588 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 377

(4) Upon verification of the statements of service the Board
of Trustees shall issue prior service certificates certifying to
each member the length of service rendered prior to the date
of the establishment of the retirement system, with which he
is credited on the basis of his statement of service. So long
as membership continues a prior service certificate shall be
final and conclusive for retirement purposes as to such serv-
ice, provided, however, that any member may, within one year
from the date of issuance or modification of such certificate,
request the Board of Trustees to modify or correct his prior
service certificate.

When membership ceases such prior service certificate shall
become void. Should the employee again become a member,
such employee shall enter the system as an employee not
entitled to prior service credit.

(5) Creditable service at retirement on which the retire-
ment allowance of a member shall be based shall consist of
the membership service rendered by him since he last became
a member, and also, if he has a prior service certificate which
is in full force and effect, the period of the service certified
on his prior service certificate.

5. Benefits.

SERVICE RETIREMENT BENEFIT.

(1) (a) Any member in service may retire upon written
application to the Board of Trustees setting forth at what
time, not less than thirty days nor more than ninety days sub-
sequent to the execution and filing thereof, he desires to be
retired, provided that such member at the time so specified
for his retirement shall have attained the age of sixty-five and
notwithstanding that during such period of notification he
may have separated from service.

(b) Any member in service who is not an elected or ap-
pointed official of the State and who has attained the age
of seventy shall be retired forthwith or on the first day of
the next calendar month.

ALLOWANCE FOR SERVICE RETIREMENT.

(2) Upon retirement for service a member shall receive a
service retirement allowance which shall consist of.

(a) An annuity which shall be the actuarial equivalent
of his accumulated contributions at the time of retirement;

(b) A pension which shall be equal to one one-hundred
and fortieth of his average final compensation multiplied by
the number of years of his service since he last became a
member; and

(c) If he has a prior service certificate in full force and
effect, an additional pension which shall be equal to one-