The Board of Control of the Employees’ Retirement System may notify any employer who participated in the Employees’ Retirement System and has withdrawn from participation on April 10, 1998, that the cost-of-living increases provided by this article and Acts 96-572, 1996 Regular Session, 94-232, 1994 Regular Session, as amended by 94-768 of the 1994 First Special Session, and 93-604, 1993 Regular Session, are available to their retirees and beneficiaries provided the employer elects to fund the increase.