(a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in Section 31499.13, there shall be no general members’ contributions under the plan created by this article.

(2) A member who transfers to the retirement plan created by this article shall have refunded, within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed nine months from the date of receipt of election to transfer by the board, the member’s accumulated contributions, together with interest thereon, which are credited to the member’s account. Interest shall be credited to the June 30 or December 31 date, whichever is later, immediately preceding the date of the refund warrant. Any refund under this section shall be payable to the member.

(b) (1) Except as provided in Sections 31499.13 and 31499.17 and under reciprocal provisions of this article, a member who was in public service prior to becoming a member may not elect to receive credit in this retirement plan for the public service time, and may not receive credit for that prior public service.

(2) Absence from work or termination of employment while an eligible employee or disability beneficiary, as defined by a disability plan provided by the employer, may not be considered as breaking the continuity of service.

(3) For the purposes of subdivision (b) of Section 31499.14, an unpaid leave of absence of not to exceed one year, or a leave of absence for which an employee received any benefit that has been approved by the employer, may not be considered an interruption of service. However, the period of time of unpaid leave may not be considered as service in calculating the benefits otherwise provided under this article.

(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 533, Sec. 16. Effective January 1, 2005.)