(a) Any municipal police department whose employees were covered by the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System on July 1, 1997, is authorized to transfer those employees hired after July 1, 1997, to the Arkansas Local Police and Fire Retirement System by:
(1) Notifying the board of trustees of each of the retirement systems in writing, and accompanied by a resolution of the governing body of the municipality, of the intention to transfer the coverage of the qualifying officers; and
(2) Authorizing the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System to transfer any sums of money paid into the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System for the benefit of the officers of the particular department to the Arkansas Local Police and Fire Retirement System for those officers transferred.
(b)
(1) If any municipal police department elects to transfer retirement benefits under this section, all employees hired after July 1, 1997, must be enrolled in the Arkansas Local Police and Fire Retirement System.
(2) Subdivision (b)(1) of this section shall not apply if the employees hired after July 1, 1997:
(A) Are members of the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System at the time of hiring; and
(B) Continue to receive public safety credit from prior and current employment.