(a) All persons who are members of the General Assembly on July 1, 1967, shall become members of the system as of such date, except that within six months from such date any such person may irrevocably elect not to be a member of the system. All other persons shall become members of the system on taking office as members of the General Assembly. Staff members shall have the option to become members of the system under the same conditions as elected members of the General Assembly.

(b) Any other provisions of law to the contrary notwithstanding, any person who was a member of the General Assembly on April 1, 1971, and who elected not to be a member of the system as provided for in subsection (a) of this Code section could elect, on or before April 30, 1971, to become a member of the system and, upon so electing, become a member under the same conditions as any other member. In order for any such member to receive credit for membership service such member must make the required contributions for such periods, plus interest at the rate of 4 1/4 percent per annum from the time such contributions would have been made had he been a member at that time.

(c) If a member of the system ceases to be a member of the General Assembly before attaining age 60 and for reasons other than death, such member, unless he withdraws his contributions pursuant to Code Section 47-6-85, shall continue as a noncontributing member of the system. Any such noncontributing member shall not gain any additional membership service. If he again becomes a member of the General Assembly and a contributing member of the system, such member shall retain the membership service previously credited to him. If a member subject to this subsection withdraws his contributions upon ceasing to be a member of the General Assembly, any membership service credited to him at the time such contributions are withdrawn shall be forfeited and may not be reestablished if he again becomes a member of the General Assembly.

(d) Should any member of the system in any period of five consecutive years after becoming a member be absent from service more than four years, withdraw his contributions or become a beneficiary of such system, or die, he shall thereupon cease to be a member.