(1)(a) A member who experiences a separation from service with the member's employer but has not submitted a retirement application or a request for distribution pursuant to section 79-955, or received a retirement benefit, disability retirement benefit, or distribution pursuant to section 79-955, from the retirement system, may return to work as a temporary employee, substitute employee, or volunteer for any employer participating in the retirement system. Such an employee:

(i) Shall be deemed to have incurred a termination for purposes of sections 79-921, 79-932, 79-933.02 to 79-933.06, and 79-933.08;

(ii) Shall not be deemed to have incurred a termination for purposes of sections 79-933, 79-951, and 79-955, and shall not be eligible to receive a retirement benefit, disability retirement benefit, or distribution pursuant to section 79-955, from the retirement system, until the member incurs a termination of employment as described in subdivision (45) of section 79-902; and

(iii) Except as provided in subdivision (1)(b) of this section, shall not be eligible to contribute to the retirement system pursuant to section 79-958 or accrue service credit in the retirement system pursuant to section 79-927.

(b)(i) A member as described in subdivision (1)(a) of this section who becomes a regular employee for an employer participating in the retirement system shall immediately begin making contributions pursuant to section 79-958 on all compensation paid by such employer and accrue service credit pursuant to section 79-927 for all such service performed for such employer, including any work as a temporary employee or substitute employee.

(ii) A member as described in subdivision (1)(a) of this section who has not established eligibility as a regular employee at another employer shall not make contributions pursuant to section 79-958 on all compensation paid by such employer nor accrue service credit pursuant to section 79-927 for work performed by the member as a temporary employee or substitute employee for such employer.

(c) Work performed while the member is not contributing to the retirement system pursuant to subdivision (1)(a) of this section shall not accrue service credit in the retirement system pursuant to section 79-927 and cannot be purchased as service credit under sections 79-933.03 to 79-933.06 and 79-933.08.

(2)(a) A member who experiences a separation from service with the member's employer and has submitted a retirement application or a request for distribution pursuant to section 79-955, or received a retirement benefit, disability retirement benefit, or distribution pursuant to section 79-955, from the retirement system, shall not be deemed to have incurred a termination of employment if the member subsequently returns to work for any employer participating in the retirement system within one hundred eighty days after separating from service, unless such work is limited to:

(i) Intermittent work as a volunteer or substitute employee. For purposes of this subsection:

(A) Intermittent work means work provided on a day-to-day basis that is not greater than eight days of work during a calendar month; and

(B) Day of work means any length of work as a volunteer or substitute employee provided during a single calendar day; or

(ii) Work as authorized by, and performed in accordance with, section 79-920.

(b) The one-hundred-eighty-day period begins on the later of:

(i) The date the member experienced a bona fide separation from service of all employment with all employers participating in the retirement system; or

(ii) The date the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems receives the member's retirement application or request for distribution pursuant to section 79-955.

(c)(i) A member may seek a determination from the director of the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems that it has been at least one hundred eighty days since the member satisfied the requirements described in this subsection. The director shall make such determination if the member produces clear and convincing evidence that is received by the director within forty-five days after the later of:

(A) The date the member experienced a bona fide separation of service of all employment with all employers participating in the retirement system; or

(B) The date the member's retirement application or request for distribution pursuant to section 79-955 is received by the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems.

(ii) A member may appeal the director's determination to the board within thirty days after receiving such determination.

(iii) The board's determination on the appeal shall be final and shall not be appealable to any court.