(1) Any employee of the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department or the Arkansas Department of Transportation, as defined in § 24-5-101(7), shall become a member of the Arkansas State Highway Employees' Retirement System in the manner and under the conditions provided in this chapter.
(2) Membership in the system may be terminated by retirement, disability, superannuation, or death, or by withdrawal, either voluntary or involuntary, from active service in the department.
(3) Any member with not less than five (5) years of creditable service whose employment with the department is terminated for any reason may leave his or her contributions in the Arkansas State Highway Employees' Retirement System Fund and thereafter be entitled to retirement benefits as otherwise provided in this chapter.