Published: 2015-07-09
Key Benefits:
“County service” means the employment of a person by a county, district, municipal court, or superior court.
(Added by Stats. 1947, Ch. 424.)
Where service for which a member receives credit, either prior to or during membership, is on a tenure which is temporary, seasonal, intermittent, or part time only, the member shall receive credit as continuous service for that proportion of the time he or she held the position as the time he or she actually was engaged in the performance of the duties of the position bears to the time required to perform the same duties in a full-time position.
A “year of service” in the position shall be construed to mean the time during which the member has earned one full year of credit, calculated as provided in this section.
(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 830, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2004.)
(a) A member of a retirement system shall not receive credit for service or contributions for credit for service in violation of the prohibitions provided in Section 23007.5 or 50033.
(b) Nothing in this section shall prohibit an elective officer from purchasing service credit pursuant to Section 31658.
(Added by Stats. 2006, Ch. 355, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2007.)
“Service” means uninterrupted employment of any person appointed or elected for that period of time:
(a) For which deductions are made from his earnable compensation from the county or district for such service while he is a member of the retirement association.
(b) In military service for which the county or district or member is authorized by other provisions of this chapter to make, and does make, contributions.
(c) For which he receives credit for county service or for public service or for both pursuant to the provisions of this article.
(d) Allowed for prior service.
(Amended by Stats. 1955, Ch. 363.)
In any county of the eighth or ninth class as established in Sections 28020, 28029 and 28030 as amended by Chapter 1204 of the Statutes of 1971, the board of supervisors may provide by ordinance that each member shall be credited, at the rate of one day for each one day earned, with sick leave accumulated as of the date of his retirement and that sick leave credit shall be in addition to service credit. The additional cost to the retirement system shall be borne by the county or district.
(Amended by Stats. 1972, Ch. 309.)
In any county of the third class as established in Section 28024, the board of supervisors may provide by ordinance that members specified in the ordinance shall be credited, for up to the full amount of sick leave accumulated as of the date of their retirement, and that sick leave credit shall be in addition to service credit. The additional cost to the retirement system shall be borne by the county or district.
(Added by Stats. 1974, Ch. 1390.)
In any county the board of supervisors may provide by ordinance that members specified in the ordinance shall be credited, for up to 100 percent of sick leave accumulated as of the date of their retirement, and that sick leave credit shall be in addition to service credit. The additional cost to the retirement system shall be borne by the county or district.
This section shall not apply to members who are employed by a district unless the governing board of the district provides by resolution for its application to such members.
(Added by Stats. 1975, Ch. 574.)
(a) When the board of supervisors, by resolution, determines that because of an impending curtailment of service or change in the manner of performing service, savings of money, or other economic benefit resulting to the county, the best interests of the county would be served, a member shall be eligible to receive additional service credit if the following conditions exist:
(1) The member is employed in a job classification, county department, or other county organizational unit included in the resolution adopted by the board of supervisors.
(2) The member retires on or between dates specified by the board of supervisors in its resolution. In no event shall the specified period exceed 180 days.
(3) The county transmits to the retirement fund an amount determined by the board of retirement which is equal to the actuarial equivalent of the difference between the allowance the member receives after the receipt of service credit under this section and the amount he would have received without such service credit. The transfer to the retirement fund shall be made in a manner and time period acceptable to the county and the board of retirement.
(b) The amount of service credit shall be that amount as the board of supervisors determines but shall not be more than two years regardless of credited service and shall not exceed the number of years intervening between the date of the member’s retirement and the date the member would be required to be retired because of age.
(c) A county which elects to make the payment prescribed by subdivision (a) shall make such payment with respect to all eligible employees who retire during the period specified by the board of supervisors.
(d) This section shall not be applicable to any member otherwise eligible if such member receives any unemployment insurance payments during the period six months prior to the period specified pursuant to subdivision (a). This section shall not be applicable to any member if the member is not eligible to retire without the additional credit available under this section.
(e) This section shall not be applicable in any county until it is adopted by ordinance of the board of supervisors. Any county may adopt or readopt this section from time to time as conditions may warrant. This section shall not be applicable in any district whose employees are members of the system pursuant to Section 31557 until it is adopted by ordinance by the governing body of the district. Any district whose employees are members of the system pursuant to Section 31557 may adopt or readopt this section from time to time as conditions warrant.
(f) Any member who qualifies under this section upon subsequent reentry to county employment shall forfeit the service credit acquired under this section, unless the reentry is a result of a temporary callback limited to a maximum of 720 hours of service in any one year.
(g) This section shall not be subject to the provisions of Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 3500) of Division 4 of Title 1.
(Amended by Stats. 1986, Ch. 48, Sec. 1.)
(a) Notwithstanding Section 31641.04 or any other provision of this part, for only the 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, and 1998–99 fiscal years, when the board of supervisors, by resolution, determines that because of an impending curtailment of service or change in the manner of performing service, savings of money, or other economic benefit resulting to the county, the best interests of the county would be served, a member shall be eligible to receive additional service credit if all of the following conditions exist:
(1) The member is employed in a job classification, county department, or other county organizational unit included in the resolution adopted by the board of supervisors.
(2) The member is credited with 10 or more years of service and retires on or between dates specified by the board of supervisors in its resolution. In no event shall the specified period exceed 120 days.
(3) The county transmits to the retirement fund an amount determined by the board of retirement that is equal to the actuarial equivalent of the difference between the allowance the member receives after the receipt of service credit under this section and the amount he or she would have received without that service credit. The transfer to the retirement fund shall be made in a manner and time period acceptable to the county and the board of retirement. However, the payment period shall not exceed five years.
(b) The amount of service credit shall be the amount that the board of supervisors determines, but shall not be more than four years regardless of credited service and shall not exceed the number of years intervening between the date of the member’s retirement and the date the member would be required to be retired because of age and shall not be combined with any additional service credit granted under Section 31641.04.
(c) The resolution described in subdivision (a) shall either identify sufficient deleted positions whose total cost equals or exceed the lump-sum actuarial cost of the additional service credit granted or proclaim that all positions vacated due to the additional service credit granted pursuant to this section shall remain vacant for at least five years and until the lump-sum actuarial cost of the additional service credit granted has been recaptured from position vacancy salary savings.
(d) The board of supervisors shall certify to the board of retirement the extent to which savings will exceed necessary payments to the board of retirement, and the specific measures to be taken to assure that outcome. The board of retirement may require the board of supervisors to provide verification of its certification through independent review.
(e) At the time the county has achieved savings that are more than adequate to meet necessary payments to the board of retirement, or five years after commencement of the retirement period specified in paragraph (2) of this section, whichever occurs first, the board of supervisors shall certify to the retirement board the amount of actual savings and the measures taken to achieve the savings. The board of supervisors shall maintain records for each worker retiring pursuant to this section. The board of retirement may require the board of supervisors to provide verification of its certification through independent review. The board of supervisors shall report these certifications to the Controller, who should summarize the cost and savings information therein in his or her annual report prepared pursuant to Sections 7501 through 7504. The Controller shall perform a postaudit to verify that the savings equal or exceed the lump-sum actuarial cost of the additional service credit granted pursuant to this section. The county shall pay the cost of the postaudit.
(f) A county that elects to make the payment prescribed by subdivision (a) shall make the payment with respect to all eligible employees who retire during the period specified by the board of supervisors.
(g) This section shall not be applicable to any member otherwise eligible if the member receives any unemployment insurance payments during the period six months prior to the period specified pursuant to subdivision (a). This section shall not be applicable to any member if the member is not eligible to retire without the additional credit available under this section.
(h) This section shall not be applicable in any county until it is adopted by ordinance of the board of supervisors. Any county may adopt or readopt this section from time to time as conditions warrant.
(i) Any member who qualifies under this section upon subsequent reentry to county employment shall forfeit the service credit acquired under this section, unless the reentry is a result of a temporary callback pursuant to Section 31680.2, 31680.3, or 31680.6. Any member who receives credit under this section shall not be temporarily employed as an annuitant pursuant to Section 31680.2, 31680.3, or 31680.6 for five years following the date of retirement.
(j) The board of supervisors shall certify to the retirement board that the county has complied with Section 7507.
(k) This section shall not be subject to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 3500) of Division 4 of Title 1.
(l) No additional service credit shall be granted pursuant to this section on or after July 1, 1999.
(Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 458, Sec. 2. Effective September 24, 1997.)
A member who was in public service before becoming a member may elect by written notice filed with the board to make contributions pursuant to Section 31641.2 and to receive credit in the retirement system for all allowed public service time. Credit for part-time service shall be calculated as provided in Section 31641.5.
(Amended by Stats. 1965, Ch. 508.)
Any member of the retirement system who elects pursuant to Section 31641.1 to make contributions and receive credit as service for time for which he or she claims credit because of public service shall contribute to the retirement fund, prior to the effective date of his or her retirement, by lump sum payment or by installment payments over a period not to exceed five years, an amount equal to the sum of:
(a) Twice the contributions he or she would have made to the retirement fund if he or she had been a member during the same length of time as that for which he or she has elected to receive credit as service, computed by applying the rate of contribution first applicable to him or her upon commencement of his or her membership in this system to the monthly compensation first earnable by him or her at the time as provided in Section 31641.3, multiplied by the number of months for which he or she has elected to receive credit for county service, including time, if any, prior to the establishment of the system, and which will constitute current service under this system.
(b) The “regular interest” that would have accrued to the member contributions if they had been made on the date used to determine on what earnable compensation contributions pursuant to this section shall be based, from that date until the completion of payment of those contributions, computed at the current interest rate.
(c) Except as prohibited by Section 31640.7, the governing body by a four-fifths vote may provide that it shall make on behalf of officers and employees eligible to receive credit for prior service under this chapter, and who so elect prior to filing an application for retirement, part of the contributions specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section. The contributions made by a governmental agency pursuant to this section shall be available only for purposes of retirement for service or for disability and a member resigning from county service shall be entitled to withdraw only that portion of his or her accumulated contributions made by him or her.
(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 355, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2007.)
Any member of the retirement system who elects pursuant to Section 31641.1 to make contributions and receive credit as service for time for which he or she claims credit because of public service shall contribute to the retirement fund, prior to the effective date of his or her retirement, by lump-sum payment or by installment payments over a period not to exceed five years, an amount equal to the sum of:
(a) Twice the contributions he or she would have made to the retirement fund if he or she had been a member during the same length of time as that for which he or she has elected to receive credit as service, computed by applying the rate of contribution at the time of the election to the monthly compensation earnable by him or her at the time of the election pursuant to Section 31641.1, multiplied by the number of months for which he or she has elected to receive credit for county service, including time, if any, prior to the establishment of the system, and which will constitute current service under this system.
(b) The “regular interest” which would have accrued to the member contributions if they had been made on the date used to determine on what earnable compensation contributions pursuant to this section shall be based, from that date until the completion of payment of those contributions, computed at the current interest rate.
(c) The governing body by a four-fifths vote may provide that it shall make on behalf of officers and employees eligible to receive credit for prior service under this chapter, and who so elect prior to filing an application for retirement, part of the contributions specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section. The contributions made by a governmental agency pursuant to this section shall be available only for purposes of retirement for service or for disability and a member resigning from county service shall be entitled to withdraw only that portion of his or her accumulated contributions made by him or her.
(d) This section shall only apply in counties of the third class, as established by Sections 28020 and 28024, as amended by Chapter 1204 of the Statutes of 1971, but it shall not apply in those counties unless and until it is adopted by a majority vote of the board of supervisors.
(Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 205, Sec. 1.)
Regular interest computed at the current interest rate as used in subdivision (b) of Section 31641.2 shall mean that amount of interest which would have been credited to the account of the member on the amount to be deposited at the interest rates established for the system if the contribution required by that section had been on deposit from the date used to determine the earnable compensation on which such contributions are based until the amount required to be deposited has been paid.
(Added by Stats. 1970, Ch. 369.)
In Section 31641.2 compensation first earnable shall be that earnable by the member at the time of the commencement of his membership in the retirement system, except that if a member who, prior to January 1, 1952, was a member of any retirement system in the same county which was superseded by a system established under this act, if such member so requests, the compensation first earnable by him at the later of the following times shall be used:
(a) The commencement of his membership in such superseded retirement system.
(b) The date on which this retirement system first became operative.
(Added by Stats. 1955, Ch. 363.)
A member shall receive credit for employment in public service only for such service as he is not entitled to receive a pension or retirement allowance from such public agency. The service for which he elects to contribute and the fact that no pension or retirement allowance will accrue to such member by virtue of his employment in such public agency must be certified to by an officer of the public agency where he rendered such public service or must be established to the satisfaction of the board.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a safety member who receives credit for prior employment in public service, the principal duties of which consisted of active law enforcement or active fire suppression, or active service in the armed services of the United States during time of war or national emergency, shall have his pension or retirement allowance for such service calculated on the same basis as the calculation of the retirement allowance such member would receive as a safety member under Section 31664.
A safety member who entered the service as a peace officer prior to the establishment of the safety membership provisions in his county shall be considered a safety member from his initial hiring date, for the purposes of this section, notwithstanding any other provision of law.
(Amended by Stats. 1975, Ch. 1171.)
Whenever a member is entitled to redeposit funds previously withdrawn from a retirement system and thereby becomes eligible to receive a pension or retirement allowance for the service for which he was granted public service credit as authorized in Section 31641.1, regardless of whether or not the member elects to exercise such entitlement, the member shall be refunded the amount deposited by him in accordance with Section 31641.2 plus interest which has been credited to such amount and shall receive no credit in the system for such service.
This section applies only to a member who would be eligible to receive the benefit of Section 31835 or 20023.1 on making the redeposit.
(Amended by Stats. 1971, Ch. 504.)
A member who prior to his entrance into the retirement system held a position in the county service the tenure of which was such as to exclude him from membership, or a coroner, public administrator or coroner-public administrator who was excluded because of the means by which he was compensated, shall have the right to receive credit in the retirement association for all or any part of the county service he rendered, whether interrupted or not, during the time he was in county service before becoming a member if he elects to pay, and thereafter pays, in accordance with such election, and prior to retirement, into the retirement fund an amount equal to the contributions he would have made to the retirement fund if he had been a member during the time for which he has elected to receive credit, computed by applying the contribution rate first applicable to him upon becoming a member to the aggregate compensation he actually received during the time he was in county service and for which he has elected to receive credit, together with interest at the current rate on that amount from the time he became a member until completion of payment. Such payment may be made by lump sum or by installment payments over a period not to exceed the length of time for which the member has elected to receive credit, in such manner and at such times as the board may by rule prescribe. No member shall receive credit under this section for any service for which he has not completed payment pursuant to this section before the effective date of his retirement. A member who has elected to make such payment in installments may complete payment thereof by lump sum at any time prior to the effective date of his retirement. Any sums paid by a member pursuant to this section shall be considered to be and administered as normal contributions by the member.
Where county service prior to membership was rendered on a part-time basis, the member may receive credit for such proportion of the time he held the part-time position as the time he was actually engaged in the performance of the duties of such position bears to the time required to perform the same duties in a full-time position.
A member who elects to receive credit for only a part of such county service shall elect that county service latest in time and may not receive credit for any portion of such county service prior in time to any county service for which he does not elect to receive credit.
(Amended by Stats. 1961, Ch. 2095.)
“Interest at the current rate” means that amount of interest which would have been credited to the account of the member on the amount to be deposited at the interest rates established for the system if the contribution required by that section had been on deposit from the time he became a member of the system until the amount required to be deposited has been paid.
(Added by Stats. 1970, Ch. 369.)
(a) A member described in Section 31470.4 who was in public service before becoming a member, and that service was terminated as a consequence of the closure, downsizing, or realignment of a federal military installation, may elect by written notice filed with the board to make contributions pursuant to subdivision (b) and to receive credit in the retirement system for all allowed public service time.
(b) Any member described in subdivision (a) who elects pursuant to subdivision (a) to make contributions and receive service credit for time for which he or she claims credit because of public service shall contribute to the retirement fund, prior to the effective date of his or her retirement, by lump-sum payment or by installment payments over a period not to exceed 10 years, an amount equal to the sum of the following:
(1) The contributions he or she would have made to the retirement fund if he or she had been a member during the same length of time as that for which he or she has elected to receive service credit, computed by applying the rate of contribution first applicable to him or her upon commencement of his or her membership in this system to the monthly compensation first earnable by him or her at the time, multiplied by the number of months for which he or she has elected to receive service credit for public service.
(2) Interest at the current rate, as defined in Section 31641.51, from the date of his or her first membership in the system until the completion of payment of those contributions.
(c) The governing body by a majority vote may provide that it shall make part of the contributions specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of subdivision (b) on behalf of its members eligible to receive credit for public service under this section who so elect prior to filing an application for retirement.
(d) A member who has elected to make the payment in installments may complete payment by lump sum at any time prior to the effective date of his or her retirement. Any contributions made by a member pursuant to this section shall be considered and administered as normal contributions by the member.
(e) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) Notwithstanding Section 31478, “public agency” means the United States of America, this state, or any department or agency of either, or any city, county, city and county, special district, or other public or municipal corporation or political subdivision that is within this state or is situated in whole or in part within a county.
(2) Notwithstanding Sections 31479, 31479.2, and 31479.3, “public service” means service as a permanent career civilian federal firefighter or permanent career state firefighter in a position whose principal duties consist of active fire suppression or law enforcement, for which the officer or employee received compensation from the public agency, and with respect to which he or she is not entitled to receive credit in any retirement system supported wholly or in part by public funds after he or she becomes a member of this system.
(f) This section shall apply only to a county or district beginning on the first day of the month after the board of supervisors for that county or the governing body of a district adopts a resolution, by majority vote, that provides that this section shall apply to the county or district.
(Added by Stats. 2006, Ch. 834, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2007.)
A member who returns to county service after having been on deferred status while rendering county service in a position excluded from membership, shall have the right to receive credit in the retirement association for all or any part of the county service he or she rendered during the time he or she was on deferred status if he or she elects to pay, and thereafter pays, in accordance with the election, and prior to retirement, into the retirement fund an amount equal to the contributions he or she would have made to the retirement fund if he or she had not been on deferred status during the time for which he or she has elected to receive credit, computed by applying the contribution rate first applicable to him or her upon returning to county service to the aggregate compensation he or she actually received during the time he or she was in county service and for which he or she has elected to receive credit, together with regular interest on that amount from the time he or she was on deferred status until completion of payment. The payment may be made by lump sum or by installment payments over a period not to exceed the length of time for which the member has elected to receive credit, in the manner and at the times as the board may by rule prescribe. No member shall receive credit under this section for any service for which he or she has not completed payment pursuant to this section before the effective date of his or her retirement. A member who has elected to make payment in installments may complete payment by lump sum at any time prior to the effective date of his or her retirement. Any sums paid by a member pursuant to this section shall be considered to be administered as normal contributions by the member.
A member who elects to receive credit for only a part of that county service shall elect that county service latest in time and may not receive credit for any portion of that county service for which he or she does not elect to receive credit.
This section shall not be operative in any county until the time that the board of supervisors shall, by resolution adopted by majority vote, make the provisions of this section applicable in the county.
(Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 371, Sec. 1.)
An employee of a city who has become a county employee upon the assumption by the county of the functions of the city department in which he was employed, may, if he is not covered by the city under a contract with the Public Employees’ Retirement System, elect to receive credit in the county retirement system for service for the city prior to the cessation of his employment by the city. When such person elects to receive credit, membership in the retirement system shall commence with the first day of the month in which credit is granted.
Any such person shall be entitled to credit in the county retirement system for service performed for the city when and if (a) the board of retirement receives certification from the city of the city service and earnable compensation of the employee; and (b) the employee deposits into the employees’ retirement system the amount of contributions he would have made had he been a county employee during his city employment; and (c) there is also deposited in the employees’ retirement system by the city, the employee, or both, the amount that the county would have been required to deposit to the employees’ retirement fund based on the city salary paid to such employee.
Upon deposit of such funds, the employee’s age at entry shall be considered to be his age at time of employment with the city or at the time this chapter was effective in the county whichever is later. Such money deposited under (b) above shall be considered as accumulated normal contributions of the employee and any such money deposited under (c) above shall be considered as contributions of the employer county.
If all of the money called for under (b) above is not paid within 90 days after employment by the county, only the part of city employment latest in date covered by such deposit shall be credited and the age at entry and the amount under (c) above shall be adjusted accordingly.
An employee shall receive credit for city employment prior to his employment by the county only for such service for which he is not entitled to receive a pension or retirement from such city.
This section shall become operative in any county on the first day of the calendar month after the board of supervisors adopts by four-fifths vote a resolution making it operative in the county.
(Amended by Stats. 1973, Ch. 272.)
If the member is unable to furnish the information necessary to establish his aggregate compensation for the period of service for which he seeks credit pursuant to Section 31641.5, then the rate of compensation applicable to him at the time he first became a member of this system after the period to be credited shall be used in making the computation required by Section 31641.5.
(Added by Stats. 1969, Ch. 501.)
Any member who has elected to make contributions pursuant to this chapter by installment payments may, at any time prior to the effective date of his retirement, complete payment thereof by lump sum.
(Added by Stats. 1955, Ch. 363.)
All contributions made by a member, pursuant to Sections 31641.1, 31641.2, 31641.3 and 31641.4 shall be considered to be, and shall be administered as, normal contributions but shall not be matched by the county upon retirement of the member.
(Amended by Stats. 1957, Ch. 1386.)
Sections 31470.7, 31478, 31479, 31480, 31641.1, 31641.2, 31641.3, 31641.4, 31641.8, and 31641.9 may only be applicable in any county or district on the first day of the month after the governing board of such county or district adopts, by majority vote, a resolution providing that those sections shall become applicable in such county or district. Such resolution may limit the applicability of such sections to any one or more of the public agencies as defined by Section 31478.
At any time after such a resolution has been adopted, the governing board of the county or district, by majority vote, may adopt a further resolution declaring that from and after a future date stated further in the resolution, the benefits of the resolution described in the first paragraph of this section shall not be available to any employees who are hired by the county or district after that date.
(Amended by Stats. 1969, Ch. 978.)
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter, Section 31641. 9 shall not be applicable to any county subject to the provisions of Section 31676.1, 31676.11, 31676.12, 31676.13, 31676.14, or 31676.15.
(Amended by Stats. 1977, Ch. 252.)
(a) This section shall be applicable in the retirement system of any county of the 10th class, as defined by Sections 28020 and 28031, as amended by Chapter 1204 of the Statutes of 1971, if the board of supervisors adopts, by majority vote, a resolution implementing this section.
(b) The purpose of this section is to authorize persons hired by the county before January 1, 1993, and employed by the county on December 31, 1992, to receive credit in the retirement system for prior military service by contributing to the retirement system an amount equal to the full cost, including interest, of the employee and county liability for the additional credit.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an eligible person must meet the following requirements in order to receive credit for prior military service:
(1) The person must have been hired by the county before January 1, 1993, and must have been an active employee on December 31, 1992.
(2) The person must file written notice with the retirement board before January 1, 1995, electing to receive credit and providing such information as the board may require.
(3) The person must contribute to the retirement system prior to the effective date of his or her retirement, by lump-sum payment or by installment payments over a period not to exceed five years, an amount equal to the full cost, including interest, of the employee and county liability for the additional credit.
(4) The person must not be entitled to receive a pension or retirement allowance for the prior military service and must provide the certification required by Section 31641.4.
(5) A person who was hired by the county before January 1, 1993, who was actively employed by the county on December 31, 1992, and who retired or elected deferred retirement after December 31, 1992, and before December 31, 1993, may also elect to receive credit under this section by filing the written notice and making the entire contribution before July 1, 1994, less whatever additional amounts would have been paid to that person by the retirement system if the person had made the entire contribution prior to retirement.
(d) The board of supervisors may include additional terms and conditions in the resolution implementing this section, provided the terms and conditions do not include the system paying for any of the employee or county cost of the military service credit.
(e) The full cost, including interest, of the employee and county liability for the additional credit under this section shall be determined by the board of retirement on actuarial advice, and shall be the actuarial equivalent of the difference between the retirement benefits the person will receive after receipt of credit for prior military service under this section and the retirement benefits the person would have received without that credit.
(Added by Stats. 1993, Ch. 906, Sec. 2.7. Effective October 8, 1993. Operative January 1, 1994, by Sec. 24 of Ch. 906.)
The following shall not be considered as breaking the continuity of service:
(a) A temporary layoff because of illness or for purposes of economy, suspension, or dismissal, followed by reinstatement or re-employment within one year.
(b) A leave of absence followed by reinstatement or re-employment within one year after the termination of the leave of absence.
(c) A resignation to enter, followed by entrance into, the armed forces of the United States, followed by re-employment by the county or district within six months after the termination of such service.
(d) Resignation of a member who has elected in writing to come within the provisions of Article 9 followed by re-employment before withdrawal of any accumulated contributions.
The withdrawal of accumulated contributions followed by the redeposit of the contributions upon re-entrance into service does not constitute a break in the continuity of service.
(Amended by Stats. 1951, Ch. 596.)
Unless otherwise provided in the regulations of the board, “prior service” means service prior to the date of entry of a member into the retirement system.
(Added by Stats. 1947, Ch. 424.)
In its regulations the board may provide what service shall constitute prior service. Such service may include employment which is not service as defined in Sections 31641 and 31642.
(Amended by Stats. 1967, Ch. 628.)
Except as provided in Sections 31641.5 or 31648 credit for prior service, whether interrupted or not, shall be granted to each person who has rendered such service as defined in or pursuant to this chapter, and who has become a member of the retirement system within one year after it becomes operative or at any time prior to October 1, 1953, whichever is the later, or within six months after discharge from military service.
One who performed service otherwise qualifying for credit under this section, who re-entered county employment subsequent to September 1, 1953 and prior to December 31, 1953, shall receive credit for such service, subject to Section 31648, provided such person is employed, as of the effective date of this section, in a position for which service credit is given under this article.
(Amended by Stats. 1963, Ch. 1199.)
Prior service includes service rendered for a district as defined by subdivisions (i) and (j) of Section 31468 at any time after the date of execution of the first contract between the county and the nonprofit corporation relative to the operation of one or more museums or after the date of employment with the economic development association.
(Added by Stats. 1987, Ch. 478, Sec. 2.)
A member who returns to active service following an uncompensated leave of absence on account of illness may receive service credit for the period of such absence upon the payment of the contributions that the member would have paid during such period, together with the interest that such contributions would have earned had they been on deposit, if the member was not absent. The contributions may be paid in a lump sum or may be paid on a monthly basis for a period of not more than the length of the period for which service credit is claimed. Credit may not be received for any period of such absence in excess of 12 consecutive months.
(Added by Stats. 1977, Ch. 975.)
A member who returns to active service following an uncompensated leave of absence on account of illness or injury arising out of and in the course of employment which exceeds 12 consecutive months and for which the member receives temporary disability benefits pursuant to the Labor Code during the absence may receive service credit for the full period in excess of 12 consecutive months during which the member received temporary disability benefits pursuant to the Labor Code upon the payment of the contributions which the member would have paid during that period, together with the interest which the contributions would have earned had they been on deposit, if the member was not absent, provided, that the member has rendered sufficient service, other than the service for which credit in excess of 12 consecutive months is to be purchased pursuant to this section, to meet the minimum service credit requirements for benefits. The contributions may be paid in a lump sum or may be paid on a monthly basis for a period of not more than the length of the period for which service credit is claimed.
This section shall not be operative in any county until such time as the board of supervisors shall, by resolution adopted by a majority vote, make this section applicable in the county.
(Added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 81, Sec. 2.)
(a) A member who wishes to apply for a nonservice-connected disability retirement allowance may, to the extent necessary to qualify for that allowance, receive service credit for a period of continuous, uncompensated leave immediately preceding the filing of the application upon satisfaction of all of the following:
(1) The member has exhausted all compensated leave, including any catastrophic leave to which the member may be eligible.
(2) The leave of absence was due to the member’s medical condition that has been determined by the board to be a terminal illness.
(3) Payment by the member of the contributions the member would have paid during the leave of absence, together with interest those contributions would have earned had they been on deposit if the member were not absent. The contributions may be paid in a lump sum, or may be paid on a monthly basis for a period of not more than the length of the period for which service credit is claimed; provided, however, that payment shall be completed prior to the effective date of the member’s retirement, or in accordance with Section 31485.7 or 31485.8 if either section has been adopted by the board of supervisors.
(b) Credit may not be received pursuant to this section for a period in excess of 12 consecutive months.
(c) This section shall not apply in any county unless and until it is adopted by a majority vote of the board of supervisors.
(Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 271, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2000.)
A person is not entitled to credit as prior service for time during which he was not in service as defined in this chapter.
(Added by Stats. 1947, Ch. 424.)
If any officer or employee not previously included within the field of membership of the association is brought within the field of membership or if any elected official chooses to come within the field of membership subsequent to the establishment of the association, he shall not receive credit for service or for prior service unless either (1) he elects to and does pay into the association within one year thereafter, or within such longer time as is provided in the regulations of the board, and before an application for retirement is filed, an amount equal to the contributions he would have made if he had been a member of the association from the date of its organization, or from the date of his entry into county service, whichever is the later, together with regular interest thereon or (2) the governing body, by a four-fifths vote, provides that it shall make, on behalf of all such officers or employees eligible to receive credit for prior service under this section and who so elect subsequent to the effective date of the amendment to this section at the 1963 Session of the Legislature, all or a part of the contributions to the association that the officer or employee would be required to make for his prior service, except that the contributions made by the governmental agency pursuant to this section shall be available only for the purpose of retirement for service or for disability and a member resigning from county service shall be entitled to withdraw only that portion of his accumulated contributions made by him.
(Amended by Stats. 1963, Ch. 1473.)
In any county in which the board of supervisors has entered into an agreement as permitted by Section 20569.1, the governing body of the contracting agency from which the firemen were transferred or the governing body of the district to which the firemen were transferred may pay all or part of the cost, as determined by the board, of the liabilities which were assumed by the county system under Section 20569 and which exceed the value of the cash or securities or both transferred by the Public Employees Retirement System to the county system. The governing bodies of the contracting agency and of the district may determine the proportion of the liabilities each pays.
(Added by Stats. 1974, Ch. 1343.)
A member who is a full-time employee and returns within 12 months of the date of layoff to full-time service following a period of layoff commencing on or after January 1, 1981, but not to exceed 12 months, may receive service credit for the period of the absence, but not to exceed one year, upon the payment of the contributions that the member would have paid during that period, together with the interest that the contributions would have earned had they been on deposit, if the member was not absent. The contributions may be paid in lump sum or may be paid on a monthly basis for a period of not more than the length of the period for which service credit is claimed. The service credit provided by this section shall be provided only to persons who have returned to employment under the procedures of the employer for returning laid-off employees to work and shall not exceed one year of service credit for each layoff period. The decision of the member to redeposit withdrawn contributions shall be made within five years from the date the member is rehired or the effective date of the adoption by the county board of supervisors of this section. Upon completion of the redeposit with interest, the entry age of the member shall be adjusted to the original age of entry and membership is reestablished to that date.
This section shall not be operative in any county until such time as the board of supervisors shall, by resolution adopted by a majority vote, make this section applicable in the county.
(Amended by Stats. 1993, Ch. 284, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1994.)
In any county in which the board of supervisors has entered into an agreement as permitted by Section 20569.2, the governing body of the contracting agency from which the employees were transferred or the governing body of the district or the county service area to which the employees were transferred may pay all or part of the cost, as determined by the board, of the liabilities which were assumed by the county system under Section 20569 and which exceed the value of the cash or securities of both transferred by the Public Employees’ Retirement System to the county system. The governing bodies of the contracting agency and of the district or the county service area may determine the proportion of the liabilities each pays.
(Added by renumbering Section 31648.3 (as added by Stats. 1984, Ch. 1403) by Stats. 1986, Ch. 248, Sec. 85.)
Any elective officer (a) who has filed a declaration of election to become a member of a county retirement association established pursuant to this chapter and (b) who rendered any county service after the effective date of the system so established and prior to the effective date of his membership in the association and (c) who would not otherwise be entitled to credit for such service, shall be entitled to credit for such service as current service if he contributes to the retirement association the contributions which he would have made if he had been a member of the association during the time such service was rendered, together with regular interest thereon.
(Amended by Stats. 1970, Ch. 369.)
Any member who is an elective officer, and who has had a break in service, may receive credit for the previous service as current service, if all of the following conditions are met:
(a) The member serves in the same office.
(b) The service is not a basis for any other present or future public retirement benefits.
(c) The member, prior to the effective date of retirement, by lump-sum payment or by installment over a period not to exceed five years, (1) contributes an amount equal to twice the contributions the members would have made to the retirement fund if the member had been a member during the same length of time as that for which the member has elected to receive credit as service, computed by applying the rate of contribution first applicable to the member upon commencement of membership and (2) pays any interest that would have accrued to that amount.
This section shall not be operative in any county, until adopted by resolution of the board of supervisors.
(Added by Stats. 1981, Ch. 1104, Sec. 1.)
Any elective officer whose term of office expires at a time when the total period of his incumbency divided into months results in a fractional month greater than 20 days shall be deemed to have rendered service sufficient to receive credit for a full month provided that such officer contributes to the retirement association prior to the receipt of the first payment of his retirement allowance the contributions required for that month.
(Added by Stats. 1963, Ch. 794.)
(a) Any member who resigns to enter and does enter the Armed Forces of the United States on a voluntary or involuntary basis, and within 90 days after the termination of that service under honorable conditions, reenters county service, or
(b) Any member who obtains a leave of absence to enter and does enter the Armed Forces of the United States on a voluntary or involuntary basis, and within one year after the termination under honorable conditions of leave of absence reenters county service, if he or she has not contributed to the retirement fund the total percentage of his or her compensation earnable due pursuant to Section 31461 or pensionable compensation as defined in Section 7522.34, whichever is applicable, due under this chapter for the entire period during which he or she was out of county service and in military service, may, not more than 90 days after his or her reentrance into county service, file with the board his or her election that no further contributions be deducted from his or her compensation except contributions due because of current service.
(c) A member who reenters county service under either (a) or (b) above may be allowed up to five years credit for vesting in the system.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 741, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2015.)
Any employer who reemploys a member who is subject to the provisions of Chapter 43 (commencing with Section 4301) of Title 38 of the United States Code, shall, within 30 days after the date of that reemployment, provide information in writing as required by the board notifying the system of that reemployment, and shall provide the returning employee written notification of the right to purchase that service credit.
(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 680, Sec. 13. Effective January 1, 1997.)
Notwithstanding Section 31649, any member who resigned, or obtained a leave of absence, to enter and did enter the Armed Forces of the United States on a voluntary or involuntary basis and returned to county service within one year after separation therefrom, under honorable conditions, shall receive credit for service and prior service for all or any part of his or her military service, if, before retirement from the county, he or she contributes what he or she would have paid to the fund based on his or her compensation earnable pursuant to Section 31461 at the time he or she resigned or received the leave of absence, together with regular interest thereon, and if, when he or she contributes, the military service is not a basis for present or future military retirement pay.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 740, Sec. 8. Effective January 1, 2015.)
(a) Notwithstanding Section 31649 or 31649.5, a member who resigned from county service, or who obtained a leave of absence from county service, to enter and did enter the Armed Forces of the United States on a voluntary or involuntary basis and who then returned to county service within one year after separation from the Armed Forces under honorable conditions, shall receive credit for service and prior service for all or any part of his or her military service, if, before retirement from the county, he or she contributes what he or she would have paid to the fund based on his or her compensation earnable pursuant to Section 31461 or pensionable compensation as defined in Section 7522.34, whichever is applicable, at the time he or she resigned or obtained the leave of absence, together with regular interest thereon.
(b) This section shall not be operative in any county until the board of supervisors, by resolution, makes this section applicable in the county.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 741, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2015.)
Unless the returning member reenters the service as a new member or files an election pursuant to Section 31649, the county auditor or other officer charged with the duty of drawing salary or wage warrants shall deduct past due contributions pursuant to the regulations of the board, or if there are no such regulations pursuant to this chapter. The filing of an election shall apply only to salary or wage warrants delivered 30 or more days after the filing of an election, and no deduction legally made shall be refunded because of an election.
(Added by Stats. 1947, Ch. 424.)
If the returning member files an election pursuant to Section 31649, the auditor or other officer charged with the duty of drawing salary or wage warrants shall deduct current contributions only from salary or wage warrants delivered 30 or more days after the filing of the election. Member contributions shall be calculated upon the basis of the age of the member upon his or her first entry into the retirement system.
(Amended by Stats. 1992, Ch. 132, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1993.)
(a) Any member may redeposit in the retirement fund, prior to filing an application for retirement, by lump sum payment or by installment payments over a period of one year or for a longer time upon approval of the board, an amount equal to all of the accumulated normal contributions which he has withdrawn, plus regular interest thereon from the date of separation from the retirement system, and his membership is the same as if unbroken by such termination. Except as provided in this section his rate of contribution shall be based on age at the nearest birthday at time of reentrance into the system. If he does not redeposit all of the accumulated normal contributions previously withdrawn he shall be considered as a new member without credit for any previous service.
“Regular interest” as used in this section shall mean that amount of interest which would have been credited to the account of the member on the amount to be deposited at the interest rates established for the system if the contributions required by this section had been on deposit from the date of separation from the retirement system until the amount required to be deposited has been paid.
(b) Any member who left county service on or before December 31, 1971, and thereafter again became a member of the county system which he left and (1) who did not withdraw his accumulated normal contributions, or (2) who elected to leave his accumulated normal contributions on deposit pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 31700), or (3) who redeposited or redeposits withdrawn accumulated normal contributions plus interest as authorized in this section, shall be eligible for all benefits granted a member entering a reciprocal retirement system under Article 15 (commencing with Section 31830), including the benefits granted to members who left their accumulated contributions on deposit or who redeposited their accumulated contributions pursuant to Section 31831.1. This paragraph shall not be applicable to any member entering service after December 31, 1977.
(c) Any member who left county service on or after January 1, 1972, and who within 90 days thereafter again became a member of the county system which he left and (1) who did not withdraw his accumulated normal contributions, or (2) who elected to leave his accumulated normal contributions on deposit pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 31700), or (3) who redeposits or redeposited his withdrawn accumulated normal contributions plus interest as authorized by Section 31652 within 180 days after leaving county service, shall be eligible for all benefits granted a member entering a reciprocal retirement system under Article 15 (commencing with Section 31830), except that Section 31831.1 shall not apply to such members.
(d) This section shall not apply to members who are retired or who are not in service of an employer making him a member of this system.
(Amended by Stats. 1978, Ch. 141.)
(a) Any member may redeposit in the retirement fund, prior to filing an application for retirement, by lump-sum payment or by installment payments over a period of one year or for a longer time upon approval of the board, an amount equal to all of the accumulated normal contributions which he has withdrawn, plus regular interest thereon from the date of separation from the retirement system, and his membership is the same as if unbroken by such termination. Except as provided in this section his rate of contribution shall be based on age at the nearest birthday at time of reentrance into the system. If he does not redeposit all of the accumulated normal contributions previously withdrawn he shall be considered as a new member without credit for any previous service.
“Regular interest” as used in this section shall mean that amount of interest which would have been credited to the account of the member on the amount to be deposited at the interest rates established for the system if the contributions required by this section had been on deposit from the date of separation from the retirement system until the amount required to be deposited has been paid.
(b) Any member who left county service on or before December 31, 1974, and thereafter again became a member of the county system which he left and (1) who did not withdraw his accumulated normal contributions, or (2) who elected to leave his accumulated normal contributions on deposit pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 31700), or (3) who redeposited or redeposits withdrawn accumulated normal contributions plus interest as authorized in this section, shall be eligible for all benefits granted a member entering a reciprocal retirement system under Article 15 (commencing with Section 31830), including the benefits granted to members who left their accumulated contributions on deposit or who redeposited their accumulated contributions pursuant to Section 31831.1. This paragraph shall not be applicable to any member entering service after December 31, 1979.
(c) Any member who left county service on or after January 1, 1975, and who within 90 days thereafter again became a member of the county system which he left and (1) who did not withdraw his accumulated normal contributions, or (2) who elected to leave his accumulated normal contributions on deposit pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 31700), or (3) who redeposits or redeposited his withdrawn accumulated normal contributions plus interest as authorized by Section 31652 within 180 days after leaving county service, shall be eligible for all benefits granted a member entering a reciprocal retirement system under Article 15 (commencing with Section 31830), except that Section 31831.1 shall not apply to such members.
(d) This section shall not apply to members who are retired or who are not in service of an employer making him a member of this system.
(e) This section shall apply only in a county of the first class, as established by Sections 28020 and 28022 but shall not be operative in a county until adopted by resolution of the board of supervisors.
(Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 991, Sec. 1.)
(a) Any member of a retirement system established pursuant to this chapter who was previously a member of the same county retirement system and who thereafter became a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System as a result of employment by a public agency contracting with the Public Employees’ Retirement System, shall receive credit in the county retirement system for service rendered as an officer or employee of such public agency, provided that he or she makes the contributions specified by Section 31641.2, and provided further that he or she is not entitled to receive any other pension or retirement allowance from any public agency for such service.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person who would otherwise qualify under subdivision (a) who elected to leave his or her contributions on deposit with the Public Employees’ Retirement System and receive the benefits of reciprocity, may rescind that election and withdraw his or her contributions plus accrued interest from the Public Employees’ Retirement System and deposit the same in the county retirement system of which he or she is a member as payment in full or in part for the service credit described in this section. The person shall not thereafter have the right to redeposit the withdrawn contributions in the Public Employees’ Retirement System or to receive any credit for such service in that system. Any member of a county retirement system who is eligible to receive credit for other public service pursuant to this section shall receive the benefit of any motion or resolution adopted by the board of supervisors pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 31641.2 which was in effect during the member’s county service.
(c) This section shall apply only in a county of the first class, as established by Sections 28020 and 28022, but shall not be operative in a county until adopted by resolution of the board of supervisors.
(Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 991, Sec. 2.)
Notwithstanding the provisions of this article, the governing board of the county or district may elect to contribute for any member of this system who is absent from and reenters the service of the county or district pursuant to Section 31649 of this code, amounts equal to the contributions that would have been made by the member and the member’s employer to the system on the basis of the member’s compensation earnable at the commencement of the absence, if the member had not been so absent.
If the governing board elects to make any member’s contributions pursuant to this section:
(a) Any such member who exercises or did exercise the right to contribute to the system during the period of military service shall have those contributions refunded or credited to that member’s account.
(b) Any such member who withdraws or has withdrawn accumulated contributions during military service and who does not or did not redeposit the amount withdrawn upon return to employment with the county or district is entitled to be credited with any contribution the governing board elects to make, and to receive credit for service during the period of absence for military service, the same as if the member had not withdrawn accumulated contributions, and the rate for future contributions shall be based upon the member’s age at the commencement of the absence for military service.
(c) The contributions made by the governing board pursuant to this section shall be available only for the purpose of retirement for service or for disability, and shall be made available only for the purpose of retirement, and a member resigning from the service of the county or district after reinstatement from military service shall be entitled to withdraw only that portion of accumulated contributions personally made by the member.
(d) This section shall be retroactively applied to extend its benefits to such members of this system as the governing board may determine whose absence from county service on military service commenced on or after September 16, 1940, and who return or have returned to this service upon the termination of their military service.
(e) This section shall not apply to a member who is subject to the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (Article 4 (commencing Section 7522) of Chapter 21 of Division 7 of Title 1).
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 741, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 2015.)
Whenever, as a result of the resumption by the counties pursuant to Article XXVII of the Constitution of functions relating to the administration of aid to the aged and aid to the needy blind theretofore performed by the state, any person ceases to be employed by the state and is employed by a county in which this chapter has become operative, the person shall become a member of the retirement association of the county immediately upon his entrance into the county service.
Any such member of a county retirement system shall be entitled to credit in the county retirement system for service for which he was entitled to credit in the Public Employees’ Retirement System at the time of cessation of his employment by the state, without the necessity of payment of any additional contributions in respect to that service, when and if (a) the board of retirement receives certification from the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System of the state service with which the person was entitled to be credited by the Public Employees’ Retirement System at the time of cessation of his state employment; and (b) there is paid into the employees’ retirement fund of the county an amount equal to the normal contributions of the person to the Public Employees’ Retirement System, together with the interest credited thereto, which amount shall be credited to the individual account of the member in the county employee’s retirement system, and shall thereafter for all purposes be deemed to be the member’s contribution to the county retirement system in respect to the service so certified; and (c) there is paid into the employees’ retirement fund of the county an additional amount equal to the amount of such normal contributions, together with the interest credited thereto, which additional amount shall thereafter for all purposes be deemed to be the contributions of the employer county to the county retirement system in respect to the service so certified.
(Amended by Stats. 1968, Ch. 1046.)
Any member may receive credit for war relocation absence if the member elects to pay and does pay prior to retirement into the retirement fund an amount equal to the contributions the member would have made to the fund on the member’s compensation earnable at the time of the absence together with regular interest thereon.
“War relocation absence” means the period of absence from county service occasioned by the evacuation and relocation of a member pursuant to orders issued by the commanding officer of the Western Defense Command in March 1942, for the evacuation of persons of Japanese descent from such area, where the member was in county service on March 5, 1942, and later returned to county service prior to July 1, 1947.
This section shall not be operative in any county until adopted by resolution of the board of supervisors.
(Added by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1027.)
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit any district established pursuant to Part 4 (commencing with Section 40000) of Division 10 of the Public Utilities Code, from extending retirement service credit pursuant to Section 40127 of the Public Utilities Code to any employee of the district who is on an authorized leave of absence to serve as an official of a recognized employee bargaining unit, under all of the following conditions:
(a) The employee agrees to pay the total contributions that would otherwise be paid if the employee were not on leave, as well as any additional costs which may accrue to the system as a result of this extension of coverage.
(b) The maximum service credit accumulated under this section shall not exceed 12 years.
(c) Employees covered under this section shall not be eligible for disability benefits under any public employees’ retirement system in this state while on such leave of absence.
This section shall not be operative in any county until such time as the board of supervisors shall, by resolution adopted by majority vote, make the provisions of this section applicable in the county.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 740, Sec. 9. Effective January 1, 2015.)
Subject to Section 20588, whenever, as a result of the assumption by a county, fire authority, or district of firefighting or law enforcement functions performed by a public agency or the state subject to the Public Employees’ Retirement Law, any person ceases to be employed by a public agency or the state and is employed by a county, fire authority, or district in which this chapter has become operative, that person shall become a member of the retirement system of a county immediately upon entering county service. That member of the county retirement system shall be entitled to service credit in the county retirement system for the service for which he or she was entitled to credit in the Public Employees’ Retirement System at the time of cessation of employment by the public agency or the state, without necessity of payment of any additional contributions in respect to that service, when and if all of the following occur:
(a) The board of retirement receives certification from the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System of the service with which the person was entitled to be credited by the Public Employees’ Retirement System at the time of cessation of his or her public agency or state employment.
(b) There is paid into the county retirement fund of the county, an amount equal to the normal contributions of the person to the Public Employees’ Retirement System, together with all interest credited thereto, which amount shall be credited to the individual account of the member in the county retirement system, and shall thereafter for all purposes be deemed to be the member’s contribution to the county retirement system with respect to the service so certified.
(c) There is paid to the retirement system of the county an amount equal to all contributions of the public agency or the state made to the Public Employees’ Retirement System on account of service rendered by the person together with interest credited to the public agency or the state thereto.
(d) The board of retirement elects to apply this section as a prudent means of mitigating against potential adverse financial impact upon the county retirement system from the cost of disability retirements that may be applied for in the future by persons injured while being employed by the county, fire authority, or district after ceasing to be employed by a public agency or the state as a result of the assumption by a county, fire authority, or district of firefighting or law enforcement functions.
This section shall apply in a county of the first, the second, or the fourteenth class, as defined by Section 28020, as amended by Chapter 1204 of the Statutes of 1971, and Section 28022, as amended by Chapter 43 of the Statutes of 1961, and Section 28023, as amended by Chapter 1204 of the Statutes of 1971.
(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 793, Sec. 41. Effective January 1, 2002.)
(a) An active member may elect, by written notice filed with the board, to make contributions pursuant to this section and to receive up to five years of service credit in the retirement system for additional retirement credit, if the member has completed at least five years of credited service with that retirement system.
(b) As used in this section, “additional retirement credit” means time that does not otherwise qualify as county service, public service, military service, medical leave of absence, or any other time recognized for service credit by the retirement system.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, service credit for additional retirement credit may not be counted to meet the minimum qualifications for service or disability retirement or for purposes of establishing eligibility for any benefits based on 30 years of service, additional ad hoc cost-of-living benefits based on service credit, health care benefits, or any other benefits based upon service credit.
(d) Any member who elects to make contributions and receive service credit for additional retirement credit shall contribute to the retirement fund, prior to the effective date of his or her retirement, by lump-sum payment or by installment payments over a period not to exceed 10 years, an amount that, at the time of commencement of purchase, in the opinion of the board and the actuary, is sufficient to not place any additional financial burden upon the retirement system.
(e) No member may receive service credit under this section for any additional retirement credit for which he or she has not completed payment pursuant to subdivision (d) before the effective date of his or her retirement. Subject to the limitations of United States Internal Revenue Service regulations, a member who has elected to make payment in installments may complete payment by lump sum at any time prior to the effective date of his or her retirement.
(f) Any sums paid by a member pursuant to this section shall be considered to be and administered as contributions by the member.
(g) This section is not operative in any county until the board of supervisors, by resolution adopted by majority vote, makes this section applicable in the county.
(h) Pursuant to Section 7522.46, this section shall apply only to an application to purchase additional retirement credit that was received by the retirement system prior to January 1, 2013, that is subsequently approved by the system.
(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 247, Sec. 23. Effective January 1, 2014.)
