Subd. 1. Terms.

Unless the language or content clearly indicates otherwise, each of the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed to it in this section.

Subd. 2. Accumulated contributions.

"Accumulated contributions" means the amount of member contributions to the credit of a covered employee made before the effective date of the consolidation as indicated in the records of the consolidating local relief association transferred to the public employees police and fire fund and the amount of member contributions made by the covered employee after the effective date of the consolidation.

Subd. 3. Allowable service.

"Allowable service" means any service rendered by a covered employee before the effective date of the consolidation as indicated in the records of the consolidating local relief association transferred to the public employees police and fire fund and any service rendered by a covered employee as a police officer or a firefighter, whichever applies, in the municipality in which the local relief association is located.

Subd. 4. Covered employee.

"Covered employee" means a person who elects to retain benefit coverage in the local relief association benefit plan under section 353A.08 and who remains employed in the position of a police officer or firefighter, whichever applies, after the effective date of the consolidation.

Subd. 5. Disability.

"Disability" means the inability by virtue of any medically determinable injury or illness to perform the employment duties of a police officer or firefighter, whichever applies, in the municipality in which the consolidating relief association was located.

Subd. 6. Fund.

"Fund" means the public employees police and fire fund established by and operating under chapter 353.

Subd. 7. Prior service.

"Prior service" means any period of military service rendered in between periods of service as a police officer or firefighter, whichever applies, in the municipality in which the consolidating relief association was located.

Subd. 8. Retired member.

"Retired member" means any person who is receiving a service pension or disability benefit following termination of active employment as a police officer or firefighter, whichever applies, in the municipality in which the consolidating relief association was located.

Subd. 9. Retirement.

"Retirement" means the period following the termination of active employment as a police officer or firefighter, whichever applies, in the municipality in which the consolidating relief association was located and commencement of the payment of a service pension or disability benefit to the person.

Subd. 10. Salary.

1. (a) "Salary" under this chapter is subject to the limitations of section 356.611.

2. (b) "Salary" for benefit computation and contribution purposes means the salary of a first class or first grade firefighter or patrol officer, whichever applies, for the former members of the following consolidating relief associations:

   1. (1) Anoka Police Relief Association;
   2. (2) Austin Firefighters Relief Association;
   3. (3) Austin Police Relief Association;
   4. (4) Columbia Heights Fire Department Relief Association, Paid Division;
   5. (5) Fairmont Police Benefit Association;
   6. (6) Faribault Fire Department Relief Association;
   7. (7) Mankato Fire Department Relief Association;
   8. (8) Minneapolis Fire Department Relief Association;
   9. (9) Minneapolis Police Relief Association;
   10. (10) Richfield Fire Department Relief Association;
   11. (11) Rochester Fire Department Relief Association;
   12. (12) Rochester Police Relief Association;
   13. (13) St. Cloud Fire Department Relief Association;
   14. (14) St. Cloud Police Relief Association;
   15. (15) St. Paul Fire Department Relief Association;
   16. (16) South St. Paul Firefighters Relief Association;
   17. (17) West St. Paul Firefighters Relief Association;
   18. (18) West St. Paul Police Relief Association; and
   19. (19) Winona Fire Department Relief Association.

3. (c) "Salary" for benefit computation purposes means the salary of a first grade patrol officer for the second month of the previous fiscal year and for contribution purposes means the current salary of a first grade patrol officer, for the former members of the following consolidating relief associations:

   1. (1) Bloomington Police Relief Association;
   2. (2) Crystal Police Relief Association;
   3. (3) Fridley Police Pension Association;
   4. (4) Richfield Police Relief Association;
   5. (5) St. Louis Park Police Relief Association; and
   6. (6) Winona Police Relief Association.

4. (d) "Salary" for benefit computation purposes means the final salary and for contribution purposes means the current salary for the former members of the following consolidating relief associations:

   1. (1) Albert Lea Firefighters Relief Association;
   2. (2) Albert Lea Police Relief Association;
   3. (3) Buhl Police Relief Association;
   4. (4) Chisholm Firefighters Relief Association;
   5. (5) Crookston Fire Department Relief Association;
   6. (6) Crookston Police Relief Association;
   7. (7) Faribault Police Benefit Association;
   8. (8) Red Wing Police Relief Association; and
   9. (9) Virginia Fire Department Relief Association.

5. (e) "Salary" for benefit computation purposes means the average earnings or salary for the final six months of employment before retirement and for contribution purposes means the current salary for the former members of the following consolidating relief associations:

   1. (1) Chisholm Police Relief Association;
   2. (2) Hibbing Firefighters Relief Association; and
   3. (3) Hibbing Police Relief Association.

6. (f) "Salary" for benefit computation purposes means the greater of the final salary at retirement or the highest salary of a patrol officer and for contribution purposes means the greater of the current salary or the current highest salary of a patrol officer for the former members of the following consolidating relief associations:

   1. (1) Brainerd Police Benefit Association; and
   2. (2) New Ulm Police Relief Association.

7. (g) "Salary" for benefit computation and contribution purposes means the following for the former members of the consolidating relief associations as indicated:

   1. (1) salary of a top grade patrol officer, including longevity pay and education incentive pay in an amount not to exceed $235 per month, Columbia Heights Police Relief Association;
   2. (2) maximum pay of a firefighter, including overtime payments for a regular workweek of a firefighter mandated by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, Duluth Firefighters Relief Association;
   3. (3) salary of a first class patrol officer with 16 years of service, Duluth Police Pension Association;
   4. (4) base salary for the rank currently held, plus longevity pay, pay for eligibility for next higher rank and pay for first aid care, Mankato Police Benefit Association;
   5. (5) average annual salary for highest three paid years for benefit computation purposes and current salary for contribution purposes, Red Wing Fire Department Relief Association;
   6. (6) pay of the highest grade full-time firefighter, St. Louis Park Fire Department Relief Association;
   7. (7) maximum monthly pay of a patrol officer, St. Paul Police Relief Association;
   8. (8) prevailing base pay of rank held at retirement for benefit computation purposes and current salary for contribution purposes, South St. Paul Police Relief Association; and
   9. (9) prevailing pay for rank held for at least six months before retirement for benefit computation purposes and current salary for contribution purposes, Virginia Police Relief Association.

Subd. 11. Salary base.

"Salary base" means the salary amount as defined in subdivision 10 to which a specified percentage rate or rates shall be applied in determining a service pension, disability benefit, or survivor benefit.

Subd. 12. Year of allowable service.

"Year of allowable service" means any 12 calendar months, not necessarily consecutive, in which a member of a consolidating relief association received compensation for being a police officer or firefighter, whichever applies, from the municipality in which the consolidating relief association was located and was eligible to credit for service.