WM. PRESTON LANE, JR., GOVERNOR. 843

'(4) Should any member in any period of six consecutive
years after last becoming a member be absent from service
more than two years, or should he withdraw all or part of his
accumulated contributions, or should he become a beneficiary
or die, he shall thereupon cease to be a member.

, 49. (Creditable Service. ) (1) Under such rules and regula-
tions as the Board of Trustees shall adopt, each member who
was an employee at any time during the year immediately
preceding the date of establishment shall receive credit for all
service as an employee rendered by him prior to the date of
establishment for which he received credit in the State Police
Pension Fund.

(2) The Board of Trustees shall issue prior service certifi-
cates certifying to each member the length of service ren-
dered prior to the date of the establishment of the retirement
system with which he is credited. So long as membership
continues a prior service certificate shall be final and con-
clusive for retirement purposes as to such service, 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.

(3) 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.

50. (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
subsequent to the execution and filing thereof, he desires to
be retired, provided that such member at the time so speci-
fied for his retirement shall have attained the age of fifty-five
and notwithstanding that during such period of notification
he may have separated from service.