On or after the effective date of the act adding this section, the eligibility of an employee of the hospital authority described in this section to participate in the Alameda County Employees’ Retirement Association, as prescribed in subdivision (s) of Section 101850, is limited as follows:

(a) (1) A person who has the following characteristics shall not become a member of the Alameda County Employees’ Retirement Association upon entering the employ of the hospital authority or during a subsequent period of employment with the hospital authority and shall instead be subject to paragraph (2):

(A) The person is an employee of a facility on the date that the facility is acquired by, or merged into, the hospital authority or the person later becomes an employee of that facility after its acquisition or merger.

(B) The person is not a member of the Alameda County Employees’ Retirement Association on the date that the facility is acquired by, or merged into, the hospital authority or when the person later becomes an employee of that facility.

(C) The person is not subject to a memorandum of understanding between the facility or hospital authority and a recognized union or bargaining agent.

(2) A person described by this subdivision shall become a participant in one or more retirement plans sponsored by the hospital authority that were adopted by the hospital authority on November 27, 2012, or as subsequently amended.

(b) (1) A person who has the following characteristics may become a member of the Alameda County Employees’ Retirement Association, subject to paragraph (2), upon entering the employ of the hospital authority or during a subsequent period of employment with the hospital authority:

(A) The person is an employee of a facility on the date that the facility is acquired by, or merged into, the hospital authority or the person later becomes an employee of that facility after its acquisition or merger.

(B) The person is subject to a memorandum of understanding between the facility or hospital authority and a recognized union or bargaining agent.

(2) The retirement benefits of a person described in this subdivision shall be governed by the applicable memorandum of understanding, which may provide for the person’s membership in the Alameda County Employees’ Retirement Association or prohibit that membership and instead provide either of the following:

(A) That the person shall become a participant in one or more retirement plans sponsored by the hospital authority that were adopted by the hospital authority on November 27, 2012, or as subsequently amended.

(B) That the hospital authority contribute on behalf of the person to a pension trust sponsored by a third party pursuant to which the hospital authority qualifies as a participating employer.

(c) (1) Upon adoption of a resolution by the hospital authority making this subdivision applicable, a person who has the following characteristics shall not become a member of the Alameda County Employees’ Retirement Association upon entering the employ of the hospital authority and shall instead be subject to paragraph (2):

(A) The person is hired by the hospital authority on or after the effective date of this section and on or after the effective date of the resolution.

(B) The person is not a member of the Alameda County Employees’ Retirement Association on the date of hire.

(C) The person is not subject to a memorandum of understanding between the hospital authority and a recognized union or bargaining agent.

(2) A person described by this subdivision shall become a participant in one or more retirement plans sponsored by the hospital authority that were adopted by the hospital authority on November 27, 2012, or as subsequently amended.

(d) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), during the period between the effective date of the act adding this subdivision and the expiration of a memorandum of understanding that is in effect during that period between the facility or hospital authority and a recognized union or bargaining agent, a request to meet and confer by the recognized union or bargaining agent shall reopen the memorandum of understanding solely for the purpose of negotiating an agreement regarding inclusion of people within the applicable bargaining unit in the Alameda County Employees’ Retirement Association. Either party may elect to negotiate a side letter or similar agreement in lieu of reopening the memorandum of understanding. This subdivision shall not be interpreted to abrogate agreements that are in effect between the facility or hospital authority and a recognized union or bargaining agent.

(2) If the facility or hospital authority and a recognized union or bargaining agent agree to include people within an applicable bargaining unit participating in the Alameda County Employees’ Retirement Association, a person who subsequently transfers, reassigns, or is hired into that bargaining unit who is a member of the Alameda County Employees’ Retirement Association shall maintain the same tier of membership in the Alameda County Employees’ Retirement Association upon being transferred, reassigned, or hired into that bargaining unit.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 379, Sec. 1. (AB 1048) Effective January 1, 2022.)