SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 31 or 32 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, the retirement board of the City of Lawrence is hereby authorized and directed to credit Abel Cano, Jr. with creditable service for working for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, as a full time civil service police officer, during the period of February, nineteen hundred  and ninety-seven through February, nineteen hundred and ninety-nine, up to two years of service inclusive for the purpose of determining his superannuation retirement allowance; provided, however, that before the date the retirement allowance becomes effective, Abel Cano, Jr. shall pay an amount equal to that which would have been withheld as regular deductions from his regular compensation for such previous service, plus regular interest. Payments shall be made into the annuity savings fund of the City of Lawrence retirement system, in one sum or installments, upon such terms and conditions as the retirement board may prescribe.

 SECTION 2.   This act shall take effect upon its passage.