Opinion ID: 1402399
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Calculation of ninety days

Text: Appellant contends Agency erred in calculating the ninety-day grace period from her date of graduation in May 1976 rather than the date she completed the bar examination on July 30, 1976. Using appellant's calculation, her re-employment commenced within the ninety-day period on October 8, 1976. The applicable version of § 9-1-1140 provided simply that a member who leaves employment to attend graduate school and returns directly to employment is eligible for retirement credits. The 1996 amendment specifies a return to covered employment within ninety days after the member's last date of enrollment. This subsequent amendment, while not controlling, may be construed as clarifying the legislature's original intent. Cotty v. Yartzeff, supra . Further, the plain language of the applicable version of § 9-1-1140 specifies attendance at graduate school. The optional bar review course, which appellant took after graduation from law school, and the bar examination were not part of her attendance at law school. Accordingly, Agency did not err in calculating the ninety-day period. AFFIRMED. WALLER and BURNETT, JJ., concur. TOAL, J., and FINNEY, C.J., dissenting in a separate opinion.