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the Employees’ Retirement System may notify any employer who participated in the Employees’ Retirement System and has withdrawn from participation on October 1, 1996 that the cost-of-living increases provided by this article and Act No. 93-604, 1993 Regular Session, and Act No. 94-232, 1994 Regular Session, as amended by Act No. 94-768, 1994 Special Session, are available to their retirees and beneficiaries provided the employer elects to fund the increase.