For one year after the effective date of this section, a member who resigned due to pregnancy prior to the effective date of this section may purchase service credit for a period following the resignation during which she did not make contributions under section 3309.47 of the Revised Code, if she meets both of the following conditions:

1. (A) She has earned a minimum of one year of service credit subsequent to the date of her return to employment as a contributor to the retirement system;

2. (B) She returned to employment as a contributor not later than the first day of classes of the third school year following the date of her resignation. Service credit purchased by a member under this section may not exceed the lesser of two years or an amount equal to the period from the effective date of her resignation to the date of her return to employment as a contributor, except that service credit may be purchased for more than one period of absence due to pregnancy, but the total service credit purchased may not exceed two years. The member must submit evidence satisfactory to the school employees retirement board documenting that her resignation was due to pregnancy and that she meets the requirement of division (B) of this section. For each year of service credit purchased under this section:

   1. (1) The member shall pay to the retirement system for credit to her accumulated account an amount equal to her retirement contributions for full-time employment for the first year of service subsequent to her return to employment as a contributor to the retirement system, plus compound interest thereon, at a rate established by the retirement board, from the date of the member's return to employment as a contributor to the date of payment;
   2. (2) The member's employer at the time of resignation shall pay an amount certified by the retirement system, which shall be an amount equal to the employer contribution for full-time employment for the member's first year of service subsequent to her return to employment as a contributor, plus compound interest thereon, at a rate established by the retirement board, from the date of the member's return to employment as a contributor to the date of payment. A member may purchase all or part of the credit for which she is eligible in one or more payments. The retirement board may adopt rules to implement this section.

Last updated October 2, 2025 at 11:37 AM