SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Norfolk county retirement board shall grant Thomas V. Ralph with creditable service for service he rendered as a special police officer with the town of Medfield for the period of time from July 1, 1990 to June 30, 1996, inclusive, for the purpose of determining his superannuation retirement allowance pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision (2) of section 5 of chapter 32 of the General Laws. Before the date that any retirement allowance becomes effective in the case of Thomas V. Ralph, he shall pay into the annuity savings fund of the retirement system in one sum or installments, upon such terms and conditions as the retirement system may prescribe, an amount equal to that which would have been withheld as regular deductions from his regular compensation for such previous service, or most recent portion thereof, as he may elect, had he been a member of the Norfolk county retirement system during the period the service was rendered, plus regular interest thereon.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the service rendered by Thomas V. Ralph as a special police officer with the town of Medfield for the period of time from July 1, 1990 to June 30, 1996, inclusive, shall qualify him to have preference in promotion equal to that provided to veterans under the civil service rules pursuant to section 59 of chapter 31 of the General Laws.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.