Sec. 4. 5 MRSA §17652, sub-§4 is enacted to read:

4.__Limitation on election to join or rejoin retirement system.__Notwithstanding any other law, confidential employees of the Maine Community College System who are not represented in a collective bargaining unit may join or rejoin the system under this section only upon the written authorization of the Board of Trustees of the Maine Community College System.__The board of trustees shall authorize the person to join or rejoin the retirement system when the Maine Community College System Office or other Maine Community College System entity that employs the individual seeking to join or rejoin has identified and designated the funds necessary to pay for the cost of that person's joining or rejoining the retirement system.

Sec. 5. 5 MRSA §17703, sub-§1-A, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 325, is amended to read:

1-A. Exception. In the case of an employee who has been laid off or an employee reentering the retirement system pursuant to section 17652, subsection 2-A, the repayment may be made immediately upon the date of restoration to membership and must be made before the date any retirement benefit becomes effective for the member.

Sec. 6. 5 MRSA §17704-A, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 180, §3, is amended to read:

Notwithstanding section 17652, subsection 2, paragraph A and section 17704, an An elected official or an official appointed for a fixed term who began membership after December 31, 1985 may purchase service credit for the period during which that person elected not to be a member of the retirement system if the following requirements are met.

Sec. 7. 5 MRSA §17704-A, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 180, §3, is repealed.