(a) This section applies only to individuals who are members of the General Assembly from and after January 15, 1963. (b) Notwithstanding any provisions of general or local law to the contrary, any member of a local retirement system that is operated on an actuarial basis, as described in Title 37 of this article, who is on leave of absence without pay from employment with a political subdivision of the State to serve as a member of the General Assembly shall, on application, receive service credit in the local retirement system for the period of the absence required for service in the General Assembly. (c) To receive the benefit of the service credit provided under this section, the member of the General Assembly shall contribute into the local retirement system, at the member’s usual rate of contribution based upon the salary of the position from which the member is on leave without pay to serve as a member of the General Assembly. (d) The Comptroller of the State shall make appropriate certifications as to the service credit to which the members of the General Assembly are entitled under this section.