Declaration of policy

§ 130-a. Declaration of policy. The legislature hereby determines that (1) employees of the state and its political subdivisions, their survivors and dependents, are entitled to the basic protection provided by the federal old-age and survivors insurance system, (2) such protection should be provided to as many of such employees as possible, regardless of whether they are or are not members of public pension or retirement systems maintained by the state or its political subdivisions, with the option to those who are presently members of a retirement system to have or not to have such additional protection as they so desire, (3) such extension of old-age and survivors insurance coverage to public employees in this state is consistent with principles of sound employer-employee relations, (4) provision of such coverage will provide not only basic security to present employees and their dependents, but also will serve to attract competent persons to the employ of the state and its political subdivisions who now may be discouraged from accepting such employment by reason of the fact that their old-age and survivors insurance coverage obtained through private or self employment would not be continued, and (5) the protection afforded to employees in positions covered by any retirement system in the state on the date old-age and survivors insurance coverage is extended to their positions will not be impaired as the result of such extension of coverage or as the result of legislative enactment in anticipation thereof.