§20-18-17. Conversion of annual and sick leave authorized for health or retirement benefits.

(a) Any member, who was a member of the Public Employee Retirement System prior to July 1, 2015, and who elected to become a member of this plan pursuant to §20-18-6 of this code and who has accrued annual leave or sick leave days with the division may elect to use the days at the time of retirement to acquire additional credited service in this retirement system. The accrued days shall be applied on the basis of two workdays credit granted for each one day of such accrued annual or sick leave days, with each month of retirement service credit to equal 20 workdays and with any remainder of 10 workdays or more to constitute a full month of additional credit and any remainder of less than 10 workdays to be dropped and not used. Additional service credited pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be allowed and not deemed to controvert the requirement of no more than 12 months credited service in any year’s period.

(b) Nothing in this article may be construed to change a member’s eligibility to use accrued annual or sick leave days for extended insurance coverage as authorized pursuant to the provisions of §5-16-13 of this code. Any use of accrued annual or sick leave days for extended insurance coverage shall be as authorized by the provisions of §5-16-13 of this code.