§ 31-b. Participation by the Upper Hudson Library System. a. The
Upper Hudson Library System may, by resolution adopted by its board of
trustees and approved by the comptroller, elect to participate in the
retirement system. Acceptance of its employees for membership in the
retirement system shall be optional with the comptroller, who shall
determine the amounts of contribution payable by such system and its
employees, shall resolve questions of credit for prior service, and
shall in all other respects assure that such employees share the same
rights, obligations and benefits as other members of the retirement
system.

b. The officers and employees of such system shall be credited with
such periods of prior service as shall be certified by such system for
service rendered to it, or the state, or in any other capacity approved
by such system and the comptroller. Service for such system after the
date on which it commences to participate in the retirement system shall
be considered as member service. An officer or employee of such system
who, as of the date he or she is so approved for membership in the
retirement system, is already a member thereof, shall not have his or
her total credit reduced by such approval. Any reserve held on account
of any such officer or employee in the pension accumulation fund shall
be used as an offset against the deficiency contribution payable
thereafter by such system on account of such officer or employee for any
prior service credit and any such previous credit.