MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Finance

By: Senator(s) Gordon

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-13-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT MEMBERS OF THE HIGHWAY SAFETY PATROL RETIREMENT SYSTEM SHALL RECEIVE CREDITABLE SERVICE FOR ALL ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY SERVICE, NOT JUST MILITARY SERVICE DURING TIME OF WAR OR MILITARY CONFLICT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 25-13-17, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-13-17. All persons who are covered under the terms of this chapter on the date on which this retirement system is established and who become members of the retirement system shall cease to be members under the provisions of Sections 25-11-101 through 25-11-139 upon the effective date of this chapter, and shall become members of this retirement system with full credit for all prior service with the Highway Safety Patrol.

In computing the period of service of a member of the Highway Safety Patrol, anything in this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding, any member who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, * * * or who served in maritime service during periods of hostility in World War II, shall be entitled to creditable service for his service on active duty in the Armed Forces or in such maritime service, provided he entered state service after his discharge from the Armed Forces or entered state service after he completed such maritime service. The maximum period for such creditable service for all military service shall not * * * exceed four (4) years unless * * * positive proof can be furnished by such person that he was retained in the Armed Forces during World War II or in maritime service during World War II, by causes beyond his control and without opportunity of discharge. The member shall furnish proof satisfactory to the Board of Trustees of the Public Employees' Retirement System of certification of military service or maritime service records showing dates of entrance into active duty service and the date of discharge. No creditable service shall be granted for any military service or maritime service to a member who qualifies for a retirement allowance in another public retirement system administered by the Board of Trustees of the Public Employees' Retirement System based in whole or in part on such military or maritime service. In no case shall the member receive creditable service if the member received a dishonorable discharge from the Armed Forces of the United States.

The credit for military service granted in this section shall apply to all persons who have retired from the Highway Patrol and who qualify for credit as outlined above, whether they retired before or after July 1, 2000; but this provision shall not operate to require any back payments of retirement.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2000.