Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 353 to the contrary, privatized employees may receive a refund of employee accumulated contributions plus interest as provided in section 353.34, subdivision 2, at any time after the transfer of employment to the privatized employer. If a privatized employee has received a refund from a pension plan listed in section 356.30, subdivision 3, the privatized employee may not repay that refund unless the privatized employee again becomes a member of one of those listed plans and complies with section 356.30, subdivision 2.