This section means that the specific definitions found in this chapter are to be used to understand and interpret the meanings of words and phrases used in this part of the law, unless there's a reason not to.

This section defines an 'Accumulated Defined Benefit Supplement account balance' as the total of various contributions from a member, any contributions the employer picks up for the member, plus additional amounts from employer contributions and earned interest or earnings according to specific sections.

This section defines "accumulated retirement contributions" as the total of what a member has put into their retirement, contributions an employer makes on behalf of a member as per certain rules, plus any interest that has been added to those amounts. It clarifies what is NOT included in this definition: any separate annuity contributions, tax-sheltered annuities, specific supplemental account balances, or extra earnings credited.

"Accumulated tax-sheltered annuity contributions" are the contributions made into a tax-sheltered annuity account by a member, including any interest that has been credited to those contributions.

The term “actuarial equivalent” refers to a type of pension or retirement allowance that has the same monetary value, based on specific mathematical tables and interest rates chosen by the board overseeing the calculations.

An actuary is an expert in the technical and mathematical fields of insurance and pensions, appointed by the board to provide necessary actuarial services.

This law section refers to an 'additional earnings credit,' which is extra money added to members' Defined Benefit Supplement accounts. It's based on income earned from investments for the plan year and is decided by the board, beyond the basic interest rate added every year.

This section defines “annualized pay rate” as the salary someone could earn working full-time for a school term in a specific position, as explained further in another section. It outlines how to figure out this rate using a public pay schedule, either as a single amount or calculated from hourly or daily rates based on full-time work. If no such pay rate exists for a position, any earnings are considered extra pay. Changes related to this will be posted online before July 2027 when they can be implemented.

An 'Annuitant Reserve' is a special account within the retirement fund that's set aside to pay annuities for those covered by the Defined Benefit Supplement Program.

This law explains what "annuity" means in two different pension programs for California educators. In the Defined Benefit Program, an annuity is a series of payments made for the lifetime of a member, based on their accumulated contributions. In the Defined Benefit Supplement Program, an annuity refers to monthly payment arrangements made from the funds in a member's account, instead of receiving all the money at once in a lump sum.

This section defines an "annuity beneficiary" as the individual or trust that a member selects to get annuity payments from the Defined Benefit Supplement Program when the member passes away.

This law talks about extra contributions that a member made before July 1, 1972, to increase their retirement income. These are called 'annuity deposit contributions' and they go beyond what was needed for standard retirement benefits.

This section explains that when calculating extra benefits, the term "base allowance" refers to a person's monthly pension payment before any additional increases. This applies unless otherwise noted in another specific section.

In this law, 'base days' refer to the number of working days a teacher or school employee needs to complete in a school year to earn a full year of service credit towards retirement or benefits. These days cannot include holidays and must meet certain minimum requirements: they must comply with a minimum standard of 175 days or, if standards are expressed in hours, the total hours divided by six. This ensures a consistent measure of service across different positions.

This law defines how employment time is described for school employees. 'Basis of employment' refers to how much time an employer expects an employee to work during a school term. 'Full-time basis' is when the work is expected to be full time, while 'part-time basis' is when the work is less than full time.

A 'Beneficiary' in the context of the Defined Benefit Program is anyone who is set to receive payments or benefits due to a member's disability or death. In the Defined Benefit Supplement Program, it's anyone who will get a final benefit payment because of a member's death.

This law section talks about what 'benefit' means in two different retirement programs. For the Defined Benefit Program, it refers to the money paid monthly to retired or disabled members or beneficiaries, and it covers any lump-sum payments after someone dies. For the Defined Benefit Supplement Program, it refers to the total balance in a member's account.

This section simply defines the term "Board" as referring to the Teachers’ Retirement Board.

This section mainly defines the term "California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013" as referring to a specific set of pension reforms found in the Government Code, starting at Section 7522.

In this context, "California service" refers to any work done in California that can be recognized for credit, likely within a specific program or benefit system.

The Cash Balance Benefit Program is a specific part of the retirement plan for state teachers in California, offering benefits related to part 14 starting from Section 26000.

In this section, the terms 'credential,' 'credentials,' and 'certificate' refer to any official documents like diplomas or certificates that are issued according to state laws and allow someone to work in the public school system.

'Certificated' refers to someone having the necessary certification or credentials required by state law to be properly employed in a specific job. It ensures that the person meets the qualifications necessary for their position.

In this section, "child’s portion" or "children’s portion" refers to the money given as part of a disability or survivor benefit meant specifically for dependent children.

This section defines what a 'class of employees' means for employment in educational programs. It states that employees are grouped together because they perform similar work, participate in the same program, or have other work-related similarities. A class can be made up of just one person if they're unique in their duties but are still in a category commonly used by other employers. Additionally, there's a rule that a governing board can change an employer’s decision about whether someone or a group qualifies as a class. Finally, changes made to this law in 1995-96 officially took effect on July 1, 1996.

This law applies to county offices of education that changed their special education programs from running 225 days a year to a schedule with at least 180 regular school days, plus up to 45 extended days, as of July 1, 1998. Employees who worked in the 225-day program before October 1, 1997, can remain in a group where full-time work is considered 216 days per year. They can also choose to join a different employee group with fewer than 216 days, as long as it's more than a minimum standard set by another related law, but they must decide this by June 30, 1998, and it can't be changed later. New employees hired after October 1, 1997, must join the shorter-day group. However, this rule doesn't apply to some employees whose work days are set under different specific rules.

The term "comparable level position" refers to any job where a person can make at least two-thirds of their adjusted final salary.

This law defines 'compensation earnable' for retirement fund purposes, detailing that it includes the average annual pay rate and any special pay for a school year, but excludes supplemental pay. If a member works at different pay rates but most of the year is at the highest one, the highest pay rate is used for calculations. There's a cap on how much compensation can be counted. The definition aims to maintain fair treatment across careers and positions, prevent manipulation of benefits, and align with pensionable compensation definitions. If it's suspected compensation was reported to boost benefits, this can be challenged with evidence. Changes from this law will start when the responsible board decides their system is ready, no later than 2027.

This section explains that "concurrent membership" applies when someone belongs to the Defined Benefit Program and other specific public retirement systems in California, like the one for state employees or university staff. A person with this status can determine their final salary using specific methods, redeposit any retirement contributions they've made, and apply for retirement under certain conditions.

This section explains 'concurrent retirement' for members of the State Teachers' Retirement System. It means that you can retire from this system and another public retirement system at the same time or on different dates. However, to qualify, you must not work in a job covered by either retirement system between the two retirement dates. Additionally, if you are a retired member and take a job covered by a public retirement system later, you can no longer have concurrent retirement benefits.

This section defines the 'contribution rate for additional service credit' as the rate set by the board for buying additional service time under a retirement benefit plan. This rate is calculated based on the plan's latest financial assessment and adjusted to cover any future increase needs for funding benefits.

This law simply states that whenever you see the word 'county' in this context, it also means 'city and county.'

This section simply defines the term 'county superintendent' as the county superintendent of schools.

This law defines "creditable compensation" for teachers and employees in education, detailing what counts as compensation for retirement purposes. It includes salaries, wages, and additional pay common to all employees in the same role. Compensation from sick leave, vacation, and specific retirement plans also qualify. However, certain types of compensation, like non-cash benefits or severance pay, are excluded. The law prevents manipulation of pay to boost retirement benefits unfairly. Employers must report compensation accurately, and failing to do so can lead to legal consequences. This section will be repealed in 2027 unless further action is taken.

The term "creditable compensation" generally refers to payment made in cash by an employer. This includes base pay, which must comply with certain rules like being part of a public pay schedule and not being a bonus under a certain pension reform act. Supplemental pay and compensation for sick or vacation leave can also count if they meet specific criteria. Some forms of payment, like money for unused leave, severance pay, or compensatory damages, don't count as creditable compensation. There's a cap on creditable compensation for pension calculations, and if employers report compensation wrongfully, they could face legal consequences. The law will be fully applied once the responsible board sets a date, no later than July 1, 2027.

This section describes what "creditable service" means, which refers to work in a job that makes you eligible for membership in a certain system. The board in charge will decide a specific date when changes to this definition will take effect. They'll announce this date online by July 1, 2027. These changes won't start until the board picks the date.

This section explains that certain work activities done on or before December 31, 2015, which may not fit the usual description of 'creditable service' but were reported as such, are still considered valid. However, if someone starts a new job on or after January 1, 2016, any similar activities must meet the updated criteria for creditable service.

The term 'credited interest' refers to the interest added to the retirement and annuity savings of both active and inactive members, and this rate is determined yearly by the board for the Defined Benefit Program.

This law section explains what "credited service" means in the context of retirement benefits. It covers two main areas: first, it includes service where contributions have been or would have been paid, considering certain contribution limits. Second, it specifies that for some benefit eligibility calculations, credited service also includes a small additional amount granted under certain conditions. Lastly, the law gives the board authority to set a date by which these changes will be implemented, with a deadline to announce this date by mid-2027.

This law defines a 'custodian' as a bank or trust company that manages the safekeeping and administration of investments for a fund, handling things like security delivery, valuation, and performance reporting.

This section specifies that a 'death payment' is the money given when a member dies, according to certain other sections of the law.

This section explains that the "Defined Benefit Program" refers to a specific retirement plan for teachers in the state.

This law section explains that 'Defined Benefit Supplement contributions' are the contributions made by both a member and their employer, which are then added by the system to the member’s specific account for additional retirement benefits.

This law explains who qualifies as a 'dependent child' under disability and family allowance programs. A dependent child is an unmarried child or stepchild under 22, relying on the member for financial support when the member becomes disabled or dies. It includes children born within ten months of these events or those adopted by the member. However, it doesn't cover children adopted by someone else, stepchildren, or adopted children after the member's death unless they were financially supported by the member. Financial dependency means the member provided at least half of the child's support, and proof like tax records might be needed. The term 'member' refers to a specific definition from another section.

This section clarifies who qualifies as a 'dependent child' for disability retirement and survivor benefits. A 'dependent child' must be a member's biological or stepchild, under 21, financially dependent on the member when they retire due to a disability or pass away. Children born within 10 months of the member’s retirement or death, or adopted children, are also included. However, if a child is adopted by someone other than the member’s spouse, they are not considered dependent. Financial dependence means the member provided at least half of the child's support, which must be proven if questioned.

This law defines a 'dependent parent' as either a biological or adoptive parent of a person who has died, if the adoption occurred before the person turned 18 or got married, and if the parent was financially supported by that person for at least half of their expenses at the time of their death.

This law defines "disability" as a physical or mental condition that can be proven medically and is either permanent or expected to last for at least a year. This condition must stop someone from doing their normal work duties or similar duties with reasonable adjustments. It doesn't consider injuries that a person intentionally causes to themselves as a disability.

This law defines "disability allowance" as the monthly payment given to a member who is unable to work due to disability.

This section defines a 'disability benefit' as the money a member can receive from their Defined Benefit Supplement account if they're disabled or have retired due to a disability. The payment is based on their account balance and follows specific rules outlined in related sections.

This law defines "early retirement" and "early retirement age" as starting at age 55. At this age, members of the Defined Benefit Program can start receiving retirement benefits, although the amount may be reduced since they are retiring early.

This section defines what counts as an 'educational institution.' It includes any accredited public or private school that focuses on classroom teaching, like high schools, colleges, universities, and trade or vocational schools.

The term “Effective date” refers to the day when a payment or benefit is set to start being paid out.

This section defines "employer" or "employing agency" to include the state, its agencies, and political subdivisions like joint powers authorities, which are collaborations between different entities. For a joint powers authority to qualify, it must follow the Joint Exercise of Powers Act, involve entities where qualifying service is performed, and report through a single county office of education. Additionally, the plan must comply with federal rules for governmental plans under the IRS code.

This section explains that when the terms “employed” or “employment” are used, they refer to jobs that count towards a retirement plan, specifically the Defined Benefit Program or the Defined Benefit Supplement Program, unless it explicitly says otherwise.

This law section defines the term “exclusive representative” by referencing another part of the Government Code where it is detailed further. Essentially, it points to a specific definition already established elsewhere.

This section defines a 'family allowance' as the money given to certain survivors who qualify under specific conditions after June 30, 1972, according to rules starting from Section 23800.

This section defines "final benefit" as the amount of money that is paid to the beneficiary when someone enrolled in the Defined Benefit Supplement Program dies.

This law defines how to determine the 'final compensation' for calculating retirement benefits under the Defined Benefit Program. It focuses on finding the highest average salary during any 36-month period of a member's service. If there are gaps in employment, those can be combined if the conditions are right. It also accounts for periods where salary might be reduced due to reduced school funding. Different service periods around school terms can count towards the 36-month period. For those retiring with rights in another system, certain conditions allow the use of potential full-time earnings to calculate benefits. Special adjustments apply to part-time service before July 1, 1956. Additionally, different rules apply when a benefit calculation does not use service credits. Other clarifications ensure amendments reflect existing laws.

This section outlines how "final compensation" is determined for members of the Defined Benefit Program. It considers the highest average salary over 12 consecutive months, accounting for certain breaks and types of service. It also specifies how periods of service are considered, including those surrounding a school year, and adjusts for part-time work before mid-1956. It details provisions for those eligible for concurrent retirement in different systems, ensuring only full-time equivalent compensation counts. Members need 25 years of credited service for this section to apply unless they fall under specific exemptions. Finally, it doesn't apply to those affected by the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013.

This law defines "final compensation" for classroom teachers retiring, becoming disabled, or passing away after June 30, 1990, who are not covered by the 2013 pension reform and are active members of the Defined Benefit Program. It specifies which teachers count as "classroom teachers" based on their roles and time spent providing direct instruction or services. It also details the financial mechanisms for accruing and paying increased allowances through trust funds if an employer adopts this section with a union agreement before January 1, 2014. Employers must notify employees of their options regarding retirement plans and certify eligibility when benefits are due. For nonmember spouses, final compensation and reimbursements also follow specified rules.

This law explains that for managers and supervisors who worked for the state and either retired or passed away after July 1, 1991, their retirement pay calculations should use the salary they would have earned before a 5% pay cut that occurred in the 1991-92 fiscal year. This rule is only relevant if the time their salary was reduced counts toward their retirement benefits. Any extra costs from using this higher salary for retirement calculations will be covered by their employer when they retire.

This law defines 'final vesting' as the point when someone, or their beneficiary, becomes eligible to start receiving specific retirement or disability benefits after meeting certain conditions. These conditions include having enough service years, being of a certain age, stopping work, and applying for retirement. Once set, the benefits are fixed unless specified changes can be made by law.

This law defines "full time" work for various school employees in California. "Full time" can be defined differently depending on job type, such as teachers, principals, and administrators in pre-K through 12th grade and community colleges. It specifies the minimum days or hours required, which can vary for different roles. For example, principals often need to work more days or hours than teachers. Agreements about what "full time" means must be sent to the system each year. If not specified, the board can make the final decision. This rule has been in effect since July 1, 2013.

This section defines 'full-time equivalent' as the amount of work part-time employees would do if they worked full-time in their current role during a school term.

This law section describes a 'Gain and Loss Reserve,' which is a special account in the retirement fund used for two main purposes. First, it ensures that interest is paid to members' Defined Benefit Supplement accounts, even if the usual investment earnings fall short. Second, it helps fund annuities for retirees under the Defined Benefit Supplement Program when needed.

This law talks about an 'improvement factor' for retirement benefits under the Defined Benefit Program. Basically, retirees get a 2% increase in their monthly pension every year after they have retired for one year. This boost is added each year on September 1st, but it's not compounded over time, meaning it doesn't increase based on previous increases. From July 1, 2014, the improvement factor becomes a reliable part of the benefits for members who paid higher contributions. If the law changes and stops requiring these contributions, the government can adjust the 2% boost based on the economy, but they can't lower benefits below what was promised at retirement. The same adjustments can apply to those who retired before the law required higher contributions, again without reducing their promised benefits.

This law talks about an 'improvement factor,' which is a 2% yearly increase in certain retirement benefits for educators starting from specific years (1981, 2001, 2002). The increase is not compounded and doesn't apply to certain types of annuities. The law allows the state legislature to adjust this increase based on the economy, but benefits can't be reduced below what would have been paid if this provision didn't exist. Starting in 2014, this increase vests for active members who pay increased contributions. If these contributions stop being required, the legislature can still adjust the increase for anyone retiring after January 1, 2014. For those who retired before the new rules, the increase can be adjusted but not reduced below the original amount.

This section defines 'indexed final compensation' as the final salary used to calculate a disability allowance, which is adjusted each year based on changes in average earnings. The adjustment starts from the year the allowance begins.

This section defines who qualifies as an "investment manager" or "investment adviser" for the Teachers’ Retirement Fund. These are individuals or firms hired by the board to handle investment transactions or manage fund assets, specifically for the Defined Benefit Program and the Cash Balance Benefit Program.

This section defines what 'investment transactions' involve when it comes to managing or advising on assets. It covers a range of activities such as advisory services, research, trading help, and the handling of funds by a manager if the board approves. It also includes costs associated with these services, like legal fees, contracting expenses, and custodian services essential for managing investments.

This section defines 'leave of absence' for certain members as the time away from work that is either required or allowed by specific educational statutes. It includes both mandated leaves and employer-approved leaves, which started January 1, 2016. Basically, if you take a leave that your employer approves and it's paid, that pay is considered 'creditable compensation,' meaning it counts towards your employment benefits calculations.

This section explains that 'liability gains and losses' refer to the variance between what actually happens and what was expected to happen based on certain assumptions that do not involve investments. These differences are evaluated over time, specifically between two dates set for checking these assumptions. The board sets these assumptions under another rule.

This section is defining 'local system' as any pension or retirement plan for public school teachers run by a city, county, or other local government in the state, excluding the state-level system.

This section defines who is considered a 'member' of the Defined Benefit Program related to school service. A member is someone who has done certain types of work in a school, hasn’t gotten a refund for that work, and is part of a specific retirement program. Members are categorized as active, inactive, disabled, or retired. Active members are those currently working; inactive members are not currently earning; disabled members receive a disability allowance; and retired members no longer work and receive retirement benefits.

This law clarifies what it means to be a 'member subject to the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013.' Essentially, if you started working in a role that gets benefits under the Defined Benefit Program after January 1, 2013, you are considered a new member under this reform. However, if you were already a member of certain other retirement systems before 2013 and worked there within the previous six months, you are not considered a new member.

This law defines the term "membership" as being a part of the Defined Benefit Program unless specified otherwise in some parts of the law.

The 'minimum interest rate' is the lowest yearly interest rate, set by the board, that will be added to Defined Benefit Supplement accounts each plan year.

This law defines what 'month' means in different contexts. When it comes to calculating and crediting work service, a 'month' is 20 working days or four weeks of five working days each, including legal holidays. In all other cases, a 'month' starts on a given day of one calendar month and ends the day before the same date in the next month, or the last day of the next month if there is no corresponding date.

This section defines 'nonqualified service' as any period where a member didn't work in a role that counts toward their retirement plan. It doesn't cover times that can be credited as service separately according to certain chapters that allow purchasing service credit.

If you're part of the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013, you can retire without penalty at 62. Others can retire without penalty at 60. This is the 'normal retirement age,' meaning you get your pension benefits fully without any deductions because of age.

This section defines what an 'option beneficiary' is under a retirement plan. It's the person or trust chosen by a plan member to receive benefits after the member dies. When a trust is involved, it must be an irrevocable trust that meets specific legal criteria. These include complying with certain federal regulations and ensuring the trust benefits only one main beneficiary, with others being successors. The primary beneficiary of the trust is treated as the designated option beneficiary for retirement plan benefits purposes.

This section defines what 'other public systems' are by listing several government-related insurance and retirement programs. These include Social Security (except for a lump-sum death payment), federal civil service retirement, military disability benefits, railroad retirement, workers' compensation, and other publicly funded retirement or disability programs.

This section defines who qualifies as a 'parent' in terms of a member. It includes natural parents or those who legally adopted the member before they turned 18 or got married, whichever came first.

This law defines a pay period as the length of time for which employees are paid, specifying that it should be no shorter than four weeks and no longer than one month.

This section defines the term 'Plan' specifically as the State Teachers’ Retirement Plan.

Plan vesting is when a person in the Defined Benefit Program qualifies for their benefits because they have enough credited service. They will receive these benefits in the future if they meet all the other necessary conditions.

In this section, a 'plan year' is defined as the time frame starting on July 1 and ending on June 30 of the next year. For the Defined Benefit Supplement Program, the board will specify the first plan year through a plan amendment.

This law defines what a "position subject to membership" means in the context of educational and certain other public sector jobs. It includes positions at county education offices or school districts that require specific credentials, and those included in collective bargaining agreements. Charter school roles that need teaching credentials and some community college jobs also qualify. Special roles such as school superintendents and jobs under specific employment contracts with the Department of Defense are included too. However, positions belonging to a different retirement system and those in non-teaching bargaining units are excluded. The section specifies that these rules will take effect once the responsible board decides the system is ready, with a deadline for this decision set as July 1, 2027.

This law talks about which job positions are considered for membership in a certain retirement or benefit system in California. If a person was already doing a specific job before a certain date and keeps doing that job, it counts for membership. But if they change jobs or start a new one after that date, the rules change, and they must follow a different section. Also, a board will decide when these changes will officially start, and they'll post this information online by July 1, 2027.

This section defines 'present value' for calculating retirement benefits. Specifically, it refers to the amount of money required at the start of retirement to cover the cost of the retirement allowance linked to any extra unused sick leave days. This calculation involves dividing the extra sick leave days by a set number of days, then multiplying by last year's possible earnings and a present value factor.

This law defines the term 'present value factor' as the average rate calculated from the characteristics of members who have recently retired and current interest rates, used to determine the value of retirement benefits on the retirement start date.

This section defines 'prior year’s compensation earnable' as the amount of money a member could earn during the school year just before the last one in which they earned service credit.

This law defines 'projected final compensation' as the salary amount used to determine a disability or family allowance, which is increased by 2% each year until the person reaches normal retirement age or stops receiving the disability allowance.

This section explains what 'projected service' means for a member who receives a disability allowance. It includes the service time credited to them and any additional time they would have earned if they had been able to work while receiving their allowance. For each school year, this projected time is based on the highest service credited during any of the three years before they either died or started getting the disability allowance. However, any service time that has contributions to the Defined Benefit Supplement Program isn't counted in this projected service.

This law section defines "proof of death" as whatever evidence of a person's death is required by the relevant system or authority.

"Provisional vesting" means that a person has met the age and service requirements needed to retire and get a pension from a specific retirement program. This person can choose to stop working and start receiving retirement payments whenever they want.

This law defines what a 'public school' is in California. Basically, it includes any school that provides education at various levels like elementary, secondary, community college, technical school, kindergarten, and prekindergarten, as long as it’s set up by the state, a city, or a district.

This law defines "qualified military service" by referring to how it's defined in the federal tax code, specifically Section 414(u) of Title 26 of the United States Code. Essentially, it's recognizing and using an existing federal definition for what counts as military service.

In this context, a 'refund' means that a member of the Defined Benefit Program gets back in one payment the money they have saved up for retirement, but it doesn't include any additional credits they might have in a separate account called the Defined Benefit Supplement account.

This law defines "regular interest" as the expected rate of return on investments in the Defined Benefit Program, which is set each year by the board. The rule started being effective on July 1, 2010.

A "regular meeting" refers to a board meeting that occurs following a pre-established schedule specifying the dates and locations of such meetings, which the board has formally approved.

This section defines 'reinstatement' as the process where a person changes their status in the Defined Benefit Program from being disabled or retired back to being active or inactive. This involves ending certain types of retirement or disability payments they were receiving, as outlined in specific sections of the law.

This section defines a 'replacement benefits program' as a specific plan set up under certain parts of the California Education Code. It's designed to follow federal rules about pension plans, especially those applying to government plans.

This section defines "retired member activities" for retirees working in the California public school system. It includes anyone working as an employee, for a third party, or as an independent contractor. However, if a retiree works for a third party on short assignments (up to 24 months), does not contribute to a public pension, and performs tasks not normally done by school employees, these activities don't count as "retired member activities."

In this law, "retirement" refers to when someone stops working in a job that's covered by a retirement plan and changes their status to a retired member. This shift can occur from being an inactive, active, or disabled member.

A 'retirement allowance' is the monthly payment given to someone who is retired or to a person designated to receive their benefits.

'Retirement benefit' refers to the money a retired member gets from their Defined Benefit Supplement account. This amount depends on how much credit they have in that account and is part of the retirement package for those who retire from service.

In this section, "Retirement fund" specifically refers to the fund set up for teachers' retirement, known as the Teachers' Retirement Fund.

This part of the law explains that 'return on investments' refers to any income that comes from the investments made by a system.

This law defines a "school term" as at least 35 weeks long, starting on the first day and ending on the last day when full-time work is required. Any time excluded by a contract doesn't count. Even part-time members doing the same job as full-time members have the same school term duration.

The term "school year" is defined as starting on July 1 of one year and ending on June 30 of the next year.

This section defines 'service' as work done for pay, unless stated otherwise. The board responsible will decide when new changes, added by a recent law, will start based on the system's readiness. They'll announce this date online by July 1, 2027, and these changes will become active on the date they set.

This law defines different types of sick leave days for employees. 'Sick leave days' are leave days an employee has saved up but hasn't used. 'Basic sick leave days' are the standard paid days off allowed for sickness or injury. 'Excess sick leave days' are any additional paid days off beyond 12 days in a school year. If sick leave is calculated in hours, divide the total hours by six to find out the number of days.

This law section defines who is considered a "spouse" for specific legal purposes. To qualify as a spouse, a person must have been married to the member for at least 12 months before the member's death, unless they had a child together or the spouse is pregnant by the member. However, if the member died from an accident or illness and the marriage occurred before the injury or diagnosis, the 12-month requirement does not apply. Accidental death is when the member died directly from violent or accidental injuries. The law does not recognize marriages where the member was expected to live less than 12 months when married. Additionally, registered domestic partners are treated the same as spouses, except where sections 22661 and 23812 exclude them.

This section defines 'survivor allowance' as the benefits outlined in Section 23804 according to the law that was in effect on June 30, 1972.

This section defines the 'survivor benefit allowance' as a monthly payment that a surviving spouse can choose to receive based on guidelines starting in Chapter 23, Section 23850.

This section defines what is meant by the “System’s headquarters office,” specifying it as the main office building set up to be the permanent headquarters for the system as described in another legal provision.

This law defines a 'termination benefit' as the amount of money a member gets in a single payment. It comes from their Defined Benefit Supplement account when they stop working in jobs covered by the plan.

This section defines "unfunded actuarial obligation" for two programs: the Defined Benefit Program and the Defined Benefit Supplement Program. It refers to the portion of future benefits that are not yet funded by ongoing contributions or existing assets, based on specific assumptions the board uses under Section 22311.5.