Sec. 16. (a) If a teacher serves in the general assembly, the teacher shall be given credit for the time spent in this service, including the time spent for council or committee meetings. The leave for this service does not diminish the teacher's rights under the Indiana state teachers' retirement fund or the teacher's advancement on the state or local compensation plan. For these purposes, the teacher is, despite the leave, considered teaching for the school during that time.
(b) A teacher serving in the general assembly may choose to have deductions made from the teacher's salary as a legislator for contributions under either IC 5-10.4-4-11 or IC 5-10.3-7-9.