§ 417. Preservation of rights of certain members. Notwithstanding the repeal by this chapter of sections eighty-one, eighty-one-a, eighty-two, eighty-three, eighty-three-a, eighty-four, eighty-four-a (such sections eighty-four-a having been separately added by chapters five hundred sixty-five and five hundred sixty-six of the laws of nineteen hundred sixty-five), eighty-five, eighty-five-a, eighty-six, eighty-seven and eighty-eight of article two of this chapter, as amended, the rights, privileges and immunities of persons who are members of the state employees' retirement system pursuant to such sections and who are transferred to the retirement system established by this article, on the effective date thereof, shall not be affected or impaired, but the same may be enjoyed, asserted or enforced as fully and to the same extent as if such sections had not been so repealed.