Kentucky Revised Statutes Title VIII. Offices and Officers § 61.543.Deduction or pick-up of employee contributions; service credit; educational leave

(1)(a) Employee contributions shall be deducted each payroll period from the creditable compensation of each employee of an agency participating in the retirement system while he is classified as regular full-time as defined in KRS 61.510 unless the employee did not elect to become a member as provided by subsection (2) of KRS 61.525 or is not eligible to participate in the system as provided by KRS 61.522.

(b) After August 1, 1982, employee contributions shall be picked up by the employer pursuant to KRS 61.560(4). Service credit will be allowed for each month the contributions are deducted or picked up during a fiscal or calendar year, if the member receives creditable compensation for an average of one hundred (100) hours or more of work per month. If the average number of hours of work is less than one hundred (100) per month, the member shall be allowed credit only for those months he receives creditable compensation for one hundred (100) hours of work.

(a) A member on military leave shall be entitled to service credit in accordance with KRS 61.552;

(b) A member on educational leave, approved by the Personnel Cabinet, who is receiving seventy-five percent (75%) or more of full salary, shall receive service credit and shall pay employee contributions, or the contributions shall be picked up in accordance with KRS 61.560 and his employer shall pay employer contributions in accordance with KRS 61.565. If a tuition agreement is broken by the member, the member and employer contributions paid or picked up during the period of educational leave shall be refunded; and

(c) An employee on educational leave, approved by the appointing authority, not to exceed one (1) year, or with additional approval of one (1) additional year, and not to exceed two (2) years within a five (5) year period, who is receiving a salary of less than seventy-five percent (75%) of full salary, may elect to retain membership in the system during the period of leave. If the employee elects to retain membership in the system, he shall receive service credit by having employee contributions picked up in accordance with KRS 61.560. His employer shall pay employer contributions in accordance with KRS 61.565. If a tuition agreement is broken by the member, the employee and employer contributions paid or picked up during the period of educational leave shall be refunded to the contributor and no service credit shall be earned for the period of leave.