Section 22455.5.

(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the federal Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-508) requires all public employers to provide their employees with either social security coverage or membership in a qualified retirement plan.

(b) Employers shall make available criteria for membership, including optional membership, in a timely manner to all persons employed to perform creditable service subject to coverage by the Defined Benefit Program, and shall inform part-time and substitute employees, within 30 days of the date of hire, or by March 1, 1995, whichever is later, that they may elect membership in the plan's Defined Benefit Program at any time while employed. Written acknowledgment by the employee shall be maintained in employer files on a form provided by this system.

(c) Employers shall be liable to the plan for employee and employer contributions and interest with respect to the Defined Benefit Program from the date of hire, or March 1, 1995, whichever is later, in addition to system administrative and audit costs, if an audit or a member's complaint reveals noncompliance. However, no employer shall be liable for employee contributions for service performed prior to January 1, 1995.

(Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 939, Sec. 29. Effective January 1, 2000.)