Chapter 2. Definitions of California Education Code >> Division 1. >> Title 1. >> Part 13. >> Chapter 2.

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

"Accumulated annuity deposit contributions" means the sum of all the annuity deposits standing to the credit of the member's account, together with credited interest.

"Accumulated Defined Benefit Supplement account balance" means an amount equal to the sum of member contributions, the member contributions picked up by an employer, employer contributions, and interest credited on those contributions pursuant to Section 25005, that are credited by the system to the member's Defined Benefit Supplement account.

"Accumulated Defined Benefit Supplement account balance" means credits equal to the sum of member contributions, the member contributions picked up by an employer, employer contributions, interest credited pursuant to Section 25005 and additional earnings credited pursuant to Section 25006.

"Accumulated retirement contributions" means the sum of the member contributions, the member contributions picked up by an employer pursuant to Sections 22903 and 22904, and credited interest on those contributions. Accumulated retirement contributions shall not include accumulated annuity deposit contributions, accumulated tax-sheltered annuity contributions, accumulated Defined Benefit Supplement account balance, or additional earnings credit.

"Accumulated tax-sheltered annuity contributions" means the tax-sheltered contributions made by a member and standing to the credit of the member's account, together with credited interest.

"Actuarial equivalent" means an allowance of equal value when computed upon the basis of such tables and interest rates that are adopted by the board.

"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 an amount derived from investment income for the plan year as determined by the board by plan amendment and added to members' Defined Benefit Supplement accounts in addition to the amount credited at the minimum interest rate for that plan year.

"Annuitant Reserve" means a segregated account within the retirement fund established and maintained for expenditure on annuities payable under the Defined Benefit Supplement Program.

(a) "Annuity," with respect to the Defined Benefit Program, means payments for life derived from the "accumulated annuity deposit contributions" of a member.
  (b) "Annuity," with respect to the Defined Benefit Supplement Program, means an alternative payment arrangement wherein a benefit based on the balance of credits in a member's Defined Benefit Supplement account is paid monthly rather than in a lump-sum.

"Annuity beneficiary" means the person or persons designated by a member pursuant to Section 25011, 25011.1, 25018, or 25018.1 to receive an annuity under the Defined Benefit Supplement Program upon the member's death.

"Annuity deposit contributions" means additional contributions made by a member prior to July 1, 1972, above those required for credited service for the purpose of providing additional retirement income.

For the purposes of determining supplemental benefits pursuant to Sections 24412 and 24415, "base allowance" means a monthly allowance under the Defined Benefit Program prior to all allowance increases by this part and after modification for an option, if applicable.

"Base days" means the number of days of creditable service required to earn one year of service credit.

"Base hours" means the number of hours of creditable service required to earn one year of service credit.

"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 year.
  (a) "Full-time basis" means a basis of employment that is full time.
  (b) "Part-time basis" means a basis of employment that is less than full time.

(a) "Beneficiary," with respect to the Defined Benefit Program, means any person or entity receiving or entitled to receive an allowance or lump-sum payment under the Defined Benefit Program because of the disability or death of a member.
  (b) "Beneficiary," with respect to the Defined Benefit Supplement Program, means any person or entity receiving or entitled to receive a final benefit under the Defined Benefit Supplement Program upon the death of a member.

(a) "Benefit" or "benefits," with respect to the Defined Benefit Program, means any monthly payment due a retired member, disabled member, or beneficiary, and includes lump-sum payments due on account of death.
  (b) "Benefit" and "benefits," with respect to the Defined Benefit Supplement Program, means an amount equal to the balance of credits in a member's Defined Benefit Supplement account.

"Board" means the Teachers' Retirement Board.

"Break in service," for purposes of determining a member's final compensation, means:
  (a) With respect to service of a member employed as a full-time employee and service performed by a member employed as a part-time employee, any period of time covering a pay period during which a member is on an unpaid leave of absence or a pay period in which a member has not performed any creditable service.
  (b) For a member who has been employed in a substitute position:
  (1) And has a change in assignment during a school year to a full-time or part-time position, a break in service is determined on the same basis as for the full-time or part-time employment during the same school year.
  (2) For less than 50 percent of their teaching career for which service is credited, a break in service is determined on the same basis as full-time employment.
  (3) For more than 50 percent of their teaching career for which service is credited, a break in service is any period of time within a school year for which compensation is not paid and service is not credited.
  (c) If a member commenced performing service at the beginning of a school term, the months not recognized as part of the school term are not a break in service; however, if the member commenced performing service after the school term began, or did not complete the school term, the months not recognized as part of the school term are a break in service. The school term shall be no less than the days or hours specified as full time in Section 22138.5.
  (d) Earnable salaries for a full pay period, but not beyond the effective date of retirement, shall be used in determining final compensation when the member performed service within that pay period.

"California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013" means the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (Article 4 (commencing with Section 7522) of Chapter 21 of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code).

"California service" means service performed in California for which credit may be given.

"Cash Balance Benefit Program" means the benefit program of the State Teachers' Retirement Plan as set forth in Part 14 (commencing with Section 26000).

"Credential," "credentials," and "certificate" mean any life diploma, credential, certificate, or other document provided for, by, and issued pursuant to the laws of the state that authorize service in the public school system of this state.

"Certificated" means the holding by a person of a credential that is required by the laws of the state to be held as a condition to valid employment in the position in which the person is employed.

"Child's portion" or "children's portion" means the amount of a disability allowance, disability retirement allowance, family allowance, or survivor benefit allowance payable for a dependent child or dependent children.

(a) "Class of employees" means a number of employees considered as a group because they are employed to perform similar duties, are employed in the same type of program, or share other similarities related to the nature of the work being performed.
  (b) A class of employees may be comprised of one person if no other person employed by the employer performs similar duties, is employed in the same type of program, or shares other similarities related to the nature of the work being performed and that same class is in common use among other employers.
  (c) The board shall have the right to override the determination by an employer as to whether or not a group or an individual constitutes a "class of employees" within the meaning of this section.
  (d) The amendments to this section during the 1995-96 Regular Session of the Legislature shall be deemed to have become operative on July 1, 1996.

Notwithstanding Section 22112.5, any county office of education that, prior to January 1, 1997, operated a special education program for up to 225 days, and changes that program to a regular school year of not less than 180 school days with an extended year of not more than 45 days effective July 1, 1998, may consider days of service in defining not more than two classes of employees, subject to the following:
  (a) Members employed in the 225-day program prior to October 1, 1997, may remain in a class of employees for whom full-time service is 216 days per year.
  (b) Any of those members may elect to belong to a second class of employees for whom full-time service is fewer than 216 days per year, but not less than the minimum standard specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 22138.5, if both of the following conditions exist:
  (1) The election is made on or before June 30, 1998, and is effective July 1, 1998.
  (2) The election is nonrevocable.
  (c) All certificated employees hired on or after October 1, 1997, shall belong to the class of employees specified in subdivision (b).
  (d) This section shall not apply to certificated employees whose base year is determined pursuant to subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 22138.5.

"Comparable level position" means any job in which the member can earn 66 2/3 percent or more of indexed final compensation.

(a) "Compensation earnable" means the creditable compensation a person could earn in a school year for creditable service performed on a full-time basis, excluding service for which contributions are credited by the system to the Defined Benefit Supplement Program.
  (b) The board may determine compensation earnable for persons employed on a part-time basis.
  (c) If service credit for a school year is less than 1.000, compensation earnable shall be the quotient obtained when creditable compensation paid in that year is divided by the service credit for that year, except as provided in subdivision (d).
  (d) If a member earns creditable compensation at multiple pay rates during a school year and service credit at the highest pay rate is at least 0.900 of a year, compensation earnable shall be determined as if all service credit for that year had been earned at the highest pay rate. This subdivision shall be applicable only for purposes of determining final compensation. If a member earns creditable compensation at multiple pay rates during a school year and service credit at the highest pay rate is less than 0.900 of a year, compensation earnable shall be determined pursuant to subdivision (c).
  (e) If creditable service is not performed on a full-time basis because a member is performing those activities pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 22119.5, compensation earnable for those activities shall be determined as if the creditable compensation had been earned at the lowest pay rate for other creditable service activities performed by the member for the same employer during the same school year.
  (f) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (g), for purposes of determining compensation earnable for a member employed by a community college prior to July 1, 1996, full time shall be defined pursuant to Section 22138.5 and pursuant to Section 20521 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, as those provisions read on June 30, 1996, if application of that definition will increase the compensation earnable or otherwise enhance the benefits of the member.
  (2) For purposes of administering this subdivision, the board shall have the authority to do both of the following:
  (A) Establish and implement factors and assumptions necessary to calculate and compare the benefits payable under the definition of compensation earnable described in this subdivision. Those factors and assumptions may be based on information reported by the employer, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
  (i) Base hours.
  (ii) Actual earnings.
  (iii) Compensation earnable.
  (B) Review member benefit calculations that were performed using the factors and assumptions described in subparagraph (A). If the board determines that an employer failed to identify part-time service performed, the board shall consider that part-time service to be performed in a part-time lecture assignment as defined by the employer. If the board determines by the review of the member benefit calculations that the required information reported by the employer is inaccurate, incomplete, or the factors and assumptions were applied incorrectly, the board may recalculate member benefits using additional factors and assumptions that may include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
  (i) Base hours.
  (ii) Actual earnings.
  (iii) Compensation earnable.
  (3) This subdivision shall apply to a member employed by a community college prior to July 1, 1996, if the community college subsequently acts to reduce the minimum standard for full time as described in subdivision (c) of Section 22138.5 for the class of employees, and that community college provides written notice to the system of the act of the community college to reduce that minimum standard.
  (4) This subdivision shall not apply to a member employed by a community college that has not reduced the minimum standard as described in subdivision (c) of Section 22138.5.
  (g) Subdivision (f) shall not apply to a member subject to the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013.

"Concurrent membership" means membership in the Defined Benefit Program by an individual who is credited with service that is not used as a basis for benefits under any other public retirement system and is also a member of the California Public Employees' Retirement System, the Legislators' Retirement System, the University of California Retirement System, county retirement systems established under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 31450) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 3 of the Government Code, or the San Francisco Employees' Retirement System. A member with concurrent membership shall have the right to the following:
  (a) Have final compensation determined pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 22134 or subdivision (c) of Section 22134.5.
  (b) Redeposit accumulated retirement contributions pursuant to Section 23201.
  (c) Apply for retirement pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 24201.

(a) "Concurrent retirement" entitles a member of the Defined Benefit Program to retire for service from the State Teachers' Retirement System and from at least one of the retirement systems with which the member has concurrent membership, as defined in Section 22115.2, on the same date or on different dates provided that the member does not perform creditable service subject to coverage under the other system or the Defined Benefit Program between the two retirement dates.
  (b) A retired member who is subsequently employed in a position subject to membership in a public retirement system, specified in Section 22115.2, shall not be eligible for concurrent retirement.

"Contribution rate for additional service credit" means the contribution rate adopted by the board as a plan amendment with respect to the Defined Benefit Program for the purchase of service credit. This rate shall be based upon the most recent valuation of the plan with respect to the Defined Benefit Program and increased to include any subsequently required contribution rates designated for funding subsequent allowance increases.

"County" includes "city and county."

"County superintendent" means the county superintendent of schools.

(a) "Creditable compensation" means remuneration that is paid in cash by an employer to all persons in the same class of employees for performing creditable service in that position. Creditable compensation shall include:
  (1) Salary or wages paid in accordance with a publicly available written contractual agreement, including, but not limited to, a salary schedule or employment agreement.
  (2) Remuneration that is paid in addition to salary or wages, provided it is paid to all persons who are in the same class of employees in the same dollar amount, the same percentage of salary or wages, or the same percentage of the amount being distributed.
  (3) Remuneration that is paid for the use of sick leave, vacation leave, or an employer-approved compensated leave of absence, except as provided in paragraph (4) of subdivision (c).
  (4) Member contributions that are picked up by an employer pursuant to Section 22903 or 22904.
  (5) Amounts that are deducted from a member's remuneration, including, but not limited to, deductions for participation in a deferred compensation plan; deductions to purchase an annuity contract, tax-deferred retirement plan, or insurance program; and contributions to 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.
  (6) Any other payments the board determines to be "creditable compensation."
  (b) Any creditable compensation determined by the system to have been paid to enhance a member's benefits shall not be credited under the Defined Benefit Program. Contributions on that compensation shall be credited to the Defined Benefit Supplement Program. A presumption by the system that creditable compensation was paid to enhance a member's benefits may be rebutted by the member or by the employer on behalf of the member. Upon receipt of sufficient evidence to the contrary, a presumption by the system that creditable compensation was paid to enhance the member's benefits may be reversed.
  (c) "Creditable compensation" does not mean and shall not include:
  (1) Remuneration that is not paid in cash or is not paid to all persons who are in the same class of employees.
  (2) Remuneration that is paid for service that is not creditable service pursuant to Section 22119.5 or 22119.6.
  (3) Remuneration that is paid in addition to salary or wages if it is not paid to all persons in the same class of employees in the same dollar amount, the same percentage of salary or wages, or the same percentage of the amount being distributed pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a).
  (4) Remuneration that is paid in exchange for the relinquishment of unused accumulated leave.
  (5) Payments, including, but not limited to, those for participation in a deferred compensation plan; to purchase an annuity contract, tax-deferred retirement plan, or insurance program; and for contributions to 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 when the cost is covered by an employer and is not deducted from the member's salary.
  (6) Fringe benefits provided by an employer.
  (7) Expenses paid or reimbursed by an employer.
  (8) Severance pay, including lump-sum and installment payments, or money paid in excess of salary or wages to a member as compensatory damages or as a compromise settlement.
  (9) Any other payments the board determines not to be "creditable compensation."
  (d) An employer or individual who knowingly or willfully reports compensation in a manner inconsistent with subdivision (a) or (c) may be subject to prosecution for fraud, theft, or embezzlement in accordance with the Penal Code. The system may establish procedures to ensure that compensation reported by an employer is in compliance with this section.
  (e) For purposes of this section, remuneration shall be considered paid if distributed to any person in the same class of employees who meets 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.
  (f) This definition of "creditable compensation" reflects sound principles that support the integrity of the retirement fund. Those principles include, but are not limited to, consistent treatment of compensation throughout a member's career, consistent treatment of compensation among an entire class of employees, consistent treatment of compensation for the position, preventing adverse selection, and excluding from compensation earnable remuneration that is paid to enhance a member's benefits. The system shall determine the appropriate crediting of contributions between the Defined Benefit Program and the Defined Benefit Supplement Program according to these principles, to the extent not otherwise specified pursuant to this part.
  (g) The section shall become operative on July 1, 2002.
  (h) This section shall not apply to a member subject to the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013.

(a) "Creditable compensation" for members who are subject to the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 means remuneration that is paid each pay period in which creditable service is performed for that position. Creditable compensation shall be paid in cash by an employer to all persons in the same class of employees in accordance with a publicly available written contractual agreement, including, but not limited to, a salary schedule or employment agreement. Creditable compensation shall include:
  (1) Remuneration that is paid for the use of sick leave, vacation leave, or an employer-approved compensated leave of absence, except as provided in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b).
  (2) Member contributions that are picked up by an employer pursuant to Section 22903 or 22904.
  (3) Amounts that are deducted from a member's remuneration, including, but not limited to, deductions for participation in a deferred compensation plan; deductions to purchase an annuity contract, tax-deferred retirement plan, or insurance program; and contributions to 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.
  (4) Notwithstanding paragraphs (6) and (8) of subdivision (c) of Section 7522.34 of the Government Code, remuneration that is paid for creditable service that exceeds one year in a school year.
  (b) "Creditable compensation" does not mean and shall not include:
  (1) Remuneration that is not paid in cash or is not paid to all persons who are in the same class of employees.
  (2) Remuneration that is paid for service that is not creditable service pursuant to Section 22119.5 or 22119.6.
  (3) Remuneration that is not paid each pay period in which creditable service is performed for that position.
  (4) Remuneration that is paid in exchange for the relinquishment of unused accumulated leave.
  (5) Payments, including, but not limited to, those for participation in a deferred compensation plan; to purchase an annuity contract, tax-deferred retirement plan, or insurance program; and for contributions to 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 when the cost is covered by an employer.
  (6) Fringe benefits provided by an employer.
  (7) Expenses paid or reimbursed by an employer.
  (8) Severance pay, including lump sum and installment payments, or money paid in excess of salary or wages to a member as compensatory damages or as a compromise settlement.
  (9) Creditable compensation determined by the system to have been paid to enhance a member's benefit.
  (10) Compensation paid to the member in lieu of benefits provided to the member by the employer or paid directly by the employer to a third party other than the system for the benefit of the member.
  (11) Any one-time or ad hoc payments made to a member.
  (12) Any employer-provided allowance, reimbursement, or payment, including, but not limited to, one made for housing, vehicle, or uniform.
  (13) Any bonus paid in addition to compensation described in subdivision (a).
  (14) Any other payments the board determines not to be "creditable compensation."
  (c) (1) Except for purposes of calculating credited service in the Defined Benefit Program and for reporting compensation earnable on or after January 1, 2013, creditable compensation in any fiscal year shall not exceed:
  (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 member 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 member whose service is included in the federal system pursuant to any changes in state or federal law enacted on or after January 1, 2013.
  (2) The system shall adjust the limit based on the annual changes to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: U.S. City Average, calculated by dividing the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: U.S. City Average for the month of February in the fiscal year preceding the adjustment by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: U.S. City Average for the month of February of the previous year rounded to the nearest thousandth. Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subdivision (d) of Section 7522.10 of the Government Code, the adjustment shall be effective annually on July 1, beginning July 1, 2014.
  (3) The Legislature reserves the right to modify the requirements of this subdivision with regard to all members 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.
  (4) This subdivision shall apply to compensation paid during the 2013-14 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter.
  (d) An employer or individual who knowingly or willfully reports compensation in a manner inconsistent with subdivision (a) or (b) may be subject to prosecution for fraud, theft, or embezzlement in accordance with the Penal Code. The system may establish procedures to ensure that compensation reported by an employer is in compliance with this section.
  (e) For purposes of this section, remuneration shall be considered paid if distributed to any person in the same class of employees who meets 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.
  (f) This definition of "creditable compensation" reflects sound principles that support the integrity of the retirement fund. Those principles include, but are not limited to, consistent treatment of compensation throughout a member's career, consistent treatment of compensation among an entire class of employees, consistent treatment of compensation for the position, preventing adverse selection, and excluding from creditable compensation remuneration that is paid to enhance a member's benefits. The system shall determine the appropriate crediting of contributions according to these principles, to the extent not otherwise specified pursuant to this part. A presumption by the system that creditable compensation was paid to enhance the member's benefits may be rebutted by the member or by the employer on behalf of the member. Upon receipt of sufficient evidence to the contrary, a presumption by the system that creditable compensation was paid to enhance the member's benefits may be reversed.

(a) "Creditable service" means any of the activities described in subdivision (b) performed for any of the following employers:
  (1) A prekindergarten through grade 12 employer, including the state, in a position requiring certification qualifications as designated in regulations adopted by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing pursuant to Section 44001.
  (2) A community college employer by a faculty member, as defined in Section 87003, in an academic position, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 87001, or by an educational administrator, as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 87002, subject to the appropriate minimum standards adopted by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges pursuant to Section 87356, or pursuant to a contract between a community college district and the United States Department of Defense to provide vocational training.
  (3) A charter school employer under the provisions of an approved charter for the operation of a charter school for which the charter school is eligible to receive state apportionment.
  (b) The types of activities are any of the following:
  (1) The work of teachers, instructors, district interns, and academic employees employed in the instructional program for pupils, including special programs such as adult education, regional occupation programs, child care centers, and prekindergarten programs pursuant to Section 22161.
  (2) Education or vocational counseling, guidance, and placement services.
  (3) The work of employees who plan courses of study to be used in California public schools, or research connected with the evaluation or efficiency of the instructional program.
  (4) The selection, collection, preparation, classification, demonstration, or evaluation of instructional materials of any course of study for use in the development of the instructional program in California public schools, or other services related to California public school curriculum.
  (5) The examination, selection, in-service training, mentoring, or assignment of teachers, principals, or other similar personnel involved in the instructional program.
  (6) The work of nurses, physicians, speech therapists, psychologists, audiometrists, audiologists, and other California public school health professionals.
  (7) Services as a California public school librarian.
  (8) Activities connected with the enforcement of the laws relating to compulsory education, coordination of child welfare activities involving the school and the home, and the school adjustment of pupils.
  (9) The work of employees who are responsible for the supervision of persons or administration of the duties described in this subdivision.
  (c) "Creditable service" also means any of the activities described in subdivision (b) when they are performed for an employer by:
  (1) Superintendents of California public schools, and presidents and chancellors of community college employers.
  (2) Consulting teachers employed by an employer to participate in the California Peer Assistance and Review Program for Teachers pursuant to Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 44500) of Chapter 3 of Part 25 of Division 3 of Title 2.
  (d) "Creditable service" also means the performance of California public school activities related to, and an outgrowth of, the instructional and guidance program of the California public school when performed for the same employer for which the member is performing any of the activities described in subdivision (b) or (c).
  (e) The board shall have final authority for determining creditable service to cover any activities not already specified.

(a) Creditable service shall also include any activities that do not meet the definition of creditable service under Section 22119.5, but were performed for any employer, as defined in Section 22131, on or before December 31, 2015, and were reported as creditable service to the system.
  (b) The type of activities described in subdivision (a) performed by a member who becomes employed by the same or a different employer in a new position on or after January 1, 2016, shall be subject to Section 22119.5.

"Credited interest" means interest that is credited to active members' and inactive members', accumulated retirement contributions, and accumulated annuity deposit contributions at a rate set annually by the board as a plan amendment with respect to the Defined Benefit Program.

(a) "Credited service" means service for which the required contributions have been paid and service for which required contributions would have been paid in absence of the limit prescribed by Section 401(a)(17) of Title 26 of the United States Code as described in Section 22317.5.
  (b) "Credited service" for members who are subject to the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 means service for which required contributions have been paid and service for which required contributions would have been paid in absence of the limit established by subdivision (c) of Section 22119.3.
  (c) "Credited service" for the limited purpose of determining eligibility for benefits pursuant to Section 22134.5, 24203.5, or 24203.6 also includes up to two-tenths of one year of service granted pursuant to Section 22717.

"Custodian" as used in Section 22359, means any bank or trust company that serves as custodian for safekeeping, delivery, securities valuation, investment performance reporting, and other services in connection with investment of the fund.

"Death payment" means the amount payable upon the death of a member pursuant to Section 23801, 23851, or 23880.

"Defined Benefit Program" means the Defined Benefit Program provided in the State Teachers' Retirement Plan as set forth in this part.

"Defined Benefit Supplement contributions" means member contributions and employer contributions that are credited by the system to the member's Defined Benefit Supplement account pursuant to Section 25004.

(a) "Dependent child" or "dependent children" under the disability allowance and family allowance programs means a member's unmarried offspring or stepchild who is under 22 years of age and who is financially dependent upon the member on the effective date of the member's disability allowance or the date of the member's death.
  (b) "Offspring" shall include the member's child who is born within the 10-month period commencing on the earlier of the member's disability allowance effective date or the date of the member's death.
  (c) "Offspring" shall include a child adopted by the member.
  (d) "Dependent child" shall not include the member's offspring or stepchild who is adopted by a person other than the member's spouse.
  (e) "Dependent child" under the family allowance program shall not include:
  (1) The member's offspring or stepchild who was financially dependent on the member on the date of the member's death if a disability allowance was payable to the member prior to his or her death and the disability allowance did not include an amount payable for that offspring or stepchild.
  (2) A stepchild or adopted child acquired subsequent to the death of the member.
  (f) "Financially dependent" for purposes of this section means that at least one-half of the child's support was being provided by the member on the member's disability allowance effective date or the date of the member's death. The system may require that income tax records or other data be submitted to substantiate the child's financial dependence. In the absence of substantiating documentation, the system may determine that the child was not dependent on the effective date of the member's disability allowance or the date of the member's death.
  (g) "Member" as used in this section shall have the same meaning specified in Section 23800.

(a) "Dependent child" or "dependent children" under the disability retirement and survivor benefit allowance programs means a member's offspring or stepchild who is under 21 years of age and who is financially dependent upon the member on the effective date of the member's disability retirement or the date of the member's death.
  (b) "Offspring" shall include the member's child who is born within the 10-month period commencing on the earlier of the member's disability retirement effective date or the date of the member's death.
  (c) "Offspring" shall include a child adopted by the member.
  (d) "Dependent child" shall not include the member's offspring or stepchild who is adopted by a person other than the member's spouse.
  (e) "Dependent child" under the survivor benefit allowance program shall not include a stepchild or adopted child acquired subsequent to the death of the member.
  (f) "Financially dependent" for purposes of this section means that at least one-half of the child's support was being provided by the member on the member's disability retirement effective date or the date of the member's death. The system may require that income tax records or other data be submitted to substantiate the child's financial dependence. In the absence of substantiating documentation, the system may determine that the child was not dependent on the effective date of the member's disability retirement or the date of the member's death.
  (g) "Member" as used in this section shall have the same meaning specified in Section 23850.

"Dependent parent" means a natural parent of a member, or a parent who adopted the member prior to the earlier of the occurrence of the member's marriage or his or her attaining 18 years of age, and who was receiving one-half or more of his or her support from the member at the time of the member's death.

"Disability" or "disabled" means any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that is permanent or that can be expected to last continuously for at least 12 months, measured from the onset of the disability, but no earlier than the day following the last day of actual performance of service that prevents a member from performing the member's usual duties for the member's employer, the member's usual duties for the member's employer with reasonable modifications, or the duties of a comparable level position for which the member is qualified or can become qualified within a reasonable period of time by education, training, or experience. Any impairment from a willful self-inflicted injury shall not constitute a disability.

"Disability allowance" means the amount payable to a disabled member on a monthly basis.

"Disability benefit" means the amount payable under the Defined Benefit Supplement Program based on the balance of credits in a member's Defined Benefit Supplement account to either a disabled member pursuant to Section 24005 or to a member who retired for disability pursuant to Section 24105.

"Early retirement" and "early retirement age" mean the age of 55 years, which is the age upon attainment of which the member becomes eligible under the Defined Benefit Program for a service retirement allowance with reduction because of age and without special qualifications.

"Educational institution" means any accredited public or private institution whose primary purpose is to provide classroom teaching and includes a high school, trade or vocational school or college, community college, or other college or university.

"Effective date" means the date upon which the benefit becomes payable.

(a) (1) "Employer" or "employing agency" means the state or any agency or political subdivision thereof, including, but not limited to, a joint powers authority, for which creditable service subject to coverage by the plan is performed.
  (2) In the case of a joint powers authority, all of the following criteria shall be met:
  (A) The joint powers authority shall be formed pursuant to the Joint Exercise of Powers Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code).
  (B) All entities included in the joint powers authority shall be entities at which creditable service subject to coverage by the plan is performed.
  (C) The joint powers authority shall report through a single county office of education, with that county superintendent having responsibility for activities specified under this part, including but not limited to, reporting and remitting contributions.
  (b) This section shall be administered in compliance with the requirements defining a governmental plan set forth in Section 414(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Sec. 414(d)).

"Employed" or "employment" means employment to perform creditable service subject to coverage under the Defined Benefit Program or the Defined Benefit Supplement Program, except as otherwise specifically provided under this part.

"Family allowance" means amounts payable to eligible survivors provided pursuant to Chapter 22 (commencing with Section 23800) after June 30, 1972.

"Final benefit" means the amount payable to a beneficiary under the Defined Benefit Supplement Program upon the death of the member.

(a) "Final compensation" means the highest average annual compensation earnable, as defined by Section 22115, by a member during any period of 36 consecutive months while an active member of the Defined Benefit Program or time during which he or she was not a member but for which the member has received credit under the Defined Benefit Program, except time that was so credited for service performed outside this state prior to July 1, 1944.
  (b) For purposes of this section, periods of service separated by breaks in service may be aggregated, if the periods of service are consecutive except for the breaks.
  (c) The determination of final compensation of a member who is eligible for concurrent retirement as defined in Section 22115.5 shall take into consideration the compensation earnable while a member of any other system, provided that both of the following exist:
  (1) Service under any other system was not performed during the same pay period with service under the Defined Benefit Program.
  (2) Retirement under the Defined Benefit Program is concurrent with the member's retirement under any other system pursuant to Section 22115.5.
  (d) The compensation earnable for the first position in which California service was credited shall be used when additional compensation earnable is required for the purpose of determining final compensation under Section 23805.
  (e) If a member has received service credit for part-time service performed prior to July 1, 1956, the member's final compensation shall be adjusted for that service in excess of one year by the ratio that part-time service bears to full-time service.
  (f) The board may specify a different final compensation with respect to disability allowances, disability retirement allowances, family allowances, and children's portions of survivor benefit allowances payable on and after January 1, 1978. The compensation earnable for periods of part-time service shall be adjusted by the ratio that part-time service bears to full-time service.
  (g) The amendment of former Section 22127 made by Chapter 782 of the Statutes of 1982 does not constitute a change in, but is declaratory of, the existing law.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 22134, "final compensation" means the highest average annual compensation earnable, as defined in Section 22115, by a member during any period of 12 consecutive months while an active member of the Defined Benefit Program or time during which he or she was not a member but for which the member has received credit under the Defined Benefit Program, except time that was so credited for service performed outside this state prior to July 1, 1944.
  (b) For purposes of this section, periods of service separated by breaks in service may be aggregated, if the periods of service are consecutive except for the breaks.
  (c) The determination of final compensation of a member who is eligible for concurrent retirement as defined in Section 22115.5 shall take into consideration the compensation earnable while a member of any other system, provided that both of the following exist:
  (1) Service under any other system was not performed during the same pay period with service under the Defined Benefit Program.
  (2) Retirement under the Defined Benefit Program is concurrent with the member's retirement under any other system pursuant to Section 22115.5.
  (d) If a member has received service credit for part-time service performed prior to July 1, 1956, the member's final compensation shall be adjusted for that service in excess of one year by the ratio that part-time service bears to full-time service.
  (e) The board may specify a different final compensation with respect to disability allowances, disability retirement allowances, family allowances, and children's portions of survivor benefit allowances payable on and after January 1, 1978. The compensation earnable for periods of part-time service shall be adjusted by the ratio that part-time service bears to full-time service.
  (f) This section shall apply to the following:
  (1) A member who has 25 or more years of credited service, excluding service credited pursuant to the following:
  (A) Section 22714.
  (B) Section 22715.
  (C) Section 22717, except as provided in subdivision (c) of Section 22121.
  (D) Section 22826.
  (2) A nonmember spouse, if the member had 25 or more years of credited service, as calculated in paragraph (1), on the date the parties separated, as established in the judgment or court order pursuant to Section 22652.
  (3) This section shall not apply to a member subject to the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013.

(a) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 22134, "final compensation" means the highest average annual compensation earnable, as defined by Section 22115, by an active member who is a classroom teacher not subject to the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 and who retires, becomes disabled, or dies, after June 30, 1990, during any period of 12 consecutive months while an active member of the Defined Benefit Program.
  (b) Section 22134, except subdivision (a) of that section, shall apply to classroom teachers who retire after June 30, 1990, and any statutory reference to Section 22134 or "final compensation" with respect to a classroom teacher who retires, becomes disabled, or dies, after June 30, 1990, shall be deemed to be a reference to this section.
  (c) As used in this section, "classroom teacher" means any of the following:
  (1) All teachers and substitute teachers in positions requiring certification qualifications who spend, during the last 10 years of their employment with the same employer which immediately precedes their retirement, 60 percent or more of their contract time each year providing direct instruction. For the purpose of determining continuity of employment within the meaning of this subdivision, an authorized leave of absence for sabbatical or illness or other collectively bargained or employer-approved leaves shall not constitute a break in service.
  (2) Other certificated personnel who spend, during the last 10 years of their employment with the same employer that immediately precedes their retirement, 60 percent or more of their contract time each year providing direct services to pupils, including, but not limited to, librarians, counselors, nurses, speech therapists, resource specialists, audiologists, audiometrists, hygienists, optometrists, psychologists, driver safety instructors, and personnel on special assignment to perform school attendance and adjustment services.
  (d) As used in this section, "classroom teacher" does not include any of the following:
  (1) Certificated employees whose job descriptions require an administrative credential.
  (2) Certificated employees whose job descriptions include responsibility for supervision of certificated staff.
  (3) Certificated employees who serve as advisers, coordinators, consultants, or developers or planners of curricula, instructional materials, or programs, who spend, during the last 10 years of their employment with the same employer that immediately precedes their retirement, less than 60 percent of their contract time in direct instruction.
  (4) Certificated employees whose job descriptions require provision of direct instruction or services, but who are functioning in nonteaching assignments.
  (5) Classified employees.
  (e) This section shall apply only to teachers employed by an employer that has, pursuant to Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, entered into, extended, renewed, or amended a written agreement with an exclusive representative, prior to January 1, 2014, that makes this section applicable to all of its classroom teachers, as defined in subdivision (c).
  (f) The written agreement shall include a mechanism to pay for all increases in allowances provided for by this section through employer contributions or employee contributions or both, which shall be collected and retained by the employer in a trust fund to be used solely and exclusively to pay the system for all increases in allowances provided by this section and related administrative costs; and a mechanism for disposition of the employee's contributions if employment is terminated before retirement, and for the establishment of a trust fund board. The trust fund board shall administer the trust fund and shall be composed of an equal number of members representing classroom teachers chosen by the bargaining agent and the employer. If the employer agrees to pay the total cost of increases in allowances, the establishment of a trust fund and a trust fund board shall be optional to the employer. The employer, within 30 days of receiving an invoice from the system, shall reimburse the retirement fund the amount determined by the Teachers' Retirement Board to be the actuarial equivalent of the difference between the allowance the member or beneficiary receives pursuant to this section and the allowance the member or beneficiary would have received if the member's final compensation had been computed under Section 22134 and the proportionate share of the cost to the plan's Defined Benefit Program, as determined by the Teachers' Retirement Board, of administering this section. The payment shall include the cost of all increases in allowances provided for by this section for all years of service credited to the member as of the benefit effective date. Interest shall be charged at the regular interest rate for any payment not received within 30 days of receipt of the invoice. Payments not received within 30 days after receipt of the invoice may be collected pursuant to Section 23007.
  (g) Upon the execution of the agreement, the employer shall notify all certificated employees of the agreement and any certificated employee of the employer, who is a member of the Public Employees' Retirement System pursuant to Section 22508, that he or she may, within 60 days following the date of notification, elect to terminate his or her membership in the Public Employees' Retirement System and become a member of this plan's Defined Benefit Program. However, only service credited under the Defined Benefit Program subsequent to the date of that election shall be subject to this section.
  (h) An employer that agrees to become subject to this section, shall, on a form and within the timeframes prescribed by the system, certify the applicability of this section to a member pursuant to the criteria set forth in this section when a retirement, disability, or family allowance becomes payable.
  (i) For a nonmember spouse, final compensation shall be determined pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (c) of Section 22664. The employer, within 30 days of receiving an invoice from the system, shall reimburse the retirement fund pursuant to subdivision (f). Interest shall be charged at the regular interest rate for payments not received within the prescribed timeframe. Payments not received within 30 days of invoicing may be collected pursuant to Section 23007.

(a) "Final compensation" with respect to a member whose salary while an active member was reduced because of a reduction in school funds as certified by the employer means the highest average annual compensation earnable, as defined by Section 22115, by the member during any 36 months while employed to perform creditable service subject to coverage by the Defined Benefit Program.
  (b) For the purposes of this section, periods of service separated by breaks in service or periods in which a member's salary was reduced may be aggregated, if the periods of service are consecutive except for the breaks or periods of the salary reduction.

With respect to a state employee member who dies or retires on or after July 1, 1991, and who was a managerial or supervisory employee, as defined by subdivisions (e) and (g) of Section 3513 of the Government Code, whose monthly salary range was administratively reduced by 5 percent because of the salary range reductions administratively imposed upon managers and supervisors during the 1991-92 fiscal year, "final compensation" means the highest annual compensation the state employee member would have earned had his or her salary range not been reduced by the 5-percent reduction. This section shall only apply if the period during which the state member' s salary was reduced would have otherwise been included in determining his or her final compensation for retirement purposes. The costs, if any, that may result from the use of the higher final compensation shall be paid for by the employer at the time of retirement in a manner prescribed by the system.

"Final vesting" means the right of a member or a beneficiary to receive a monthly retirement allowance, disability allowance, a family benefit, or survivor benefits when the member has completed the minimum number of years of credited service, has attained the minimum specified age, has formally terminated his or her active service, has made application for retirement, or has been formally retired in accordance with Section 24201, after which the kind and amount of the retirement allowance is fixed and cannot thereafter be changed except as provided in this part.

(a) (1) "Full time" means the days or hours of creditable service the employer requires to be performed by a class of employees in a school year in order to earn the compensation earnable as defined in Section 22115 and specified under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement or employment agreement. For the purpose of crediting service under this part, "full time" may not be less than the minimum standard specified in this section. Each collective bargaining agreement or employment agreement that applies to a member subject to the minimum standard specified in either paragraph (5) or (6) of subdivision (c) shall specify the number of hours of creditable service that equals "full time" pursuant to this section for each class of employee subject to either paragraph and make specific reference to this section, and the district shall submit a copy of the agreement to the system.
  (2) The copies of each agreement shall be submitted electronically in a format determined by the system that ensures the security of the transmitted member data.
  (3) The copies shall be electronically submitted annually to the system on or before July 1, or on or before the effective date of the agreement, whichever is later.
  (b) The minimum standard for full time in prekindergarten through grade 12 is as follows:
  (1) One hundred seventy-five days per year or 1,050 hours per year, except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3).
  (2) (A) One hundred ninety days per year or 1,520 hours per year for all principals and program managers, including advisers, coordinators, consultants, and developers or planners of curricula, instructional materials, or programs, and for administrators, except as provided in subparagraph (B).
  (B) Two hundred fifteen days per year or 1,720 hours per year including school and legal holidays pursuant to the policy adopted by the employer's governing board for administrators at a county office of education.
  (3) One thousand fifty hours per year for teachers in adult education programs.
  (c) The minimum standard for full time in community colleges is as follows:
  (1) One hundred seventy-five days per year or 1,050 hours per year, except as provided in paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6). Full time includes time for duties the employer requires to be performed as part of the full-time assignment for a particular class of employees.
  (2) One hundred ninety days per year or 1,520 hours per year for all program managers and for administrators, except as provided in paragraph (3).
  (3) Two hundred fifteen days per year or 1,720 hours per year including school and legal holidays pursuant to the policy adopted by the employer's governing board for administrators at a district office.
  (4) One hundred seventy-five days per year or 1,050 hours per year for all counselors and librarians.
  (5) Five hundred twenty-five instructional hours per school year for all instructors employed on a part-time basis, except instructors specified in paragraph (6). If an instructor receives compensation for office hours pursuant to Article 10 (commencing with Section 87880) of Chapter 3 of Part 51 of Division 7 of Title 3, the minimum standard shall be increased appropriately by the number of office hours required annually for the class of employees.
  (6) Eight hundred seventy-five instructional hours per school year for all instructors employed in adult education programs. If an instructor receives compensation for office hours pursuant to Article 10 (commencing with Section 87880) of Chapter 3 of Part 51 of Division 7 of Title 3, the minimum standard shall be increased appropriately by the number of office hours required annually for the class of employees.
  (d) The board has final authority to determine full time for purposes of crediting service under this part if full time is not otherwise specified in this section.
  (e) This section shall become operative on July 1, 2013.

"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 year if he or she were employed full time in that part-time position.

"Gain and Loss Reserve" means a segregated account within the retirement fund that is established and maintained to do either of the following:
  (a) Credit interest to members' Defined Benefit Supplement accounts at the minimum interest rate for plan years in which the board determines that the obligation cannot be met from the plan's investment earnings with respect to the Defined Benefit Supplement Program.
  (b) Provide additions to the Annuitant Reserve to meet the plan's obligation for annuities payable under the Defined Benefit Supplement Program.

(a) "Improvement factor," with respect to the Defined Benefit Program, means an increase of 2 percent in monthly allowances. The improvement factor shall be added to a monthly allowance each year on September 1, commencing on September 1 following the first anniversary of the effective date of retirement, or the date on which the monthly allowance commenced to accrue to any beneficiary, or other periods specifically stated in this part.
  (b) The improvement factor may not be compounded nor shall it be applicable to annuities payable from the accumulated annuity deposit contributions or the accumulated tax-sheltered annuity contributions.
  (c) Beginning July 1, 2014, the improvement factor shall vest for an active member in any calendar year in which active members paid increased member contributions pursuant to Section 22901.7.
  (d) If, for any reason, the increased employee contribution referenced in subdivision (c), and as required by subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 22901.7, ceases to be legally required to be made pursuant to the act that added this subdivision, then the Legislature reserves the right to adjust the amount of the improvement factor up or down as the economic conditions dictate for all members who retire on or after January 1, 2014. No adjustments of the improvement factor shall reduce the monthly retirement allowance or benefit below that which would be payable to the recipient under this part had this section not been enacted.
  (e) For members who retired before the calendar year in which Section 22901.7 was added the Legislature reserves the right to adjust the amount of the improvement factor up or down as economic conditions dictate. Any adjustment of the improvement factor may not reduce the monthly retirement allowance or annuity below that which would be payable to the recipient under this part had this section not been enacted.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 22140, "improvement factor" means an increase of 2 percent in benefits provided under Sections 24408 and 24409 for each year commencing September 1, 1981, and under Section 24410.5 for each year commencing September 1, 2001, and under Sections 24410.6 and 24410.7 for each year commencing September 1, 2002. The improvement factor shall not be compounded nor shall it be applicable to annuities payable from the accumulated annuity deposit contributions or the accumulated tax-sheltered annuity contributions. The Legislature reserves the right to adjust the amount of the improvement factor up or down as the economic conditions dictate. No adjustments of the improvement factor shall reduce the monthly retirement allowance or benefit below that which would be payable to the recipient under this part had this section not been enacted.
  (b) Beginning July 1, 2014, the improvement factor shall vest for an active member in any calendar year in which active members paid increased member contributions pursuant to Section 22901.7.
  (c) If, for any reason, the increased employee contribution referenced in subdivision (b), and as required by subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 22901.7, ceases to be legally required to be made pursuant to the act that added this subdivision, then the Legislature reserves the right to adjust the amount of the improvement factor up or down as the economic conditions dictate for all members who retire on or after January 1, 2014. No adjustments of the improvement factor shall reduce the monthly retirement allowance or benefit below that which would be payable to the recipient under this part had this section not been enacted.
  (d) For members who retired before the calendar year in which Section 22901.7 was added, the Legislature reserves the right to adjust the amount of the improvement factor up or down as the economic conditions dictate. No adjustments of the improvement factor shall reduce the monthly retirement allowance or benefit below that which would be payable to the recipient under this part had this section not been enacted.

"Indexed final compensation" means final compensation upon which a disability allowance or disability retirement allowance was based, adjusted annually from the school year in which an allowance begins to accrue by the rate of change in the average compensation earnable as determined by the board.

"Investment manager" and "investment adviser" mean any person, firm, or custodian referred to in Section 22359, either appointed by or under contract with the board to engage in investment transactions or to manage or advise in the management of the assets of the Teachers' Retirement Fund with respect to the Defined Benefit Program under this part and the Cash Balance Benefit Program under Part 14 (commencing with Section 26000).

"Investment transactions" means investment services of an asset management or investment advisory nature and may include advisory services, research material, trading assistance, trading expenses, discretionary management of funds of the plan upon approval by the board, acquisition of equipment to be used as part of the investment function, services that provide a recommended course of action or personal expertise, investment-related legal expenses, investment-related contracting expenses, or custodian services referred to in Section 22359.

"Leave of absence" means a period of leave to which a member is entitled that is expressly authorized or required by Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 44800) of Part 25 of Division 3 of Title 2, or Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 87000) or Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 87400) of Part 51 of Division 7 of Title 3.

"Liability gains and losses" means the difference between actual noninvestment related experience and the experience expected based upon a set of noninvestment related actuarial assumptions during the period between two actuarial valuation dates, as determined in accordance with assumptions adopted by the board pursuant to Section 22311.5.

"Local system" means any retirement system, exclusive of this system, in which public school teachers are members, operated by a city, county, or other political subdivision of the state.

"Member" means any person, unless excluded under other provisions of this part, who has performed creditable service as defined in Section 22119.5 or 22119.6 and has earned creditable compensation for that service and has not received a refund for that service and, as a result, is subject to the Defined Benefit Program. A member's rights and obligations under this part with respect to the Defined Benefit Program shall be determined by the applicability of subdivision (a), (b), (c), or (d), and subject to any applicable exceptions under other provisions of this part.
  (a) An active member is a member who is not retired or disabled and who earns creditable compensation during the school year.
  (b) An inactive member is a member who is not retired or disabled and who has not earned creditable compensation during the current or preceding school year.
  (c) A disabled member is a member to whom a disability allowance is payable under Chapter 25 (commencing with Section 24001).
  (d) A retired member is a member who has terminated employment and has retired for service under the provisions of Chapter 27 (commencing with Section 24201), or has retired for disability under the provisions of Chapter 26 (commencing with Section 24100) or retired for service or disability under the provisions of Chapter 21 (commencing with Section 23400), and to whom a retirement allowance is therefore payable.

(a) Notwithstanding subdivision (f) of Section 7522.04 of the Government Code, "member subject to the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013" means a person who first becomes employed to perform creditable service subject to coverage under the Defined Benefit Program on or after January 1, 2013.
  (b) A member as defined in subdivision (a) does not include a person who was a member on or before December 31, 2012, of the California Public Employees' Retirement System, the Legislators' Retirement System, the University of California Retirement System, a county retirement system established under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 31450) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 3 of 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 Defined Benefit Program.
  (c) This section shall be deemed to have become operative on January 1, 2013.

"Membership" means membership in the Defined Benefit Program, except as otherwise specifically provided in this part.

"Minimum interest rate" means the annual interest rate determined by the board by plan amendment at which interest shall be credited to Defined Benefit Supplement accounts for a plan year.

"Minimum interest rate" means the annual interest rate determined by the board by plan amendment at which interest shall be credited to Defined Benefit Supplement accounts for a plan year.

(a) "Month" means 20 working days or four weeks of five working days each, including legal holidays, with respect to the computation and crediting of service.
  (b) "Month," for all other purposes, means a period commencing on any day of a calendar month and extending through the day preceding the corresponding day of the succeeding calendar month, if there is any such corresponding day, and if not, through the last day of the succeeding calendar month.

"Nonqualified service" means any time during which a member did not perform creditable service subject to coverage by the plan. Nonqualified service shall not include time for which the member is eligible to purchase credit pursuant to Chapter 14 (commencing with Section 22800), Chapter 14.2 (commencing with Section 22820), or Chapter 14.5 (commencing with Section 22850).

"Normal retirement" and "normal retirement age" mean 60 years of age, or 62 years of age for a member subject to the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013, which is the age upon attainment of which the member becomes eligible under the Defined Benefit Program for a service retirement allowance without reduction because of age and without special qualifications.

"Option beneficiary" means the person designated by a member to receive a retirement allowance under the Defined Benefit Program upon the member's death.

"Other public systems" means any of the following:
  (a) Old age, survivors, disability, and health insurance program, other than the lump-sum death payment, provided by the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.A. Sec. 300 and following).
  (b) The federal civil service retirement program.
  (c) Federal military disability.
  (d) Railroad retirement.
  (e) A workers' compensation program.
  (f) Federal railroad retirement.
  (g) Any other public retirement system, including, but not limited to, any disability programs financed from public funds.

"Overtime" means the aggregate creditable service in excess of one year (1.000) of creditable service that is performed by a member in a school year.

"Parent" means a natural parent of a member or a parent who adopted the member prior to his or her attainment of 18 years of age or to the member's marriage, whichever occurs earlier.

"Pay period" means a payroll period of not less than four weeks or more than one calendar month.

"Payroll" includes registers, warrants, and any other documents upon which the employer identifies persons to whom compensation is paid.

"Plan" means the State Teachers' Retirement Plan.

"Plan vesting," with respect to benefits payable under the Defined Benefit Program, means the member has met the credited service requirement for receipt of a benefit, and has a right to receive the benefit at a future date provided all other conditions required to receive the benefit are also met.

"Plan year" means the period of time beginning on July 1 of one calendar year and ending on June 30 of the following calendar year. For purposes of the Defined Benefit Supplement Program, the board shall designate by plan amendment the initial plan year.

"Present value," for purposes of Section 22718, means the amount of money needed on the effective date of retirement to reimburse the system for the actuarially determined cost of the portion of a member's retirement allowance attributable to unused excess sick leave days. The present value on the effective date of retirement shall equal the number of unused excess sick leave days divided by the number of base days, multiplied by the prior year's compensation earnable multiplied by the present value factor.

"Present value factor," for purposes of Section 22156.1, means an overall average rate based upon the demographics of members who recently retired under the Defined Benefit Program and regular interest that shall determine present value on the effective date of retirement.

"Prior year's compensation earnable" means the compensation earnable for the most recent school year in which the member earned service credit that precedes the last school year in which the member earned service credit.

"Projected final compensation" means the final compensation used in computing the disability or family allowance increased by 2 percent, compounded annually to the earlier of normal retirement age or the date the disability allowance is terminated.

(a) "Projected service" means the sum of credited service plus the credited service that would have been earned for the school years during which a disability allowance was payable if the member had performed creditable service during that time.
  (b) Projected service for a school year shall be determined on the basis of the highest credited service earned by the member during any one of the three school years immediately preceding the member's death or the date the disability allowance began to accrue.
  (c) Projected service shall not include credited service for which contributions have been credited to the Defined Benefit Supplement Program.

"Proof of death" means providing to the system any evidence of death required by the system.

"Provisional vesting" means the member has reached the minimum age requirement and has attained the credited service required under the Defined Benefit Program for eligibility to receive a retirement allowance, and the member is entitled to terminate employment and retire at any time to receive a retirement allowance.

"Public employer" means a public employer as defined in subdivision (i) of Section 7522.04 of the Government Code.

"Public school" means any day or evening elementary school, any day or evening secondary school, community college, technical school, kindergarten school, and prekindergarten school established by the Legislature, or by municipal or district authority.

Qualified military service is military service as defined in Section 414(u) of Title 26 of the United States Code.

"Refund" means the lump-sum return of a member's accumulated retirement contributions under the Defined Benefit Program and does not include the balance of credits in the member's Defined Benefit Supplement account.

"Regular interest" means interest that is equal to the actuarially assumed rate of return on investments on assets of the Defined Benefit Program. The regular interest rate shall be adopted annually by the board as a plan amendment with respect to the Defined Benefit Program. This section shall become operative on July 1, 2010.

"Regular meeting" means a meeting of the board held in accordance with a schedule of meetings that states the dates and places of the meetings and that is adopted by the board.

"Reinstatement" means the change in status with respect to the Defined Benefit Program under this part from a disabled or retired member to an active or inactive member and termination of one of the following:
  (a) A service retirement allowance pursuant to Section 24208.
  (b) A disability retirement allowance pursuant to Section 24117.
  (c) A disability allowance pursuant to Section 24004, 24006, or 24015.
  (d) A service retirement allowance or disability retirement allowance pursuant to Section 23404.

"Replacement benefits program" means the program established pursuant to Chapter 27.5 (commencing with Section 24250) in compliance with the provisions of Section 415(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Sec. 415(m)) as applicable to a governmental plan, as defined in Section 414(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Sec. 414(d)).

(a) "Retired member activities" means one or more activities identified in subdivision (b), (c), or (d) of Section 22119.5 or subdivision (b), (c), or (d) of Section 26113 within the California public school system and performed by a member retired for service under this part as one of the following:
  (1) An employee of an employer.
  (2) An employee of a third party, except as specified in subdivision (b).
  (3) An independent contractor.
  (b) The activities of an employee of a third party shall not be included in the definition of "retired member activities" if all of the following conditions apply:
  (1) The employee performs an assignment of 24 months or less.
  (2) The third-party employer does not participate in a California public pension system.
  (3) The activities performed by the individual are not normally performed by employees of an employer, as defined in Section 22131.

"Retirement" means termination of employment subject to coverage by the plan and a change in status from an inactive member, an active member, or a disabled member to a retired member.

"Retirement allowance" means the amount payable to a retired member or an option beneficiary on a monthly basis.

"Retirement benefit" means the amount payable under the Defined Benefit Supplement Program, based on the balance of credits in the member's Defined Benefit Supplement account, to a member who has retired for service under the Defined Benefit Program.

"Retirement fund" means the Teachers' Retirement Fund.

"Return on investments" means income received or receivable from the system's investments.

"School year" means the fiscal year or the academic year.

"Service" means work performed for compensation in a position subject to coverage under the Defined Benefit Program, except as otherwise specifically provided in this part, providing the contributions on compensation for that work are not credited to the Defined Benefit Supplement Program.

(a) "Sick leave days" means the number of days of accumulated and unused leave of absence for illness or injury.
  (b) "Basic sick leave day" means the equivalent of one day's paid leave of absence per pay period due to illness or injury.
  (c) "Excess sick leave days" means the day or total number of days, granted by an employer in a pay period as defined in Section 22154 after June 30, 1986, for paid leave of absence due to illness or injury, in excess of a basic sick leave day.

(a) "Spouse" means a person who was continuously married to the member for the period beginning at least 12 months prior to the death of the member, unless a child is born to the member and his or her spouse within the 12-month period or unless the spouse is carrying the member's unborn child.
  (b) "Spouse" also means a person who was married to the member for less than 12 months, if the member's death was either accidental, or due to an illness, and the marriage took place prior to the occurrence of the injury or diagnosis of the illness that resulted in death.
  (1) A member's death is defined as accidental only if he or she received bodily injuries through violent, external, or accidental means and died as a direct result of the bodily injuries and independent of all other causes.
  (2) This subdivision does not apply if, at the time of the marriage, the member could not have reasonably been expected to live for 12 months.
  (c) Except as excluded by Sections 22661 and 23812, a person who is the registered domestic partner of a member, as established pursuant to Section 297 or 299.2 of the Family Code, shall be treated in the same manner as a spouse.

"Survivor allowance" means the allowance provided for in Section 23804 as it read under the law in effect on June 30, 1972.

"Survivor benefit allowance" means the monthly allowance that a surviving spouse may elect to receive pursuant to Chapter 23 (commencing with Section 23850).

"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 equal in amount to the balance of credits in the member's Defined Benefit Supplement account that is payable to the member in a lump-sum when the member has terminated all employment to perform creditable service subject to coverage by the plan.

(a) "Unfunded actuarial obligation," with respect to the Defined Benefit Program, means that portion of the actuarial present value of benefits that is not provided for by future, normal costs or covered by the actuarial value of assets attributable to the Defined Benefit Program, based on assumptions adopted by the board pursuant to Section 22311.5.
  (b) "Unfunded actuarial obligation," with respect to the Defined Benefit Supplement Program, means that portion of the actuarial present value of benefits that is not provided for by future, normal costs or covered by the actuarial value of assets attributable to the Defined Benefit Supplement Program, based on assumptions adopted by the board pursuant to Section 22311.5.