19-13-301. Active membership -- inactive vested member -- inactive nonvested member. (1) Except as provided in subsection (7), a full-paid firefighter becomes an active member of the retirement system:
     (a) on the first day of the firefighter's service with an employer;
     (b) on July 1, 1981, if the firefighter is employed by an employer on that date; or
     (c) in the case of an employer who elects to join the retirement system, as provided in 19-13-211, on the effective date of the election if the firefighter is employed by the employer on that date.
     (2) Upon becoming eligible for membership, the firefighter shall complete the forms and furnish any proof required by the board.
     (3) A part-paid firefighter may elect to become a member of the retirement system by filing a membership application with the board within 6 months of becoming a part-paid firefighter or March 21, 2001, whichever is later.
     (4) An active member becomes an inactive member upon the occurrence of the earliest of the following:
     (a) the date on which the member ceases service with an employer;
     (b) the 31st day of an approved absence from active duty with an employer; or
     (c) the date on which the member ceases to be employed because of a reduction of the number of firefighters in the fire department as provided in 7-33-4125.
     (5) A member with at least 5 years of membership service who terminates service and does not take a refund of the member's accumulated contributions is an inactive vested member and retains the right to purchase service credit and to receive a retirement benefit under the provisions of this chapter.
     (6) A member with less than 5 years of membership service who terminates service and leaves the member's accumulated contributions in the pension trust fund is an inactive nonvested member and is not eligible for any benefits from the retirement system. An inactive nonvested member is eligible only for a refund of the member's accumulated contributions.
     (7) (a) A firefighter previously employed in a position covered under the public employees' retirement system and who is first hired into a position covered under the firefighters' unified retirement system after attaining 45 years of age may elect to remain in the public employees' retirement system.
     (b) A firefighter making an election to remain in the public employees' retirement system shall make the election in a manner prescribed by the board within 30 days of being hired into the position otherwise covered under the firefighters' unified retirement system.

     History: En. Sec. 14, Ch. 566, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 212, Ch. 265, L. 1993; amd. Secs. 1, 2, Ch. 254, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 457, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 109, Ch. 99, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 106, Ch. 429, L. 2003.