§ 43:15A-152 — Credit for previous service; purchase, conditions

11. a. Any workers compensation judge who wishes to receive credit for previous service as a judge of compensation or in an office, position, or employment of this State or of a county, municipality, board of education, or public agency of this State, shall file an application therefor with the board of trustees and pay into the annuity savings fund the amount required by applying the factor, supplied by the actuary, as being applicable to the judge's age at the time of purchase and the type of service to be purchased, to the member's salary at that time. Such purchase may be made in regular installments, equal to at least one-half the full normal contribution to the retirement system over a maximum period to be determined by the board of trustees. In the case of any judge coming under the provisions of this section, full pension credit for the period of employment for which arrears are being paid shall be given upon the payment of at least one-half the total arrearage obligation and the completion of one year of membership and the making of such arrears payments, except that in the case of retirement, the total membership credit for such service shall be in direct proportion as the amount paid bears to the total amount of arrearage obligation. b. The State shall pay to the retirement system the employer's accrued liability obligation on behalf of such judge purchasing prior service credit. L.2001,c.259,s.11.