(a) To ensure the fiscal integrity of the retirement system during the start-up phase, no member is entitled to retirement, disability or death benefits under this retirement system until January 1, 2017. Participating municipalities shall purchase insurance for their new plan members to provide coverage in an amount equal to disability coverage otherwise provided in sections seventeen and eighteen of this article and death benefits otherwise provided in sections twenty, twenty-two and twenty-three of this article for claims arising before January 1, 2013: Provided, That pursuant to the amendments made to this subsection during the 2013 regular session of the Legislature, participating municipalities shall reinstate or purchase the insurance coverage for all plan members no later than July 1, 2013, and continue coverage through January 1, 2017.

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(b) A member may retire and commence to receive retirement income payments on the first day of the calendar month following written application for his or her voluntary petition for retirement coincident with or next following the later of the date the member ceases employment, or the date the member attains early or normal retirement age, in an amount as provided under this article: Provided, That retirement income payments under this plan are subject to the provisions of this article. On receipt of the petition, the board shall promptly provide the member with an explanation of his or her optional forms of retirement benefits and on receipt of properly executed forms from the member, the board shall process a member's request for and commence payments as soon as administratively feasible.