ACCRUAL OF LIFETIME SERVICE CREDIT.

(a) An employee accrues lifetime service credit for the period in which the employee:

(1) serves as a full-time, part-time, or temporary state employee or otherwise serves as an employee of the state;

(2) serves as a member of the legislature;

(3) holds a statewide office that is normally filled by vote of the people; or

(4) serves as an academic employee of a state institution of higher education.

(b) An employee who is on leave without pay for an entire calendar month does not accrue lifetime service credit for the month. An employee who is on leave without pay for less than an entire calendar month accrues lifetime service credit for the month if the employee otherwise qualifies to accrue credit under Subsection (a).

(c) An employee who simultaneously holds two or more positions that each accrue lifetime service credit accrues credit for only one of the positions.

(d) An employee who begins working on the first workday of a month in a position that accrues lifetime service credit is considered to have begun working on the first day of the month.

(e) An employee does not accrue lifetime service credit for a period in which the employee serves as an officer or employee of a public junior college.

(f) The amount of an employee's lifetime service credit does not include the period served in a hazardous duty position if the employee is:

(1) entitled to receive hazardous duty pay under Section 659.302; or

(2) receiving the maximum amount of hazardous duty pay that the Texas Juvenile Justice Department may pay to the employee under Section 659.303.