§ 16-17.1-4 Continuing membership inretirement system upon participation in another program. An employee who has elected to participate in a program in accordance with theprovisions of § 16-17.1-2(b) and who has not withdrawn his or hercontribution as provided in § 16-17.1-3 shall continue to be a member ofthe state employees retirement system and service with the state colleges whileparticipating in the program shall be considered as service under the system;provided, however, that the employee shall be required to make no furthercontributions to the system and provided further that should the employee leavethe employ of the state or become employed by the state in a capacity whichdoes not qualify him or her for membership in the state employees retirementsystem before he or she has completed ten (10) years of service as an employeeunder a program or as a member of the state employees retirement system, he orshe shall have the right pursuant to § 36-10-8 to obtain a refund of hisor her own contributions made under the state employees retirement system fromthe state retirement board without interest.