§ 292. Legislative intent. It is the intent of the legislature, by the
enactment of this article, to establish a separate retirement system for
police officers and firefighters and to transfer thereto all police
officers and firefighters who, on the effective date of such article,
are members of the New York state and local employees' retirement
system, and all other persons who are members of such system and
contributing pursuant to the provisions of sections eighty-one through
eighty-seven, inclusive, of this chapter, immediately prior to the
effective date of this article, together with such rights, benefits,
privileges, obligations and duties enjoyed by or applicable to such
police officers, firefighters and other persons as members of the
employees' retirement system.