Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, no entity shall be eligible to participate in the retirement system if the chair of the Tennessee consolidated retirement system determines, in the chair’s sole discretion, that the entity’s participation could have a potentially adverse effect on the retirement system’s status as a qualified plan under the Internal Revenue Code, (U.S.C. title 26) and regulations. In making such determination, the chair may rely on the advice of a nationally recognized counsel in the area of government employee benefit plans.