(a) A participating department may impose a waiting period for a person who is eligible to perform or who is training to perform emergency services or, subject to Section 862.0025, support services as a volunteer or employee of the department during which time the department is not required to enroll the person as a member of the pension system.
(b) A waiting period imposed under this section must end not later than six months after the date the person begins service or training with the participating department.
(c) The governing body of a political subdivision may, but is not required to, pay contributions for the person during the waiting period.
(d) A person's membership in the pension system begins on the date that the governing body of a political subdivision begins payment of contributions for that person, without regard to whether the:
(1) person's membership in the pension system is subject to a waiting period under this section; or
(2) person is subject to a probationary period imposed by a participating department for other purposes.