Section 45311 Of Article 1. General From California Government Code >> Division 5. >> Title 4. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 1.
45311
. (a) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this
section to recognize a public obligation to all those whose duties as
local prosecutors, local public defenders, and local public defender
investigators expose them to more than ordinary risks in their
contribution to an effective statewide criminal justice system and to
ensure that those who serve as local prosecutors, local public
defenders, and local public defender investigators and who become
incapacitated in the performance of their duties or by age may be
replaced by more capable employees and shall receive pension benefits
commensurate with those received by local prosecutors, local public
defenders, and local public defender investigators in other
jurisdictions within the state.
(b) The ordinance shall provide that the officers and employees of
the city whose positions meet or, on or after January 1, 2002, met
the criteria of a local prosecutor, local public defender, or local
public defender investigator, as described in Section 20423.6 or
31469.2, shall be accorded those pension benefits accorded to safety
members under the retirement system of the city. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the pension benefits accorded to a local prosecutor, local
public defender, or local public defender investigator may not be
greater than those benefits provided to local safety members of the
Public Employees' Retirement System under Section 21363.1 or safety
members of a county retirement system under Section 31664.2.
(c) Except as provided in subdivision (e) and notwithstanding any
other provision of this chapter, past service shall be converted to
safety service, if the past service was rendered in a position that
has been made subject to safety benefits pursuant to this section.
For local prosecutors described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b)
of Section 20423.6, and paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section
31469.2, service in the office of a district attorney and a local
child support agency shall be considered service for the district
attorney for purposes of this section. Any unfunded liability
resulting from this section shall be paid by the employer.
(d) This section shall apply only to a person whose effective date
of retirement is on or after the date this section becomes operative
in the city.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, within 90
days after this section becomes operative in the city, or on the
first day of the calendar month following his or her entrance into
service, whichever is later, any local prosecutor, local public
defender, or local public defender investigator may file a written
election not to become subject to the pension benefits accorded to
safety members under the retirement system of the city.
(f) This section shall not be operative in a city unless and until
the city council or board of supervisors, by ordinance adopted by
majority vote, makes this section operative in the city. A resolution
to make this section operative in the city shall include all local
prosecutors, local public defenders, and local public defender
investigators as described in Section 20423.6 or 31469.2.
(g) This section does not apply to any local prosecutor, local
public defender, or local public defender investigator, as described
in Section 20423.6 or 31469.2, who dies prior to the date this
section becomes operative in the city.