(a) Beginning in January, 1962, current and future members of the General Assembly shall make contributions to the retirement system for the limited purpose of providing survivors benefits under Code Sections 47-2-128 and 47-2-129, provided that any member of the General Assembly may reject such coverage, in which case no contributions shall be made by him or her; provided, further, that the provisions of this Code section shall not apply to any person who becomes or again becomes a member of the General Assembly on or after July 1, 2009.(b) If a member accepts such coverage, the legislative fiscal officer is authorized and directed to pay to the board of trustees from funds appropriated for the operation of the General Assembly all accumulated contributions for survivors benefits that would have been paid had members of the General Assembly received survivors benefits coverage when it was originally extended to members of the retirement system.Amended by 2009 Ga. Laws 94,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2009.