Montana Title 19. Public Retirement Systems § 19-13-301. Active membership--inactive vested member--inactive nonvested member

(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.

(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) An inactive member with at least 5 years of membership service 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.

(b) If an inactive vested member chooses to take a lump-sum payment rather than a retirement benefit, the lump-sum payment consists of only the member's accumulated contributions and not the employer's contributions.

(6)(a) An inactive member with less than 5 years of membership service is an inactive nonvested member and is not eligible for any benefits from the retirement system.

(b) An inactive nonvested member is eligible only for a refund of the member's accumulated contributions.