2. Limitations.

1. (a) To be eligible for service credit or an investment return allocation under this section, the volunteer firefighter must return to firefighting service with coverage by the same relief association or by the successor to that relief association upon discharge from service in the uniformed service within the time frame required in United States Code, title 38, section 4312(e).
2. (b) Service credit or an investment return allocation is not authorized if the firefighter separates from uniformed service with a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge or under other than honorable conditions.
3. (c) Service credit or an investment return allocation is not authorized if the firefighter fails to provide notice to the fire department that the individual is leaving to provide service in the uniformed service, unless it is not feasible to provide that notice due to the emergency nature of the situation.