§ 1204. Member contributions. Members who are subject to the provisions of this article shall contribute three percent of annual wages to the retirement system in which they have membership, except that beginning April first, two thousand thirteen for members who first become members of the New York state and local police and fire retirement system on or after April first, two thousand twelve, the rate at which each such member shall contribute in any current plan year (April first to March thirty-first) shall be determined by reference to the wages of such member in the second plan year (April first to March thirty-first) preceding such current plan year as follows:

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a. members with wages of forty-five thousand dollars per annum or less shall contribute three per centum of annual wages;

b. members with wages greater than forty-five thousand per annum, but not more than fifty-five thousand per annum shall contribute three and one-half per centum of annual wages;

c. members with wages greater than fifty-five thousand per annum, but not more than seventy-five thousand per annum shall contribute four and one-half per centum of annual wages;

d. members with wages greater than seventy-five thousand per annum but not more than one hundred thousand per annum shall contribute five and three-quarters per centum of annual wages; and

e. members with wages greater than one hundred thousand per annum shall contribute six per centum of annual wages.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, during each of the first three plan years (April first to March thirty-first) in which such member has established membership in the New York state and local police and fire retirement system, such member shall contribute a percentage of annual wages in accordance with the preceding schedule based upon a projection of annual wages provided by the employer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, when determining the rate at which each such member who became a member of the New York state and local police and fire retirement system on or after April first, two thousand twelve shall contribute for any plan year (April first to March thirty-first) between April first, two thousand twenty-two and April first, two thousand twenty-four, such rate shall be determined by reference to employees annual base wages of such member in the second plan year (April first to March thirty-first) preceding such current plan year. Base wages shall include regular pay, shift differential pay, location pay, and any increased hiring rate pay, but shall not include any overtime payments. Effective April first, two thousand twelve, all members subject to the provisions of this article shall not be required to make member contributions on annual wages excluded from the calculation of final average salary pursuant to section twelve hundred three of this article. Nothing in this section, however, shall be construed or deemed to allow members to receive a refund of any member contributions on such wages paid prior to April first, two thousand twelve.

Members who are enrolled in a retirement plan that limits the amount of creditable service a member can accrue shall not be required to make contributions pursuant to this section after accruing the maximum amount of service credit allowed by the retirement plan in which they are enrolled. The state comptroller shall promulgate such regulations as may be necessary and appropriate with respect to the deduction of such contribution from members' wages and for the maintenance of any special fund or funds with respect to amounts so contributed. In no way shall the member contributions made pursuant to this section be used to provide for pension increases or annuities of any kind.