(a) Blind employees of workshops who are unclassified members of state service immediately preceding the implementation date of a contract under § 71-4-608 are eligible for membership in the Tennessee consolidated retirement system under the same conditions that apply to state employees. Such employees shall make the same contributions and shall be eligible for the same benefits as state employee members. Any other person, including persons employed or reemployed after the date a contractor assumes the management and operation of a workshop, who is not already a member of the retirement system shall not become a member of the retirement system.

(b) Any employee eligible under subsection (a) may continue membership in the retirement system when the contractor assumes the management and operation of a workshop; otherwise, the employee may elect to withdraw from the retirement system and receive a refund of contributions. Such withdrawal constitutes a waiver of any right to reestablish such service at a future date based upon employment at a workshop.

(c) If the contractor has a retirement plan for its employees, an employee who elects to participate in such plan may not participate in the Tennessee consolidated retirement system.

(d) The contractor shall make normal contributions, special accrued liability contributions, and cost of living contributions, as determined by an actuarial valuation, in the same way as for state employee members, for each employee who elects to continue membership in the retirement system.

(e) The contractor shall pay such contributions to the board of trustees of the retirement system according to a schedule set by the board and all benefits payable to employees of any such contractor shall be contingent upon the payment of the necessary contributions by the contractor and its employees.

(f) The department of human services serves as administrative agent between the contractor and the Tennessee consolidated retirement system.