Section 417. Preservation of rights of certain members

Notwithstanding the
  repeal by this chapter of sections eighty-one, eighty-one-a, eighty-two,
  eighty-three,  eighty-three-a, eighty-four, eighty-four-a (such sections
  eighty-four-a having been separately  added  by  chapters  five  hundred
  sixty-five  and  five  hundred sixty-six of the laws of nineteen hundred
  sixty-five), eighty-five, eighty-five-a,  eighty-six,  eighty-seven  and
  eighty-eight  of  article  two  of this chapter, as amended, the rights,
  privileges and immunities of  persons  who  are  members  of  the  state
  employees'  retirement  system  pursuant  to  such  sections and who are
  transferred to the retirement system established by this article, on the
  effective date thereof, shall not be affected or impaired, but the  same
  may  be enjoyed, asserted or enforced as fully and to the same extent as
  if such sections had not been so repealed.