(a) The Tennessee education lottery corporation shall be eligible to be a participating employer in the Tennessee consolidated retirement system upon:

(1) Passage of a resolution by the corporation's board of directors authorizing an actuarial study; and

(2) Passage of a resolution by the corporation's board of directors authorizing such participation and accepting the liability as a result of the participation by its full-time employees.

(b) The employees of the corporation shall make the same contributions, participate in the same manner, and shall be eligible for the same benefits as employees of local governments participating in the retirement system under this part.

(c) The employees shall be entitled to credit for prior service as approved by the board of directors of the corporation under the same provisions that apply to employees of local governments.

(d) The retirement system shall not be liable for the payment of retirement allowances or other payments on account of employees of the corporation or their beneficiaries for which reserves have not been previously created from funds contributed by the corporation, its employees or the corporation and its employees.

(e) In case of the withdrawal of the corporation as a participating employer, the benefits of the members and beneficiaries shall be determined in accordance with § 8-35-211.

(f) It is the legislative intent that the state shall realize no increased cost as a result of this section. All costs associated with retirement coverage, including administrative costs, shall be the responsibility of the corporation.