(a) Each fire fighter who, since December 31, 1969, has been continuously employed as a temporary employee under the provision codified as § 143.083 has the full status of a civil service employee with all the rights and privileges granted by § 143.005.
(b) A fire fighter covered by Subsection (a) is eligible to participate in earned pension benefits. The person may buy back service credits in the pension fund in which the permanent fire fighters in the department have participated since that person’s employment. The credits may be bought at a rate determined by the actuary of the affected pension fund.