(1) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, any prior Class C member that is a presently employed commissioned member of the department of safety, and who was employed subsequent to such member's thirty-fifth birthday, shall be allowed to remain in the service of the department and to participate in the retirement system until such member obtains twenty-five (25) years of creditable service or reaches sixty (60) years of age.
(2) Any person covered under this provision shall make contributions at the rate applicable to prior Class C members and shall be entitled, upon retirement, to receive a retirement allowance at the rate specified for prior Class C members based upon the total years of creditable service.
(3) This section shall have application to all persons retiring after January 1, 1979.