(a) As used in this Code section, the term "Georgia Agrirama Development Authority" or "authority" means the Georgia Agrirama Development Authority established by Chapter 3 of Title 2.

(b) Effective on July 1, 1988, or on first becoming officers or employees of the Georgia Agrirama Development Authority, all such officers and employees shall become members of the retirement system. Any officer or employee of the authority who was already a member of the retirement system on July 1, 1988, and any member of the retirement system who, without any break in service, becomes an officer or employee of the authority on or after July 1, 1988, shall continue in the same membership status without any interruption in membership service and without the loss of any creditable service. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, any person becoming a member of the retirement system pursuant to the provisions of this Code section shall be subject to the provisions of Code Section 47-2-334.

(c) All employer contributions, including employee contributions made by the employer on behalf of members, which are required by this chapter shall be made for members who are subject to the provisions of this Code section from funds appropriated or otherwise available for the operation of the Georgia Agrirama Development Authority. The authority shall deduct from the salaries payable to such members the additional employee contributions required by this chapter.

(d) Any officer or employee of the authority who, prior to becoming a member of the retirement system, was an officer or employee of the authority shall be eligible to receive creditable service under the retirement system for such service rendered as an officer or employee of the authority prior to becoming a member of the retirement system. In order to receive such creditable service, the member must pay to the board of trustees the employee contributions which would have been paid to the retirement system during the period of employment by the authority, as if such employment had been rendered while a member of the retirement system, plus interest at the rate of 5 percent thereon compounded annually from the time of the employment with the authority to the date of payment. The board of trustees may require such documentation as the board finds necessary to verify the period of employment with the inspection service and the compensation received for such employment. No creditable service may be obtained pursuant to the provisions of this subsection for any period for which creditable service has been or may be obtained under any other provision of this chapter.