Members of the General Assembly who have been members of the South Carolina Retirement System and a member of the General Assembly for at least eight years may elect to remain a member of the System within one year following termination of service in the General Assembly and shall make yearly contributions to the System in an amount equivalent to contributions payable by active members of the General Assembly. Such members may establish such service and qualify for a retirement allowance from the Retirement System provided they do so on or before December 31, 1965.
S.C. Code § 9-1-530