(a) Beginning in January, 1962, current and future members of the General Assembly shall make contributions to the retirement system for the limited purpose of providing survivors benefits under Code Sections 47-2-128 and 47-2-129, provided that any member of the General Assembly may reject such coverage, in which case no contributions shall be made by him; provided, further, that in the event of the death of any member of the 1962 General Assembly prior to February 13, 1962, such member shall be deemed to have elected survivors benefits coverage, in which case any benefits payable shall be made to the deceased member's surviving spouse and shall be paid from the sum of all contributions required under this Code section.

(b) If a member accepts such coverage, the legislative fiscal officer is authorized and directed to pay to the board of trustees from funds appropriated for the operation of the General Assembly all accumulated contributions for survivors benefits that would have been paid had members of the General Assembly received survivors benefits coverage when it was originally extended to members of the retirement system.