(a) Participation in the fund established by this article is entirely elective on the part of a firefighter, and the benefits provided herein are in addition to any other benefits provided by law for firefighters.
(b) Each firefighter who becomes a member shall pay to the fund a regular fee of twenty dollars ($20) per calendar month, to be paid on or before the tenth calendar day of each month so long as he or she is a member or until he or she becomes entitled to benefits under this article. A member who has 25 years of qualified service in the fund and having met all other requirements of the law and thereby having earned maximum benefits provided will no longer be required to make monthly contributions for his or her membership and will retain all of the rights and privileges as provided any other member.(c) Six months from April 30, 2010, all applicants for membership who join the fund shall pay an initial fee of twenty dollars ($20) and twenty dollars ($20) per month as long as they maintain their membership, with no regard given for firefighter service prior to the date of application.(d) If any member does not pay the monthly fee for 60 days after its due date, the board shall give him or her notice of termination of his or her membership in the fund and of his or her right to a refund and, unless he or she makes application for a refund within 60 days after the mailing of the notice, all amounts heretofore paid by him or her to the fund shall be returned to him or her. Any member so terminated who later applies for membership in the fund shall lose credit for all of his or her prior qualified service up to the time of such termination and, upon approval of his or her new application, shall become a new member in the fund.
