Nothing in RCW
41.26.035,
41.26.045 and
41.26.046 shall apply to any firefighters or law enforcement officers who are employed as such on or before August 1, 1971, as long as they continue in such employment; nor to promotional appointments after becoming a member in the police or fire department of any employer nor to the reemployment of a law enforcement officer or firefighter by the same or a different employer within six months after the termination of his or her employment, nor to the reinstatement of a law enforcement officer or firefighter who has been on military or disability leave, disability retirement status, or leave of absence status. Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to prevent any employer from adopting higher medical and health standards than those which are adopted by the *retirement board.