3. a. The employer shall reduce the compensation of each participant in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program and pay over to the plan provider for the benefit of the participant an employee contribution for the retirement benefit contract or contracts equal to 5.5% of the participant’s base salary. At the option and request of a participant, the employer shall reduce the compensation of the participant for additional contributions as permitted by the federal Internal Revenue Code. The intervals for reductions and payments shall be determined by the Division of Pensions and Benefits.

All participant contributions shall be made in accordance with section 414(h) of the federal Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. § 414(h)).

b. The employer shall make payment of the employer contributions to the program at a rate equal to 3% of the employee’s base salary, which moneys shall be paid to the designated provider for the benefit of each participant. Additionally, employers shall pay their share of the administrative costs of the program. The intervals for all payments and the allocation of administrative costs shall be determined by the Division of Pensions and Benefits including due dates and penalties for noncompliance.

c. No employer contributions shall be vested in a participant until after the participant commences the second year of employment unless the participant, at the time of initial employment, either (1) participates in a program substantially similar to the retirement program, or (2) is a member of another State-administered pension fund or retirement system.

L.2007, c.92, s.3; amended 2007, c.103, s.6.