If continuous employment is interrupted for any cause, except as provided in the plan, any credited service accrued for periods of employment prior to the interruption may not be considered, and the employee shall be treated as a new employee in determining credited service. However, continuous employment is not considered interrupted by leaves of absence from regular employment authorized by the commission for:

1. (1) Disability, except in connection with retirement;
2. (2) Service in the armed forces of the United States, if the employee returns to employment with the commission within the period of time prescribed by law for the reemployment of veterans; or

3. (3) Not more than 12 months for any other cause or reason satisfactory to the commission.

   No service credit may be granted during any period of authorized leave of absence. Subsections (1) and (3) shall be considered an interruption of service when it applies to a successor employer after March 16, 2001.

Source: 28 SDR 109, effective February 11, 2002; 36 SDR 207, effective July 1, 2010; 40 SDR 197, effective May 27, 2014; 45 SDR 142, effective July 1, 2019.

General Authority: SDCL 3-12C-1647.

Law Implemented: SDCL 3-12C-1643 , 3-12C-1644.

Prior versions effective: 2014-05-27.