Any member of a retirement system established under this chapter who is employed in a position, the principal duties of which consist of active law enforcement or active fire suppression as defined under Sections 31469.3, 31470.2 and 31470.4, and who, prior to 1955, had the right to elect to become a safety member of such system shall again have the right to elect to become a safety member. Notice of such election shall be given in writing to the board of retirement administering the system.
The member’s status as a safety member shall be effective on the first day of the second month following that in which the notice of election is received by the board of retirement.
Such a member may elect to receive credit for service rendered as a member of such system, as if he had been a safety member commencing in 1955. Notice of such election shall be given in writing to the board of retirement no less than 30 days prior to the member’s retirement. The member shall receive credit for such service, as a safety member, if he contributes the difference between the member contributions actually made for that period of service and the contributions that he would have been required to make if he had been a safety member during that period. The member shall also contribute interest on the difference at the rates at which interest was credited on member contributions for each year of the period for which credit is sought.
An election under this section shall be irrevocable, and the additional contribution payments hereunder required, if not completed as specified, shall be forfeited to the retirement fund, and a forfeiting member shall then receive only general membership benefits. Additional contributions shall be made by lump sum payment or in such monthly payroll deduction amounts as determined by the board, but must be made prior to the member’s retirement.
(Amended by Stats. 1969, Ch. 1247.)