(a) The nonmember spouse who is awarded a separate account under this part shall have the right to a refund of the accumulated retirement contributions in the account under the Defined Benefit Program, and a return of the Defined Benefit Supplement account balance, of the nonmember spouse under this part.

(b) The nonmember spouse shall file an application on a form provided by the system to obtain a refund or lump-sum payment.

(c) Except as provided in subdivision (i), the refund of accumulated retirement contributions in the account under the Defined Benefit Program and the return of the accumulated Defined Benefit Supplement account balance under this part are effective when the system deposits in the United States mail an initial warrant drawn in favor of the nonmember spouse and addressed to the latest address for the nonmember spouse on file with the system.

(d) Except as provided in subdivision (i), if the nonmember spouse has elected on a form provided by the system to transfer all or a specified portion of the accumulated retirement contributions or accumulated Defined Benefit Supplement account balance that are eligible for direct trustee-to-trustee transfer to the trustee of a qualified plan under Section 402 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. § 402), deposit in the United States mail of a notice that the requested transfer has been made constitutes a refund of the nonmember spouse’s accumulated retirement contributions as defined in Section 22161.5 or the return of the accumulated Defined Benefit Supplement account balance. This subdivision shall not apply to a nonmember domestic partner, consistent with Section 402 of the Internal Revenue Code.

(e) The nonmember spouse is deemed to have permanently waived all rights and benefits pertaining to the service credit, accumulated retirement contributions, and accumulated Defined Benefit Supplement account balance under this part when the refund and lump-sum payment become effective.

(f) The nonmember spouse may not cancel a refund or lump-sum payment under this part after it is effective.

(g) The nonmember spouse shall not have a right to elect to redeposit the refunded accumulated retirement contributions under this part after the refund is effective, to redeposit under Section 22662 or purchase additional service credit under Section 22663 after the refund becomes effective, or to redeposit the accumulated Defined Benefit Supplement account balance after the lump-sum payment becomes effective.

(h) If the total service credit in the separate account of the nonmember spouse under the Defined Benefit Program, including service credit purchased under Sections 22662 and 22663, is less than two and one-half years, the system shall refund the accumulated retirement contributions in the account.

(i) The mode of deposit described in subdivision (c) and the mode of notice described in subdivision (d) are subject to Section 22337.

(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 459, Sec. 3. (AB 989) Effective January 1, 2014.)