Unless otherwise specified, the definitions set forth in this chapter govern the construction of this part.

“Actuarial equivalent” means a benefit that has the same present value as the benefit it replaces based on interest rates and mortality tables recommended by the actuary and adopted by the board as a plan amendment.

“Actuary” means a person professionally trained in the technical and mathematical aspects of insurance, pensions, and related fields who has been appointed by the board for the purpose of actuarial services required under this part.

“Additional earnings credit” means a percentage determined by the board for a plan year by means of a plan amendment and credited to employee accounts and employer accounts on a specified date.

“Administrative costs” means the costs of administering the Cash Balance Benefit Program for the plan year as determined by the board.

“Annuitant Reserve” means the reserve account established by the board within the State Teachers’ Retirement Fund for the payment of monthly annuities with respect to the Cash Balance Benefit Program.

“Annuity” means an amount of money payable in monthly installments for a period determined by the option elected by the participant or beneficiary.

Regulations.

“Basis of employment” means the standard of time over which the employer expects service to be performed by an employee in the position during the school term.

“Beneficiary” means any person or persons or entity designated by the participant pursuant to this part or otherwise entitled by law to receive the death benefit under the plan.

“Board” means the Teachers’ Retirement Board.

“Cash Balance Benefit Program” means the benefit program set forth in this part of the State Teachers’ Retirement Law.

contract between a community college district and the United States Department of Defense to provide vocational training.

professionals.

eligible pursuant to Section 26403.

“Death benefit” means the benefit payable under this part upon the death of the participant.

“Defined Benefit Program” means the Defined Benefit Program of the State Teachers’ Retirement Plan as set forth in Part 13 (commencing with Section 22000).

“Disability benefit” means an amount payable under this part for permanent and total disability that is equal to the sum of the participant’s employee account and employer account as of the disability date and is payable pursuant to Section 26905, 26906, or 26906.5.

“Disability date” means the date the benefit becomes payable to a participant who has applied for a disability benefit from the plan under this part and has been determined to have a total and permanent disability.

“Employee” means a person engaged to perform creditable service.

“Employee account” means the nominal account of the participant to which employee contributions and interest and any additional earnings credits in respect thereof are credited under the Cash Balance Benefit Program.

“Employee contribution” means the amount withheld from the participant’s salary by the employer as a contribution by the employee under the Cash Balance Benefit Program.

“Employer account” means the nominal account of the participant in which employer contributions on behalf of the participant and interest and any additional earnings credits in respect thereof are credited under the Cash Balance Benefit Program.

“Employer contribution rate” means the percentage of salary that determines the amount the employer contributes to the Cash Balance Benefit Program with respect to each employee who is a participant.

“Employer contribution” means the amount contributed by the employer to the Cash Balance Benefit Program with respect to the participant.

“Employed” or “employment” means employed to perform creditable service subject to coverage under the Cash Balance Benefit Program.

“Full time equivalent” means the days or hours of creditable service that a person who is employed on a part-time basis would be required to perform in a school term if he or she were employed full time, as defined by Section 22138.5, in that position.

“Fund” means the Teachers’ Retirement Fund.

“Gain and Loss Reserve” means the reserve account established by the board within the fund with respect to the Cash Balance Benefit Program to be drawn upon to the extent necessary to credit interest to employee accounts and employer accounts at the minimum interest rate during years in which the plan’s investment earnings with respect to the Cash Balance Benefit Program are not sufficient for that purpose, and where necessary, to provide additions to the Annuitant Reserve for monthly annuity payments.

“Investment earnings” means income received or receivable during the plan year by the plan from investment of employee contributions, employer contributions, and prior investment earnings.

“Minimum interest rate” means the annual rate determined for the plan year by the board by means of an amendment to the plan with respect to the Cash Balance Benefit Program in accordance with applicable federal laws and regulations.

“Participant” means a person who has performed creditable service subject to coverage by the Cash Balance Benefit Program and who has contributions credited under the Cash Balance Benefit Program or is receiving an annuity under the Cash Balance Benefit Program by reason of creditable service or has not yet met the conditions of subdivision (b) of Section 26806.

the Government Code, or the San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System, and the person performed service in the other retirement system within the six months prior to the commencement of creditable service under the Cash Balance Benefit Program.

“Pay period” means a payroll period specified by the employer but not more than 31 calendar days.

“Plan” means the State Teachers’ Retirement Plan.

“Plan year” means the calendar, policy, or fiscal year on which the records of the plan are kept, with respect to the Cash Balance Benefit Program. The board by means of plan amendment shall determine the plan year.

“Public employer” means a public employer as defined by subdivision (i) of Section 7522.04 of the Government Code.

in the definition of “retired participant activities” if all of the following conditions apply:

“Retirement” means termination of employment and completion of all conditions precedent to receiving a retirement benefit under the Cash Balance Benefit Program.

“Retirement benefit” means an amount payable under this part in the event of the participant’s retirement for service that is equal to the sum of the participant’s employee account and employer account as of the retirement date and that is payable pursuant to Section 26806, 26807, or 26807.5.

“Retirement date” means the date the benefit under this part becomes payable to a participant who has applied for a retirement benefit from the plan under this part.

agreement, including, but not limited to, a collective bargaining agreement or an employment agreement.

that are purchased by an employer for a participant.

the qualifications or requirements specified in a publicly available written contractual agreement, including, but not limited to, a collective bargaining agreement or an employment agreement, as a condition of receiving the remuneration.

for participation in a plan that meets the requirements of Section 125, 401(a), 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), or 457(f) of Title 26 of the United States Code that are purchased by an employer for a participant.

(A) One hundred twenty percent of the “contribution and benefit base,” as determined under Section 430(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 430(b)), on January 1, 2013, for a participant whose service is not included in the federal system.

(B) One hundred percent of the “contribution and benefit base,” as determined under Section 430(b) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 430(b)), on January 1, 2013, for a participant whose service is included

in the federal system pursuant to any changes in state or federal law enacted on or after January 1, 2013.

requirements of this subdivision with regard to all participants subject to this subdivision, except that the Legislature may not modify these provisions in a manner that would result in a decrease in benefits accrued prior to the effective date of the modification.

but not limited to, a collective bargaining agreement or an employment agreement, as a condition of receiving the remuneration.

“System” means the State Teachers’ Retirement System.

“System’s headquarters office” means the office building established as the permanent headquarters facility for the system, pursuant to Section 22375.

“Termination benefit” means a benefit that is an amount equal to the sum of the participant’s employee account and employer account payable under this part pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 13 (commencing with Section 27200).

“Total and permanent disability” means any medically determinable physical or mental incapacity that is expected to prevent the participant from performing creditable service under this part for the employer for a continuous period of at least one year.

“Trustee service” means duties performed by a member of the governing body of an employer.

“Unfunded actuarial obligation” means any negative balance in the Gain and Loss Reserve.