2010 New York Code
RSS - Retirement & Social Security
Article 19 - (900 - 902) BENEFIT ENHANCEMENTS
900 - Definitions.

§  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.