(a) members with wages of forty-five thousand  dollars  per  annum  or
less shall contribute three per centum of annual wages;
  (b) members with wages greater than forty-five thousand per annum, but
not  more  than fifty-five thousand per annum shall contribute three and
one-half per centum of annual wages;
  (c) members with wages greater than fifty-five thousand per annum, but
not more than seventy-five thousand per annum shall contribute four  and
one-half per centum of annual wages;
  (d)  members  with  wages greater than seventy-five thousand per annum
but not more than one hundred thousand per annum shall  contribute  five
and three-quarters per centum of annual wages; and
  (e)  members  with  wages  greater than one hundred thousand per annum
shall contribute six per centum of annual wages.
  Notwithstanding the foregoing, during each of  the  first  three  plan
years  (January first to December thirty-first) in which such member has
established membership in the Education Department  Optional  Retirement
Program,  such  employee  shall  contribute a percent of annual wages in
accordance with the preceding schedule based upon a projection of annual
wages provided by the employer.
  3.  Payment  of  contributions pursuant to subdivisions one and two of
this section shall be made to the designated insurer  or  insurers  upon
audit and warrant of the state comptroller.