Sec. 7. (a) Except as provided in section 8 of this chapter, a member may be given credit for leaves of absence for study, professional improvement, and temporary disability if the leave credit does not exceed one-seventh (1/7) of the total years of service claimed for retirement (referred to as the one-seventh rule). A member granted a leave in these instances for exchange teaching and for other educational employment approved individually by the board is considered a teacher and is entitled to the benefits of the fund if for or during the leave the member pays into the fund the member's contributions. A leave for other educational employment is not subject to the one-seventh rule.

(b) In each case of a teacher requesting a leave of absence to work in a federally supported educational project, the board must determine that the project is educational in nature and serves state citizens who might otherwise be served by the public schools or state educational institutions. The board shall make this determination for a one (1) year period, which is later subject to review and reapproval.

(c) Subject to this chapter, leaves of absence specified in IC 20-28-10-1, IC 20-28-10-2, IC 20-28-10-3, or IC 20-28-10-4 and adoption leave of not more than one (1) year must be credited to retirement.

(d) Notwithstanding any law, this section must be administered in a manner consistent with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (29 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.). A member on a leave of absence that qualifies for the benefits and protections afforded by the Family and Medical Leave Act is entitled to receive credit for vesting and eligibility purposes to the extent required by the Family and Medical Leave Act but is not entitled to receive credit for service for benefit purposes unless the leave is described in subsection (a), (b), or (c).

[Pre-2006 Education Finance Recodification Citation: 21-6.1-4-5.]

As added by P.L.2-2006, SEC.28. Amended by P.L.2-2007, SEC.96.