(1) Except as otherwise provided in section 23b, a person who first becomes a legislator or lieutenant governor before March 31, 1997 shall become a member in and be subject to the Tier 1 retirement system beginning upon the date the person becomes a legislator or lieutenant governor, unless within 90 days after that date the person has filed with the board a written notice of election not to participate in the retirement system. A notice not to participate in the retirement system filed within the 90-day period may be withdrawn within the 90-day period. A refund of all contributions made during the 90-day period shall be made to a legislator or lieutenant governor who elects not to participate in the retirement system.

    (2) After the expiration of the 90-day period, a person electing not to participate in the retirement system shall be ineligible to participate in and to receive benefits from the retirement system. A person who files with the board before January 30, 1972, a written notice of election not to participate in the retirement system, and who is still a legislator or lieutenant governor, may become a member in and be subject to the retirement system upon filing with the board before January 1, 1979, a written rescission of his or her notice of election not to participate in the retirement system. The person then shall become a member and shall be subject to this act. Upon making a contribution to the retirement system of an amount equal to the contributions the person would have made as a member from September 27, 1957, or the date the person became a legislator or lieutenant governor, if after September 27, 1957, to the date the person became a member, with interest on the amount at the rate of 6% per annum compounded annually until paid, the person shall be entitled to receive credit for service as a member before the date of the rescission of the waiver, on, before, and after January 1, 1957, the same as the person would have received if the person had never executed the written notice of election not to participate in the retirement system. The accrued contributions shall be made in full before the expiration of the term for which the member is currently elected or not later than December 1, 1980, whichever is later, otherwise credit for service before the date of participation shall not be granted.

    (3) An individual who first becomes a legislator or lieutenant governor on or after March 31, 1997, is eligible to be a qualified participant in Tier 2 subject to sections 61 to 80.