1.    Every member, except as provided in section 39-03.1-07, shall contribute into the fund ten and thirty-hundredths percent of the member’s monthly salary, which sum must be deducted from the member’s salary and credited to the member’s account in the fund. Member contributions increase by one percent of the member’s monthly salary beginning with the monthly reporting period of January 2012; with an additional    increase of one percent, beginning with the monthly reporting period of January 2013; with an additional increase of one percent, beginning with the monthly reporting period of January 2014; with an additional increase of one-half of one percent, beginning with the monthly reporting period of January 2022; with an additional increase of one-half of one percent, beginning with the monthly reporting period of January 2023; with an additional increase of one-half of one percent, beginning with the monthly reporting period of January 2024; and with an additional increase of one-half of one percent, beginning with the monthly reporting period of January 2025.

2.    The state of North Dakota, at its option, may pay the member contributions required by subsection 1 for all compensation earned after June 30, 1983, and may pay the member contributions required to purchase service credit on a pretax basis pursuant to subsection 8 of section 39-03.1-08.2. The amount paid must be paid by the state in lieu of contributions by the member. A member may not receive the contributed amounts directly once the employer has elected to pay the member contributions. If the state decides not to pay the contributions, the amount that would have been paid will continue to be deducted from compensation. If contributions are paid by the state, they must be treated as employer contributions in determining tax treatment under this code and the federal Internal Revenue Code. If contributions are paid by the state, they must not be included as gross income of the member in determining tax treatment under this code and the Internal Revenue Code until they are distributed or made available. The state shall pay these member contributions from the same source of funds used in paying compensation to the members. The state shall pay these contributions by effecting an equal cash reduction in the gross salary of the employee or by an offset against future salary increases or by a combination of a reduction in gross salary and offset against future salary increases. If member contributions are paid by the state, they must be treated for the purposes of this chapter in the same manner and to the same extent as member contributions made prior to the date the contributions were assumed by the state. The option given employers by this subsection must be exercised in accordance with rules adopted by the board.

3.    For compensation earned after August 1, 2009, all employee contributions required under subsection 1, and not otherwise paid under subsection 2, must be paid by the state in lieu of contributions by the member. All contributions paid by the state under this subsection must be treated as employer contributions in determining tax treatment under this code and the federal Internal Revenue Code. Contributions paid by the state under this subsection may not be included as gross income of the member in determining tax treatment under this code and the Internal Revenue Code until the contributions are distributed or made available. Contributions paid by the state in accordance with this subsection must be treated for the purposes of this chapter in the same manner and to the same extent as member contributions made before the date the contributions were assumed by the state. The state shall pay these member contributions from the same source of funds used in paying compensation to the members. The state shall pay these contributions by effecting an equal cash reduction in the gross salary of the employee. The state shall continue making payments under this section unless otherwise specifically provided for under the agency’s biennial appropriation or by law.