N.Y. Retire. & Soc. Sec. Law § 517-a

§ 517-a. Termination of membership. With respect to the New York\nstate employees' retirement system and the New York state and local\npolice and fire retirement system, membership in the retirement system\nshall cease upon the occurrence of any one of the following conditions:\n 1. When seven years have elapsed since a member has performed active\nservice provided, however, that no part of such seven year period shall\nrun during such time as a member, with at least five years of member\nservice credit, shall serve as an officer or employee of the federal\ngovernment or the United Nations or other international organizations of\nwhich the United States of America is a member.\n 2. When a member shall die.\n 3. When a member shall retire.\n 4. When a member, who is not vested, withdraws accumulated\ncontributions in accordance with the provisions of section five hundred\nseventeen of this article. If such person subsequently rejoins the\nretirement system within five years from the date he discontinued\nservice with the state or a participating employer, such person shall be\nentitled to every retirement right, benefit and privilege which would\nhave been available to him had he reentered membership on the date of\nsuch discontinuance from service.\n