(a) For the purposes of this chapter, the sheriff of each county and the chief deputy sheriff of each county are employees of the state so far as salaries received by them from the state are concerned, including fees on a Judicial Department payroll but excluding other fees paid in lieu of or in addition to salary.
(b) The provisions of subsection (f) of section 5-168 shall apply to sheriffs and their chief deputies.
(c) The status of sheriffs and their chief deputies as stated in subsection (a) shall be retroactive to September 1, 1939.