Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §18251, sub-§2, ¶D, as amended by PL 1987, c. 739, §§28 and 48, is further amended to read:

D. A person who elects not to join the retirement system under paragraph B or C at the beginning of employment may at any time apply for and be admitted to membership.

(1) A person who joins the retirement system under this subsection may not pay contributions or have pick- up contributions made on or receive any service credit for the period during which the person elected not to be a member of the retirement system.

(2) Membership service credit for persons joining the retirement system under this subsection shall begin begins as of the effective date of first contributions or pick-up contributions to the retirement system.

(3) This paragraph applies to any member who begins membership after December 31, 1985.

Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §18251, sub-§2, ¶E is enacted to read:

E.__A person who joins the retirement system under paragraph D may purchase service credit for the period during which the person elected not to be a member of the retirement system.

Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §18251, sub-§3 is enacted to read:

3.__Reentry.__A person whose membership is optional and who becomes a member after having previously withdrawn from the retirement system may purchase service credit for the time served in eligible service as follows. If qualified under both paragraphs A and B, the person may purchase time under both paragraphs.

A.__If the person withdrew accumulated contributions at the time of withdrawal, the person may repurchase that prior service credit by repaying those contributions pursuant to section 18304.

B.__For the purchase of time for which the person was not a member, the person must pay the amount set forth in section 18305.