Except as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter, if a member ceases to be employed in a covered position, he or she may withdraw the total sum, with 6 percent interest, which he or she has paid into the fund. The member shall not be eligible at any time after such withdrawal to become a member of the fund, unless at a later date he or she becomes employed in a covered position, in which event he or she shall be reinstated into the fund as if he or she had never before been a member. Any such reinstated member shall have the privilege of reestablishing any prior creditable service, provided that the member repays into the retirement system an amount equal to the amount withdrawn, together with 6 percent interest from the date of withdrawal to the date of repayment, which interest shall be placed in the accumulation fund. The employee contributions paid by the employer as provided in subsection (c) of Code Section 47-23-80 shall be considered to be payments made by the member.