for general members as an alternative to the provisions and benefits otherwise contained in this chapter.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions contained in this section govern the construction of this article.

Except as otherwise herein provided, a member shall not be credited with service for any period of time in which the member is absent from work without pay.

Unless otherwise provided, service shall not include military service or public service other than service with the employer.

the member’s account. Interest shall be credited to the June 30 or December 31 date, whichever is later, immediately preceding the date of the refund warrant. Any refund under this section shall be payable to the member.

Section 31499.4, an unpaid leave of absence of not to exceed one year, or a leave of absence for which an employee receives any benefit which has been approved by the employer, may not be considered an interruption of service. However, the period of time of unpaid leave may not be considered as service in calculating the benefits otherwise provided under this article.

to this section may not be counted to meet the minimum qualifications for service or disability retirement, additional cost-of-living benefits, health care benefits, or any other benefits based on service credit.

payment pursuant to subdivision (c) before the effective date of his or her retirement or, if applicable, before the date provided in Section 31485.7. Subject to the limitations of federal law, a member who has elected to make payments in installments may complete payment by lump sum at any time prior to the effective date of his or her retirement.

normal retirement setting forth the desired effective retirement date.

the fraction of the number of years of service with the employer subject to coverage under the federal system, not to exceed 35 years, divided by 35.

In no event shall the normal retirement pension, when added to the estimated primary insurance amount, exceed 70 percent of the member’s final compensation unless the years of service to which the member is entitled to be credited at retirement exceeds 35, in which case the normal retirement pension, when added to the estimated primary insurance amount, shall not exceed 80 percent of the member’s final compensation.

multiplying the normal retirement pension by the early retirement adjustment factor set forth opposite the member’s age as of the birthday immediately preceding the date of retirement, in the following table:

The ERA Factors set forth in this subdivision shall be used until adjusted by the board in accordance with the interest and mortality tables adopted by the board.

to have been subject to the federal system and to have increased on a year-to-year basis at a rate equivalent to the rate of increase in the average per worker total wages reported by the Social Security Administration, and

included in the calculation of the estimated primary insurance amount.

subdivision, the actual primary insurance amount shall be the amount payable under the federal system on the retired member’s date of retirement without regard to delayed retirement credit or any deductions on account of work. Following receipt of that evidence, the board shall adjust the retired member’s pension from the date of retirement to equal the amount of the pension to which he or she would have been entitled on that date had the estimated primary insurance amount equaled the actual primary insurance amount.

lived, shall be paid to the deceased retired member’s child or children under the age of 18 years. If the survivor allowance is to be paid to surviving children, the allowance shall be divided among the children in equal amounts. However, the right of any child to share in the allowance shall cease upon his or her death, marriage, or upon attaining the age of 18 years.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this subdivision, the allowance otherwise payable to the children of the retired member shall be paid to the children through the age of 21, if the children remain unmarried and are regularly enrolled as full-time students in any accredited school as determined by the board.

retirement applied to a lesser amount payable throughout the retired member’s life, and thereafter to have a survivor allowance as approved by the board, upon the advice of the actuary, continued throughout the life of and paid to the person or persons having an insurable interest in the life of the retired member, as the member or former member nominates by written designation duly executed and filed with the board at the time of retirement.

Any person employed subsequent to the effective date of this article who would otherwise qualify as a member shall not become a member until he or she certifies to the board his or her election to be covered by the retirement plan established by this article or to be covered by the retirement provisions and benefits otherwise available to members on the date preceding the effective date of this article. As a condition of continued employment, the certification shall be made within 60 days of employment. The employer shall make available to the person a disclosure of the elements of each of the available retirement plans prior to

accepting his or her election.

disability and death benefits. However, notwithstanding any other provision of this article, a transferring member shall receive credit for no more than 24 months of public service performed prior to December 31, 1969, including service with the employer, military service, and any other public service to which the member would otherwise be eligible under this chapter, except that member contributions shall not be collected.

Until the completion of the next regularly scheduled actuarial survey of the retirement system, the employer contribution required to finance the plan created by this article shall be established by the board, upon the recommendation of the actuary.

If any provision of this article, or the application thereof, to any person or circumstances, is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or application of the article which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application and, to this end the provisions of this article are severable.

chapter.

be applicable.

or provisions added to this article subsequent to the effective date of this article shall have his or her pension calculated under each such section or provision only for the period of time that those sections or provisions were in effect, unless otherwise mutually agreed between the employer and its employee representatives.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions contained in this section govern the construction of this article.

not consecutive, for a person who became a general member of the plan prior to January 1, 2013, or, for a person who became a general member of the plan on or after January 1, 2013, final compensation means the average annual compensation earnable by a general member during any 36 consecutive months, to be elected by the member at or before the time an application for retirement is filed, or, if no election is made, during the three years in which the member or former member last earned compensation preceding retirement. If a member or former member has less than three years of service, final compensation shall be determined by dividing total compensation by the number of months of service credited to the member or former member and multiplying by 12. In no event shall final compensation include any disability benefits received by the member or former member under a disability plan provided by the employer.

means an employee hired on a permanent basis, as defined by the employer, except an employee eligible for safety member.

otherwise provided, service shall not include military service or public service other than service with the employer.

to the member’s account. Interest shall be credited to the June 30 or December 31 date, whichever is later, immediately preceding the date of the refund warrant. Any refund under this section shall be payable to the member.

Section 31499.14, an unpaid leave of absence of not to exceed one year, or a leave of absence for which an employee received any benefit that has been approved by the employer, may not be considered an interruption of service. However, the period of time of unpaid leave may not be considered as service in calculating the benefits otherwise provided under this article.

to this section may not be counted to meet the minimum qualifications for service or disability retirement, additional cost-of-living benefits, health care benefits, or any other benefits based on service credit.

payment pursuant to subdivision (c) before the effective date of his or her retirement or, if applicable, before the date provided in Section 31485.7. Subject to the limitations of federal law, a member who has elected to make payments in installments may complete payment by lump sum at any time prior to the effective date of his or her retirement.

Plan 3.

credited at retirement, not to exceed 35 years, added to 1 percent of the member’s final compensation multiplied by the number of years of service in excess of 35, not to exceed 20 years, reduced by the estimated primary insurance amount, if any, multiplied by the fraction of the number of years of service with the employer subject to coverage under the federal system, not to exceed 35 years, divided by 35.

In no event shall the normal retirement pension, when added to the estimated primary insurance amount, exceed 70 percent of the member’s final compensation unless the years of service to which the member is entitled to be credited at retirement exceeds 35, in which case the normal retirement pension, when added to the estimated primary insurance amount, shall not exceed 80 percent of the member’s final compensation.

monthly installments for the life of the retired member in an amount which is the actuarial equivalent of the normal retirement pension to which the retired member would be entitled if otherwise eligible for normal retirement, which shall be computed by multiplying the normal retirement pension by the early retirement adjustment factor set forth opposite the member’s age as of the birthday immediately preceding the date of retirement in the following table:

The early retirement adjustment factor set forth in this subdivision shall be used until adjusted by the board in accordance with the interest and mortality tables adopted by the board.

estimated based on the employee’s age and salary as of the date of retirement or the date of termination of a vested member, whichever is applicable, provided that:

be assumed to continue at the wage base in effect in the year of retirement or the year of termination of a vested member, whichever is applicable, and (C) cost-of-living increases in the year of retirement and delayed retirement credit provided under the federal system shall not be included in the calculation of the estimated primary insurance amount.

(f), any retired member receiving a normal retirement pension shall, as soon as possible but not later than six months following retirement, present evidence required by the board of the retired member’s actual primary insurance amount. For purposes of this subdivision, the actual primary insurance amount shall be the amount payable under the federal system on the retired member’s date of retirement without regard to delayed retirement credit or any deductions on account of work. Following receipt of that evidence, the board shall adjust the retired member’s pension from the date of retirement to equal the amount of the pension to which he or she would have been entitled on that date had the estimated primary insurance amount equaled the actual primary insurance amount.

the deceased retired member’s child or children under the age of 18 years. If the survivor allowance is to be paid to surviving children, the allowance shall be divided among the children in equal amounts. However, the right of any child to share in the allowance shall cease upon his or her death, marriage, or upon attaining the age of 18 years.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of this subdivision, the allowance otherwise payable to the children of the retired member shall be paid to the children through the age of 21, if the children remain unmarried and are regularly enrolled as full-time students in any accredited school as determined by the board.

lesser amount payable throughout the retired member’s life, and thereafter to have a survivor allowance as approved by the board, upon the advice of the actuary, continued throughout the life of and paid to the person or persons having an insurable interest in the life of the retired member, as the member or former member nominates by written designation duly executed and filed with the board at the time of retirement.

Any person employed subsequent to the effective date of this article who would otherwise qualify as a member shall not become a member until he or she certifies to the board his or her election to be covered by the retirement plan established by this article or to be covered by the retirement provisions and benefits otherwise available to members on the date preceding the effective date of this article. As a condition of continued employment, the certification shall be made within 60 days of employment. The employer shall make available to the person a disclosure of the elements of each of the available retirement plans prior to accepting his or her

election.

retirement, survivor, disability and death benefits. All transferring members whose contributions for public service have been refunded to them shall not receive credit for that service.

the member’s election to transfer to the new plan, so provides.

for various job classifications or groups, or for various represented bargaining units, different conditions agreed upon by the employer and the employee representative, or both. The board of supervisors may also establish other conditions it deems necessary or desirable.

Until the completion of the next regularly scheduled actuarial survey of the retirement system, the employer contribution required to finance the plan created by this article shall be established by the board, upon the recommendation of the actuary.

If any provision of this article, or the application thereof, to any person or circumstances, is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or application of the article which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application and, to this end the provisions of this article are severable.