Except as otherwise provided in the case of public employee veterans or in subsection b. of section 75 of this act, this act shall not become effective in any county, board of education or municipality which has not previously been covered by the former “State Employees’ Retirement System” until its governing body shall, by resolution, have directed that the question of adoption by that county, board of education or municipality shall be submitted to the qualified voters thereof at a general election and a majority of the voters voting on the question at such election shall have voted in favor of its adoption. This act shall be effective without referendum in any county, board of education or municipality in which chapter 15 of Title 43 of the Revised Statutes has been adopted. Any employee of any such county, board of education or municipality who prior to July 1, 1955, has filed an application covering service rendered to such county, board of education or municipality prior to the date upon which chapter 15 of Title 43 of the Revised Statutes became effective therein shall be entitled to prior service covering such service.

L.1954, c. 84, p. 521, s. 74. Amended by L.1954, c. 244, p. 901, s. 13; L.1966, c. 71, s. 5; L.1966, c. 217, s. 19; L.1977, c. 389, s. 1, eff. Feb. 23, 1978.