Subd. 1. Scope.

In this chapter, the terms defined in this section have the meanings given them.

Subd. 2. Member.

"Member" means:

1. (a) persons referred to and employed after June 30, 1943, under Laws 1929, chapter 355, as amended or supplemented, currently employed by the state, whose salaries or compensation is paid out of state funds;
2. (b) a conservation officer employed under section 97A.201, currently employed by the state, whose salary or compensation is paid out of state funds;
3. (c) a crime bureau officer who was employed by the crime bureau and was a member of the highway patrolmen's retirement fund on July 1, 1978, whether or not that person has the power of arrest by warrant after that date, or who is employed as police personnel, with powers of arrest by warrant under section 299C.04, and who is currently employed by the state, and whose salary or compensation is paid out of state funds;
4. (d) a person who is employed by the state in the department of public safety in a data processing management position with salary or compensation paid from state funds, who was a crime bureau officer covered by the state patrol retirement plan on August 15, 1987, and who was initially hired in the data processing management position within the department during September 1987, or January 1988, with membership continuing for the duration of the person's employment in that position, whether or not the person has the power of arrest by warrant after August 15, 1987; and
5. (e) public safety employees defined as peace officers in section 626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), and employed with the division of alcohol and gambling enforcement under section 299L.01.

Subd. 2a.

Repealed, 1993 c 307 art 7 s 1

Subd. 3. Allowable services.

"Allowable service" means:

1. (a) for members defined in subdivision 2, clause (a), service for which payments have been made to the state patrol retirement fund, and

2. (b) for members defined in subdivision 2, clauses (b) and (c), service for which payments have been made to the state patrol retirement fund, service for which payments were made to the state police officers retirement fund after June 30, 1961, and all prior service which was credited to a member for service on or before June 30, 1961.

   Allowable service also includes any period of absence from duty by a member who, by reason of injury incurred in the performance of duty, is temporarily disabled and for which disability the state is liable under the workers' compensation law, until the date authorized by the executive director for commencement of payment of a disability benefit or return to employment.

Subd. 4. Department head.

"Department head" means the head of any department, institution, or branch of the state service that directly pays salaries from state funds to a member who prepares, approves, and submits salary abstracts of employees to the commissioner of finance and state treasurer.

Subd. 5.

Repealed, 1975 c 368 s 51

Subd. 6. Accumulated deductions.

"Accumulated deductions" means the total sums deducted from the salary of a member and the total amount of assessments paid by a member in place of deductions, and credited to the member's individual account, without interest.

Subd. 7. Fund.

"Fund" means the state patrol retirement fund.

Subd. 8.

Repealed, 1983 c 128 s 36

Subd. 9. Surviving spouse.

"Surviving spouse" means a member's or former member's legally married spouse who resided with the member or former member at the time of death and was married to the member or former member, for a period of at least one year, during or before the time of membership.

Subd. 10. Dependent child.

"Dependent child" means a natural or adopted unmarried child of a deceased member under the age of 18 years, including any child of the member conceived during the lifetime of the member and born after the death of the member.

Subd. 11. Average monthly salary.

"Average monthly salary" means the average of the highest monthly salaries for five years of service as a member. Average monthly salary must be based upon all allowable service if this service is less than five years. It does not include any amounts of severance pay or any reduced salary paid during the period the person is entitled to workers' compensation benefit payments for temporary disability. A member on leave of absence receiving temporary workers' compensation payments and a reduced salary or no salary from the employer who is entitled to allowable service credit for the period of absence may make payment to the fund for the difference between salary received, if any, and the salary the member would normally receive if not on leave of absence during the period. The member shall pay an amount equal to the member and employer contribution rate under section 352B.02, subdivisions 1b and 1c, on the differential salary amount for the period of the leave of absence. The employing department, at its option, may pay the employer amount on behalf of the member. Payment made under this subdivision must include interest at the rate of 8.5 percent per year, and must be completed within one year of the return from the leave of absence.