Whenever the percentage of annual increase in the cost of living as of January 1st of each year as shown by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers exceeds 3 percent, all or part of such excess over 3 percent shall be applied to the retirement allowances, optional death allowances or annual death allowances increased in Section 31870 or 31870.1. The board of supervisors shall determine the amount of such excess to be applied, and the cost of the increases in allowances provided shall be paid from county and district contributions.

This section shall not be operative in any county until it is adopted by a majority vote of the board of supervisors.

(Amended by Stats. 1978, Ch. 900.)