(1) A member of the PERS whose absence from service is compensated by workers' compensation, and who elects to leave his accumulated contributions on deposit with the retirement system during that absence, may elect to qualify up to five years of the period of absence for service credits within 12 months of reinstatement to his position.

(2) In order to be eligible to qualify such a period of absence, a workers' compensation determination that the illness or injury was job-related must be made no later than one year after the member returns to his covered position.

(3) The member must file written application to qualify such service time with the board along with documentation of the period of time he was in receipt of workers' compensation benefits.

(4) The division will calculate the amount of contributions due based upon the amount the member would have normally received as salary had he not been absent from service using the member and employer contribution rates in effect during that period of time.

(5) Employee contributions, plus interest accruing from one year after the date the member returns to service, may be made in one lump sum or on an installment basis.

(6) The employer will be responsible for paying to the system the employer share of the contributions due, but may elect not to pay the accrued interest, if any, which is due, in which case the member must pay any interest due.

(7) No service credit will be granted to the member until the total contributions due are deposited into the system.