934                                        LAWS OF MARYLAND                                Ch. 459

30, 1972, who elected not to join the retirement system, must become a member on
the two year anniversary date of his employment. The rate of [contributions]
CONTRIBUTION of such employee shall be determined by his age at the time he
actually joins the system, and will not be reduced for reason of service prior to
joining, provided, however, that any such employee may purchase credit for service
before joining by paying the contributions due, BASED ON THE RATE
DETERMINED PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(1)(A) FOR HIS AGE AT THE
DATE OF MEMBERSHIP WITHOUT REGARD TO THE MAXIMUM
RATE OF FIVE PER CENTUM OF EARNABLE COMPENSATION, plus
interest ON SUCH CONTRIBUTIONS. Such purchase may be made at any time
prior to retirement.

(2)  Any person who is an employee on the date of establishment, except any
person specifically excluded under subsection (3) of this section, shall become a
member as of that date, unless within a period of thirty days next following such
employee shall file with the board of trustees on a form prescribed by the board a
notice of his election not to be covered in the membership of the system and a duly
executed waiver of all present and prospective benefits which would otherwise inure
to him on account of his participation in the retirement system.

(3)  Persons who are employees as herein defined on the date of establishment
and who are covered by any existing law providing for the retirement of employees
wholly or in part at the expense of the State, shall be entitled to membership in
this retirement system, and may become members by filing with the board of
trustees on a form prescribed by the board a duly executed waiver of all benefits
which might inure to them under the provisions of the laws under which they are
covered.

(4)   Any employee who elects under subsection (2) of this section not to become
a member, may thereafter apply for and be admitted to membership; but no such
employee shall receive prior service credit unless he becomes a member within the
first year following the date of establishment. Any unclassified hourly employee of
the State Roads Commission and any employee who is such by virtue of his status
as a worker on a county road system, as hereinbefore provided, may apply for and
be admitted to membership, and at the time of his admission to membership shall
be allowed credit for all prior service for the State, and in addition thereto, shall
be granted credit for the period of employment by either the State or the county in
the maintenance of county roads, whether under the jurisdiction of the State Roads
Commission or prior to the time the State Roads Commission may have assumed
jurisdiction over such maintenance. Provided, however, any such employee shall
not receive prior service credit unless he make formal application to become a
member within one year from June 1, 1943.

(5)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this article, membership in the
retirement system shall be optional with any class of officials elected or appointed;
or with any employees of the Governor's office, or with any desk officer or
employee of either house of the General Assembly who receives an annual salary
as his compensation for such employment, who shall be deemed to be an appointed
official within the application of this subsection. All officials elected or appointed
on or after July 1, 1957, may become members of the system upon making
application therefor at any time after their elections or appointment and before the
expiration of their respective terms. All such officials shall be entitled to credit for
previous service rendered by them to the State, or a participating municipal
corporation, including service rendered prior to the establishment of the
Employees' Retirement System. Upon receiving a claim for such service credit
from the official, the board of trustees of the retirement system shall verify the fact
of such previous employment and the creditable service to which the member is
entitled, compute the amount due from such political subdivision for which credit