(1) The members' savings fund is created in the retirement system. The retirement system shall accumulate in the members' savings fund the contributions made by members toward the financing of their retirement allowances, shall make transfers of those contributions from the members' savings fund to the members' retirement fund, and shall make refunds of contributions from the members' savings fund as provided in this act. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a member who first becomes a member on or before January 1, 1995, shall make contributions to the members' savings fund of 7% of each payment of salary received by the member for service as a member, but not for a period exceeding 20 years. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a member who first becomes a member after January 1, 1995, shall make contributions to the members' savings fund of 5% of each payment of salary received by the member for services as a member. Beginning on the effective date of section 36a, member contributions required under this subsection are suspended unless reinstated by the board under section 36a.

    (2) During the period beginning on January 1, 1999 and ending on December 31, 2000, a member who first became a member after December 1, 1994 and on or before January 1, 1995, shall make additional member contributions to the members' savings fund of 4% of each payment of salary received by the member for services as a member.

    (3) The member contributions required by this section shall be made by payroll deductions. Each member is considered to consent and agree to the payroll deductions as a condition of membership in the retirement system.

    (4) Upon the retirement of a member, his or her accumulated contributions shall be transferred to the members' retirement fund. Upon the death of a member, if a survivor's retirement allowance becomes payable on account of the member's death, his or her accumulated contributions shall be transferred to the survivors' retirement fund.