(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section, if any retired member returns to the service of the state in any position except as a member of the General Assembly, his or her retirement allowance shall cease. Upon cessation of such service, the retired member, after proper notification to the board, shall receive the same retirement allowance which he or she was receiving prior to returning to state service, calculated with any increases granted during the period of compensation.

(b) The retirement allowance of a retired member who returns to the service of the state in any position other than as a member of the General Assembly shall not cease provided that such member performs no more than 1,040 hours of such service in any calendar year; provided, however, that no such retired member shall be eligible for employee health benefits other than those available to the member as a part of his or her retirement benefits or for any annual leave, any sick leave, or any other employee benefits available to a state employee in the classified service of the State Merit System of Personnel Administration.