554 - Transfer of officers and employees.

§  554.  Transfer of officers and employees. 1. Officers and employees  of any board or department in or of the city may be transferred  to  the  authority,  and  shall  be  eligible  for  such transfer and appointment  without examination  to  offices  and  positions  under  the  authority.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this title, the officers and employees  of the city, who are members or beneficiaries of any existing pension or  retirement  system,  shall  continue  to  have  the  rights, privileges,  obligations and status with respect to such system or  systems,  as  are  now  prescribed  by law; and all such employees, who have been appointed  to  positions  in  the  service  of  the  city  under  the   rules   and  classifications of the municipal civil service commission shall have the  same status with respect thereto after transfer to the authority as they  had  under  their  original  appointments.  Any  person appointed by the  authority under the rules and classifications  of  the  municipal  civil  service  commission of the city, originally or by transfer or otherwise,  including persons employed or eligible for appointment under  the  board  of education of the city or of any agency of any kind whatsoever subject  to  the  rules  and  classifications  of  the  municipal  civil  service  commission of the city, shall have and shall continue to  have  all  the  rights,  privileges, obligations and status with respect to such pension  or retirement  systems,  including  not  only  the  right  to  admission  therein,  but  continuance and reinstatement therein, to the same extent  and in like manner as though  he  had  been  appointed,  transferred  or  restored to the civil service of the city, the board of education or any  other   agency   of  any  kind  whatsoever  subject  to  the  rules  and  classifications of the municipal civil service commission of  the  city.  The appointment and promotion of all employees of the authority shall be  made  in  accordance  with the provisions of the civil service law under  the jurisdiction of the municipal civil service commission of the city.    2. Notwithstanding any inconsistent  provision  of  this  section,  no  person  shall  be  eligible  for  original  appointment to a position of  bridge and tunnel officer with the authority,  unless  such  person  has  earned  a  high  school diploma recognized as valid by the department of  education.