An employee has a current connection with the railroad industry if he or she meets one of the following requirements:

(a) The employee has creditable railroad service in at least 12 of the 30 consecutive months immediately preceding the earlier of:

(1) The month his or her annuity begins; or

(2) The month he or she dies.

(b) The employee has creditable railroad service in at least 12 months in a period of 30 consecutive months and does not work in any regular non-railroad employment in the interval between the month the 30-month period ends and the earlier of:

(1) The month his or her annuity begins; or

(2) The month he or she dies.