(a) All laws dealing with the eligibility of judges of the circuit court to assume duties and obligations, and to claim and receive benefits, as supernumerary judges are, as to all persons who were eligible to assume such duties and obligations and claim and receive such benefits as of September 18, 1973, continued in full force and effect, and shall not be repealed by the adoption of this code. Notwithstanding the foregoing, on the date that all persons who became vested with eligibility, either present or prospective, to assume duties and responsibilities, and to claim and receive benefits, as, or, in the case of surviving spouses, on account of, supernumerary judges as of September 18, 1973, or those persons so electing pursuant to subsection (b), are deceased, all relevant laws relating thereto shall be repealed.
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), any person may elect to become a supernumerary circuit judge if he or she had completed the years of judicial service prescribed for eligibility for supernumerary status before September 18, 1973, and has reached the age prescribed for eligibility by the laws in force and effect on September 18, 1973. Any person electing supernumerary status pursuant to this subsection shall otherwise be eligible to receive the same benefits as provided for any other person taking supernumerary status pursuant to subsection (a).