Any duly elected member of the general assembly who has previously rendered service as a member of the general assembly and who for any reason did not become a member of the state retirement system at the beginning of his or her service to the state as a member of the general assembly or who has otherwise failed to apply for credit for that legislative service may elect to have his or her period of membership made retroactive to the date when he or she was sworn in as a member of the general assembly irrespective of his or her age on that date; provided, that the elected member of the general assembly makes application to the board, and pays into the retirement system, in such manner as the board should by regulation provide, the contributions he or she would have paid into the system had he or she become a member immediately on the date of his or her being sworn in as a member of the general assembly, plus regular interest to date of payment.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 36-9-11