(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, a school member who is on an approved leave of absence to serve as an elected officer of an employee organization pursuant to Section 45210 or 88210 of the Education Code, shall receive the service credit the member would have received if not on leave, and shall have benefits the member is entitled to under this part, based upon the salary that the member would receive if not on leave. Both the member and the member’s employer shall contribute to the retirement fund the amount that would have been contributed had the member not been on leave.

(b) The school employer shall verify the eligibility of the applicant for the elected officer’s leave of absence.

(c) The employer shall maintain the necessary records to separately identify each employee receiving service credit pursuant to this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 539, Sec. 6. (SB 294) Effective January 1, 2022.)