(a) The governing body of the Alabama Higher Education Partnership, Inc., by resolution legally adopted to conform to the rules prescribed by the Board of Control of the Teachers' Retirement System, may elect to have its officers and employees, from whatever source and in whatever manner paid, become eligible to participate in the Teachers' Retirement System subject to all rules, regulations, and conditions thereof.

(b) The governing body of the Alabama Higher Education Partnership, Inc., having made an election by resolution pursuant to subsection (a), may have its employees and officers participate in, and be entitled to, all benefits of the Teachers' Retirement System. Where contributions are made from salaries paid by the Alabama Higher Education Partnership, Inc., the Alabama Higher Education Partnership, Inc., shall pay the employer cost, calculated as a percentage of the salaries of those employees, to be contributed as employer contributions in accordance with Section 16-25-21. Such amount shall be paid monthly and at the same time as the member's contributions are paid to the Teachers' Retirement System.

(c) The governing body of the Alabama Higher Education Partnership, Inc., eligible under subsection (a) to participate in the system, may provide in its resolution to the Board of Control of the Teachers' Retirement System that all service rendered by an eligible employee or officer to the organization before the effective date of the election of the organization to come under the Teachers' Retirement System shall be creditable service to the employee or officer. Such a provision in the resolution shall apply only to those employees and officers who were in the active service of the organization on the effective date of the election of the organization to be covered under the Teachers' Retirement System. The resolution shall also state that the organization shall assume and pay, as required, all costs necessary to fund the crediting of such prior service, with the costs to be determined by the actuary employed by the Board of Control of the Teachers' Retirement System.