Notwithstanding Section 20405, this section shall apply to state employees in state bargaining units that have agreed to these provisions in a memorandum of understanding between the state employer and the recognized employee organization, as defined in Section 3513, state employees who are excluded from the definition of “state employee” by subdivision (c) of Section 3513, and officers or employees of the executive branch of state government who are not members of the civil service.

(a) On and after the effective date of this section, state safety members shall also include officers and employees whose classifications or positions are found to meet the state safety criteria prescribed in Section 19816.20, provided the Department of Human Resources agrees to their inclusion, and officers and employees whose classifications or positions have been designated as subject to state safety membership pursuant to Section 19816.21. For employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the effective date of safety membership shall be the date on which the department and the employees’ exclusive representative reach agreement by memorandum of understanding pursuant to Section 3517.5 or any later date specified in the memorandum of understanding. For employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the Department of Human Resources shall determine the effective date of safety membership.

(b) The department shall notify the board as new classes or positions become eligible for state safety membership, as specified in subdivision (a), and specify how service prior to the effective date shall be credited.

(c) The department shall prepare and submit to the Legislature an annual report that contains the classes or positions that are eligible for state safety membership under this section.

(d) Any person designated as a state safety member pursuant to this section may elect, within 90 days of notification by the board, to remain subject to the miscellaneous or industrial service retirement benefit and contribution rate by filing an irrevocable election with the board. A member who so elects shall be subject to the reduced benefit factors specified in Section 21076, 21353, or 21354.1, as applicable, only for service also included in the federal system.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 665, Sec. 115. (SB 1308) Effective January 1, 2013.)