Notwithstanding the provisions of Kan. Stat. Ann. §§ 74-4911 to the contrary, an employee of a participating employer who was first employed by said employer on July 26, 1967, and who had employee contributions deducted from his compensation commencing August 1, 1968 until December 31, 1968 and again from May 1, 1969 until June 30, 1970, with an appropriate employer contribution having been paid by his employer, and who is employed by said participating employer on the effective date of this act shall be an eligible member of the Kansas public employees retirement system as of August 1, 1967, upon the payment of appropriate employer and employee contributions, and shall be entitled to receive participating service credit for employment with said participating employer from said date of membership. Upon attainment of membership by the provisions of this act such employee and his participating employer shall make the appropriate contributions until such time as the member is retired.