CHAPTER 10. Membership [22500. - 22516.]

Cal. Education Code - EDC 10.

in effect

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 22500. Section 22500.

All persons who were members of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System on June 30, 1996, are members of the Defined Benefit Program under the plan, in accordance with Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 22501. Section 22501.

(a) Any person who is not already a member of the Defined Benefit Program and who is employed by a school district or county office of education to perform creditable service on a full-time basis shall become a member as of the first day of employment, unless excluded from membership pursuant to Section 22601. (b) Creditable service in more than one position shall not be aggregated for the purpose of determining mandatory membership under this section. (c) This section shall be deemed to have become operative on July 1, 1996.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 22502. Section 22502.

(a) (1) Any person who is not already a member of the Defined Benefit Program and who is employed by a school district or county office of education to perform creditable service on a part-time basis for 50 percent or more of the time the employer requires for the full-time position shall become a member as of the first day of employment, unless excluded from membership pursuant to Section 22601. (2) Creditable service in more than one position shall not be aggregated for the purpose of determining mandatory membership under this subdivision. (b) Any person who is not already a member of the Defined Benefit Program and who is employed by a community college district to perform creditable service shall become a member as of the first day of employment, unless excluded from membership pursuant to Section 22601 or subdivision (b) of Section 22601.5.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 22503. Section 22503.

(a) Any person who is not already a member of the Defined Benefit Program and who is employed by a school district or county office of education to perform creditable service on a substitute basis shall become a member as of the first day of the pay period following the pay period in which the person performs the person’s 100th complete day of creditable service during a school year for one school district or county office of education, unless excluded from membership pursuant to Section 22601. (b) This section does not apply to creditable service performed for an employer that provides the Cash Balance Benefit Program under Part 14 (commencing with Section 26000). (c) This section is deemed to have become operative on July 1, 1996.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 22504. Section 22504.

(a) Any person who is not already a member of the Defined Benefit Program and who is employed by a school district or county office of education to perform creditable service on a part-time hourly basis shall become a member as of the first day of the pay period following the pay period in which the person performs 60 or more hours of creditable service for one school district or county office of education, unless excluded from membership pursuant to Section 22601. (b) Any person who is not already a member of the Defined Benefit Program and who is employed by a school district or county office of education to perform creditable service on a part-time daily basis shall become a member as of the first day of the pay period following the pay period in which the person performs 10 or more days of creditable service for one school district or county office of education, unless excluded from membership pursuant to Section 22601. (c) This section does not apply to creditable service performed for an employer that provides the Cash Balance Benefit Program under Part 14 (commencing with Section 26000).

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 22508. Section 22508.

(a) A member who becomes employed by the same or a different school district or community college district, or a county superintendent, or who becomes employed by the state in a position described in subdivision (b), to perform service that requires membership in a different public retirement system, and who is not excluded from membership in that public retirement system, may elect to have that service subject to coverage by the Defined Benefit Program of this plan and excluded from coverage by the other public retirement system. If that election is made, the service performed for the employer in that position as of the date of hire shall be considered creditable service for purposes of this part. (b) Subdivision (a) shall apply to a member who becomes employed by the state only if the member is also one of the following: (1) Represented by a state bargaining unit that represents educational consultants, professional educators, or librarians employed by the state. (2) Excluded from the definition of “state employee” in subdivision (c) of Section 3513 of the Government Code, but performing, supervising, or managing work similar to work performed by employees described in paragraph (1). (3) In a position not covered by civil service and in the executive branch of government, but performing, supervising, or managing work similar to work performed by employees described in paragraph (1). (c) A member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System who is subsequently employed to perform creditable service requiring coverage by the Defined Benefit Program of this plan may elect to have that subsequent service subject to coverage by the Public Employees’ Retirement System and excluded from coverage by the Defined Benefit Program pursuant to Section 20309 of the Government Code. (d) An election made by a member pursuant to this section shall be irrevocable.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 22508.5. Section 22508.5.

(a) Any person who is a member of the Defined Benefit Program of the State Teachers’ Retirement Plan employed by a community college district who subsequently is employed by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges to perform duties that are subject to membership in a different public retirement system may elect to have that service subject to coverage by the Defined Benefit Program of this plan and excluded from coverage by the other public retirement system. Only a person who has achieved plan vesting is eligible to elect to continue as a member of the program. (b) A member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System who is employed by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges who subsequently is employed by a community college district to perform creditable service subject to coverage under the Defined Benefit Program, may elect to have that service subject to coverage by the Public Employees’ Retirement System and excluded from coverage under the Defined Benefit Program pursuant to Section 20309 of the Government Code. (c) This section shall apply to changes in employment effective on or after January 1, 1998.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 22508.6. Section 22508.6.

(a) Any person who is a member of the Defined Benefit Program and who subsequently became employed and continues to be employed by the state to perform service that requires membership in the Public Employees’ Retirement System and who meets the requirements of subdivision (b) may elect to have that state service subject to coverage by the Defined Benefit Program and excluded from coverage by the Public Employees’ Retirement System. (b) (1) Only a person who has achieved program vesting shall be eligible to make the election under this section. (2) A person is eligible to make the election if he or she left employment with a school district, county superintendent of schools, or community college district and began employment with the state within 30 days without any intervening employment and that change in employment occurred on or after July 1, 1991, and prior to the effective date of this section. (3) A person is eligible to make the election if, at the time of the election, he or she is a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System subject to Second Tier benefits and is one of the following: (A) Represented by a State Bargaining Unit that has agreed by a memorandum of understanding to become subject to Section 20309.5 of the Government Code. (B) Excluded from the definition of “state employee” in subdivision (c) of Section 3513 of the Government Code, but performing, supervising, or managing work similar to work performed by employees described in subparagraph (A). (C) In a position not covered by civil service and in the executive branch of government, but performing, supervising, or managing work similar to work performed by employees described in subparagraph (A). (c) The election under this section shall be made in writing to each system within 90 days after the effective date of this section or within 60 days after the eligible member is notified by the system of his or her right to make the election, whichever is later. The member’s election shall be effective on the day following the date on which the election is received by the Public Employees’ Retirement System. (d) If the election is made, the state service performed from and after the date of the election shall be considered creditable service for purposes of this part and the provisions of Section 22801.5 shall be applicable with respect to service performed prior to that date.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 22508.7. Section 22508.7.

(a) This section shall apply to service deemed creditable service pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 22119.6 and a person who performs that service. (b) (1) A member, including a member who retires on or before December 31, 2015, may elect to have all of that service subject to coverage by a different public retirement system and excluded from coverage by the Defined Benefit Program, if the member is not excluded from coverage by that public retirement system. (2) If an election is made pursuant to this subdivision, all of the following shall apply: (A) All service that was subject to coverage by the Defined Benefit Program shall be subject to coverage by the other public retirement system, if the member is not excluded from coverage by that public retirement system. (B) Any member contributions and credited interest, as determined by the system, and employer contributions, less any amounts previously paid to the person, shall be returned to the employer for that service, with the system recovering from the person any amounts that were paid to the person and not recovered from withheld member contributions, credited interest, or employer contributions. (C) Any amounts not recovered pursuant to subparagraph (B) shall be paid in full by the member before his or her service can be subject to coverage by the other public retirement system. (3) If an election is made pursuant to this subdivision, the following shall apply: (A) A member not subject to the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 in the Defined Benefit Program shall not be subject to that act in the other public retirement system. (B) A member subject to the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 in the Defined Benefit Program shall be subject to that act in the other public retirement system. (4) If an election is not made pursuant to this subdivision, all service performed shall continue to be subject to coverage by the Defined Benefit Program until the member becomes employed pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 22119.6. (c) (1) A person who had service removed from the system and reported to a different public retirement system, as directed by the system, including a person who is receiving a benefit on or before December 31, 2015, may elect to have all of that service and subsequent service in the same position subject to coverage by the Defined Benefit Program and excluded from coverage by the other public retirement system. (2) If an election is made pursuant to this subdivision, all of the following shall apply: (A) All of that service and subsequent service in the same position that was subject to coverage by the other public retirement system shall be subject to coverage by the Defined Benefit Program and reported to the system pursuant to Chapter 17 (commencing with Section 23000). (B) Any employee and employer contributions for that service and subsequent service in the same position shall be remitted to the system pursuant to Chapter 17 (commencing with Section 23000). (3) If an election is made pursuant to this subdivision, the following shall apply: (A) A person not subject to the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 in the other public retirement system shall not be subject to that act in the Defined Benefit Program. (B) A person subject to the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 in the other public retirement system shall be subject to that act in the Defined Benefit Program. (4) If an election is not made pursuant to this subdivision, all service performed will continue to be subject to coverage by the other public retirement system. (d) The election shall be made in writing and filed with the office of the system on a form prescribed by the system on or before June 30, 2016, and a copy of the election shall be filed with the other public retirement system. (e) Only a person who has performed service creditable under subdivision (a) of Section 22119.6 can make an election under this section. (f) An election made pursuant to this section shall be irrevocable. (g) The board shall be under no obligation to identify, locate, or notify a person who has performed service creditable pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 22119.6 and is eligible to make an election pursuant to this section.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 22509. Section 22509.

(a) Within 10 working days of the date of hire of an employee who has the right to make an election pursuant to Section 22508 or 22508.5, the employer shall inform the employee of the right to make an election and shall make available to the employee written information provided by each retirement system concerning the benefits provided under that retirement system to assist the employee in making an election. (b) Any election made pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 22508 or subdivision (a) of Section 22508.5 shall be made in writing on a properly executed form prescribed by the system within 60 calendar days from the date of hire in the position requiring membership in the other public retirement system and shall be received at the system’s headquarters office within 60 calendar days after the date of the employee’s signature. The employer shall retain a copy of the employee’s signed election form and submit the original signed election form to the system’s headquarters office. (c) Any election made pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 22508 or subdivision (b) of Section 22508.5 shall be filed with the office of the Public Employees’ Retirement System. (d) Any election made pursuant to Section 22508 or Section 22508.5 shall become effective as of the first day of employment in the position that qualified the employee to make an election.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 22515. Section 22515.

(a) Persons excluded from membership pursuant to Sections 22601.5, 22602, and 22604 may elect membership in the Defined Benefit Program at any time while employed to perform creditable service subject to coverage under that program. (b) The election shall be in writing on a properly executed form prescribed by this system and shall be received at the system’s headquarters office within 60 calendar days after the date of the employee’s signature and prior to submission of contributions. Membership in the Defined Benefit Program shall become effective no earlier than the first day of the pay period in which the election is made. The election is irrevocable and shall remain in effect until the member terminates employment and receives a refund of accumulated retirement contributions. (c) The amendments to this section enacted during the 1995–96 Regular Session shall be deemed to have become operative on July 1, 1996.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 22516. Section 22516.

(a) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed or applied to exclude from membership in the Defined Benefit Program any person employed to perform creditable service at a level that requires mandatory membership in the program for which he or she has the right to elect membership in the program or another retirement system and who elects membership in the other retirement system, or who is employed to perform creditable service at a level that does not require mandatory membership in the Defined Benefit Program. (b) Service performed after becoming a member of another retirement system shall not be credited to the member under this part, nor shall contributions or benefits under this part be based upon that service or the compensation received by the member during that period of service, except as provided in the definition of “final compensation” contained in Section 22134 or 22134.5.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026