Sec. 20. SERVICE FOR FORMERLY INELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES. (a) A member who was ineligible to be a member under Section 4(d), Chapter 358, Acts of the 48th Legislature, Regular Session, 1943 (Article 6243g, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), before September 1, 1999, because the member was receiving a pension from another pension system of the city to which the city contributes may purchase credited service solely in group A for otherwise eligible service previously disallowed by Section 4(d), Chapter 358, Acts of the 48th Legislature, Regular Session, 1943 (Article 6243g, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), if the member:

(1) has been continuously employed by the city since the date of reemployment into a municipal position that became covered by Chapter 358, Acts of the 48th Legislature, Regular Session, 1943 (Article 6243g, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), on September 1, 1999, by removal of the prohibition under Section 4(d), Chapter 358, Acts of the 48th Legislature, Regular Session, 1943 (Article 6243g, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes);

(2) would have been eligible to be a member and receive service for the municipal employment before September 1, 1999, but for the prohibition under Section 4(d), Chapter 358, Acts of the 48th Legislature, Regular Session, 1943 (Article 6243g, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes);

(3) was a member in group A on September 1, 1999, and on September 1, 2001;

(4) makes written application, in a manner and time determined by the pension board, to receive credited service in group A for all otherwise eligible service; and

(5) on approval by the pension board, pays into the pension fund all contributions that would have been deducted or picked up as member contributions during the period of claimed service as described by Section 7(c) of this Act, including required interest.

(b) Payments of the amounts required under this section must be completed by the earliest of:

(1) the date of the member's termination of employment or term in office;

(2) the date of the member's retirement or death; or

(3) the fifth anniversary of the date of the member's approved claim for credited service under this section.

(c) If the payments are not completed within the period described by Subsection (b) of this section, the member or the member's estate may either make an immediate payment of the balance due or receive a refund, without interest, of the member's contributions to group A for the claimed service. If the refund is paid, the member is considered to have never been eligible for credit for the service claimed under this section.