(a)     Prior city service. The years and fractional parts of years that a member previously served as a full-time firefighter with the City of Melbourne during a period of previous employment and for which period accumulated contributions were withdrawn from the fund, or for which he is not otherwise receiving credited service, shall be added to his years of credited service provided that:

(1)     The member contributes to the fund the sum that he would have contributed, based on his salary and the member contribution rate in effect at the time that the credited service is requested, had he been a member of the system for the years or fractional parts of years for which he is requesting credit plus amounts actuarially determined such that the crediting of service does not result in any cost to the fund plus payment of costs for all professional services rendered to the board in connection with the purchase of years of credited service.

(2)     Multiple requests to purchase credited service pursuant to this section may be made at any time prior to retirement.

(3)     Payment by the member of the required amount shall be made within six (6) months of his request for credit, but not later than the retirement date, and shall be made in one lump sum payment upon receipt of which credited service shall be given.

(4)     There shall be no maximum purchase of credit under this subsection (a) and all years of credited service added pursuant to this subsection shall count for all purposes, including vesting, as provided for in section 23-84.

(b)     Other fire service. Unless otherwise prohibited by law, the years and fractional parts of years that a member previously served as a certified firefighter for any other municipal, county, state or special district fire department within the State of Florida shall be added to his years of credited service provided that:

(1)     The member contributes to the fund the sum that he would have contributed, based on his salary and the member contribution rate in effect at the time that the credited service is requested, had he been a member of the system for the years or fractional parts of years for which he is requesting credit plus amounts actuarially determined such that the crediting of service does not result in any cost to the fund plus payment of costs for all professional services rendered to the board in connection with the purchase of years of credited service.

(2)     Multiple requests to purchase credited service pursuant to this subsection may be made at any time prior to retirement.

(3)     Payment by the member of the required amount shall be made within six (6) months of his request for credit, but not later than the retirement date, and shall be made in one lump sum payment upon receipt of which credited service shall be given.

(4)     In no event, however, may credited service be purchased pursuant to this subsection for prior service with any other municipal, state, county or special district fire department in the State of Florida, if such prior service forms or will form the basis of a retirement benefit or pension from a different employer's retirement system or plan as set forth in section 23-90, subsection (h)(2).

(5)     The maximum credit for purchases of credited service under this subsection (b) shall be five (5) years. Credited service added pursuant to this subsection shall not count toward vesting, as provided for in section 23-84, or for eligibility for not-in-line of duty disability retirement, as provided for in section 23-83.