Any person employed by the department of elementary and secondary education below pay grade 19 in other than faculty positions, on or before February 1, 1974, in the classified, unclassified, or nonclassified service, or who was a member of the body as constituted by § 22-1-1 or 22-2-1, shall be eligible for longevity benefits, as defined in the personnel rules adopted in accordance with § 36-4-8, upon employment in the nonclassified service within the department of elementary and secondary education.