(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this title to the contrary, any state employee who has worked during at least five regular sessions of the Legislature since 1971 or any employee who has worked during five consecutive regular sessions of the Legislature and who is termed "temporary employee" shall be considered a full-time employee of the State of Alabama and may, at the option of the employee, be covered as a member of the state Employees' Retirement System and the State Employees' Health Insurance Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, coverage shall continue as if the person is employed full time. The employee shall pay the full health insurance cost during the time the employee is not on the legislative payrolls but remains eligible to continue employment during the next regular or special session of the Legislature. During any legislative session that the employee is employed, the applicable contributions to the state Employees' Retirement System and to health insurance coverage for dependents, if coverage is subscribed to for dependents, shall be deducted from the employee's pay in the same manner as for full-time state employees and the employer cost shall be paid by the employee.

(b)(1) Any state employee, eligible to participate in the state Employees' Retirement System or to participate in the State Employees' Health Insurance Program, either as a regular full-time employee (including but not limited to Legislative Reference Service Personnel) or pursuant to subsection (a), may purchase prior service which shall be based on a pro rata basis on the number of months worked as a temporary employee of the Legislative Branch during any calendar year. There shall be no penalty for interruption of service based on the Legislature being out of session or of the employee not being employed in any special session. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the employee shall be ineligible to buy any time not otherwise qualified for during any other period. The eligible employee shall purchase the time by paying the amount he or she would have contributed had he or she been allowed to become a member when the service as a temporary employee of the Legislative Branch was rendered, together with interest not to exceed 8% compounded annually from the date of service to the date of payment.

(2) Any employee who purchases creditable service pursuant to subdivision (b)(1) shall pay the full amount within two years after electing to become eligible to participate pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. If an eligible employee has not purchased the creditable service under subdivision (b)(1) during the aforementioned two year period or a member is now eligible under subsection (b)(1) to purchase time worked as a temporary employee of the Legislative Branch, he or she may purchase the creditable service by paying the full amount of the cost of purchasing the creditable service to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Employees' Retirement System between October 1, 1996, and December 31, 1996.