Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any employee of a parish or city school board, Special School District Number One, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, or other boards of control of publicly supported elementary or secondary schools or public institutions of higher education who participates in the Deferred Retirement Option Program provided by R.S. 11:786 or 1152 shall be eligible for and may elect to receive on a one-time only basis severance pay upon entering the program on the same basis as any other employee who retires or otherwise leaves employment.
La. R.S. § 17:425.1