(a) Upon termination, a participant may apply for a distribution for retirement, provided the retirement date is no earlier than the date on which the participant attains the early retirement age pursuant to the provisions of Part 3 (commencing with Section 20000). The retirement benefit is a distribution of the balance of the participant’s account within a reasonable time following the valuation date immediately following the date of the application.

(b) Application for a distribution for retirement shall be made on a distribution request form and in the manner prescribed by the board.

(c) All employers with which the participant is employed as a member of the system, shall certify on a form prescribed by the board that the participant’s employment has terminated.

(Added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 307, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2000.)