§ 31-c. Participation by the Metropolitan Reference and Research
Library Agency. a. The Metropolitan Reference and Research Library
Agency may, by resolution adopted by its board of trustees and approved
by the comptroller, elect to participate in the retirement system.
Acceptance of its employees for membership in the retirement system
shall be optional with the comptroller, who shall determine the amounts
of contribution payable by such agency and its employees, shall resolve
questions of credit for prior service, and shall in all other respects
assure that such employees share the same rights, obligations and
benefits as other members of the retirement system.

b. The officers and employees of such agency shall be credited with
such periods of prior service as shall be certified by such agency for
service rendered to it, or the state, or in any other capacity approved
by such agency and the comptroller. Service for such agency after the
date on which it commences to participate in the retirement system shall
be considered as member service. An officer or employee of such agency
who, as of the date he or she is so approved for membership in the
retirement system, is already a member thereof, shall not have his or
her total credit reduced by such approval. Any reserve held on account
of any such officer or employee in the pension accumulation fund shall
be used as an offset against the deficiency contribution payable
thereafter by such agency on account of such officer or employee for any
prior service credit and any such previous credit.