§ 615. Duration. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter or of any other law, the provisions of article fourteen of this chapter shall no longer apply to members to whom this article applies on the date article fifteen of this chapter becomes effective, provided, however, any member who has retired pursuant to the provisions of article fourteen of this chapter before the effective date of this article or any beneficiary of such a member or a beneficiary of a member who dies before the effective date of this article and who is entitled to a death benefit pursuant to article fourteen of this chapter shall receive such benefits pursuant to the provisions of article fourteen of this chapter, except as provided pursuant to the provisions of section six hundred seventeen of this article.