(a)

(1) Any person who on June 30, 1983, is a state employee engaged in the administration or operation of a state-owned educational television station and who on or before July 1, 1986, without interruption of such state service becomes an employee of an educational television station transferred to the control of a local community agency, pursuant to [former] title 49, ch. 50, part 9 [repealed], may elect to remain a member of the state retirement system; provided, that:

(A) Within ninety (90) days following the time at which employment of such person is transferred to the local community agency, such employee files with the board of trustees a notice of election to remain a member of the retirement system;

(B) Such person continues to make the necessary employee contributions and does not subsequently become a member of a county or municipal employees' retirement system; and

(C) The local community agency shall be responsible for all employer costs incurred as a result of the employee electing to remain a member of the retirement system.

(2) Contributions shall be made at the same rate as employer contributions for state employees.

(b) Any person who does not elect to remain a member of the retirement system within the time provided herein shall not thereafter be entitled to membership in the retirement system based upon such person's employment with the educational television network. Any person retiring from employment with a station covered by this section may not draw benefits and continue employment at a station covered by this section. It is further provided, that any person who does elect to remain a member within the required time, but who subsequently decides to withdraw from the retirement system, shall not be entitled to reenroll in the retirement system as long as such person continues in the employ of the educational television network.

(c) The local community agency as the employer of any person electing to remain a member of the retirement system in accordance with [former] title 49, chapter 50, part 9 [repealed] is authorized to pay the employer contributions for any state funds received to implement [former] title 49, chapter 50, part 9 [repealed]. However, no additional funds shall be appropriated solely for the purpose of paying employer retirement costs. For the purposes of this section, the local agency shall be regarded as the employing agency of those persons electing to remain members of the retirement system and shall be responsible for the filing of any required reports.