After March 13, 1978, any company may file with the commissioner a written notice of its election to comply with this chapter after a specified date, which shall be the operative date of this chapter for the company, and this chapter shall become operative with respect to annuity contracts thereafter issued by the company. If a company makes no election, the operative date of this chapter for the company shall be March 13, 1980, and until the operative date the company shall continue to be governed by §56-7-112.