§ 900. Definitions. The following words and phrases as used in this
article shall have the following meanings unless a different meaning is
plainly required by the context:

a. "Retirement system" shall mean the New York state and local
employees' retirement system and the New York state teachers' retirement
system.

b. "State employer" shall mean the executive branch of the state, the
senate, the assembly and joint legislative employers.

c. "Participating employer" shall mean an employer, other than a state
employer, which participates in a retirement system.

d. "Eligible employee", subject to the limitations of section nine
hundred two of this article, shall mean a member of a retirement system
who is identified as eligible to receive the benefit enhancements
provided for in this article upon election by a state employer pursuant
to section nine hundred one of this article; "eligible employee" of a
participating employer shall mean all employees, subject to the
limitations of section nine hundred two of this article. Notwithstanding
any other provision of law to the contrary, the benefits provided herein
shall only apply to an eligible employee who is a member of a retirement
system as defined by subdivision a of this section.

e. "Active service" shall mean (i) service while being paid on the
payroll; (ii) a leave of absence with pay; (iii) other approved leave
without pay; and (iv) any period of time between school terms and any
time between September first, two thousand and October first, two
thousand for a teacher or other employee employed on a school-year
basis.

f. "Cessation date" shall mean the beginning date of an eligible
employee's first payroll period commencing on or after October first,
two thousand, or the effective date as of which such employee becomes
eligible for the benefits contained in subdivision b of section nine
hundred two of this article, or the date on which the eligible employee
attains ten years of membership or, if earlier, ten years of credited
service, whichever is latest.