a. The employees of a State autonomous authority approved for participation in the retirement system pursuant to subsection b. of section 2 of this amendatory and supplementary act may purchase credit for all service with the authority prior to the date of the authority’s participation in the retirement system if that service would otherwise be eligible for credit in the retirement system. This purchase shall be made in the same manner and shall be subject to the same terms and conditions provided for the purchase of previous membership service by section 8 of P.L.1954, c.84 (C. 43:15A-8). The authority shall pay the unfunded liability as determined by the actuary for prior service purchased by its employees in accordance with a schedule approved by the actuary. The obligation of the authority shall be known as the accrued liability for prior service credit. The actuary shall determine and adjust the accrued liability for prior service credit and determine the annual contribution of the authority for this liability in a manner similar to that provided for the State accrued liability contribution. The accrued liability for prior service credit shall be paid by the authority over a period not to exceed 25 years following the initial valuation of this liability by the actuary.

b. For any employee of a State autonomous authority who is in service with the authority on the date its participation in the retirement system becomes effective, the age of enrollment for the purposes of the member contribution rate under section 25 of P.L.1954, c.84 (C. 43:15A-25) shall be the age of the employee on the date the continuous service with the authority began.

L.1990,c.25,s.3.