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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 5Pt. 3Ch. 5Art. 4§ 20551 Local Miscellaneous Member Benefits

§ 20551 Local Miscellaneous Member Benefits

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 20551 Local Miscellaneous Member Benefits

Key Takeaways

  • •New employees can choose their benefits within 120 days each year, but once chosen, they can't change it.
  • •Current employees can also switch benefits during the same 120-day window, but the change starts the next month.
  • •If you pick one benefit plan (Section 20552), you can switch to another (Section 21353 or 20553) after working 10 years—but only once, and you can't go back.
  • •Once you make a final choice after 10 years, you're stuck with it forever.

Example

Imagine you start a new job at a city office. When you join, you get to pick between two retirement plans during a 120-day window. You choose Plan A. A few years later, after working there for 10 years, you decide you want Plan B instead. You switch during the next 120-day window, but now you can never change your mind again.

The law lets new workers pick their retirement benefits early on, but after 10 years, they get one last chance to switch—then it’s locked in forever.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 20551 Local Miscellaneous Member Benefits

A person who becomes a local miscellaneous member of a contracting agency on or after the effective date of the agency’s contract to be subject to this article shall be subject to the benefits provided in Section 21353 but may, during an open 120-day period in each calendar year, to be determined by the contracting agency, make an irrevocable election to be subject, for all future local miscellaneous service with the contracting agency on and after the first of the month following the filing of the election with the employer, to the benefits provided by Section 20552 or Section 20553. A current member may make an irrevocable election to be subject to the benefits provided for in this article for all future local miscellaneous service with the contracting agency during an annual open 120-day period to be determined by the contracting agency and that shall be effective on the first of the month following the filing of the election with the employer. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, a member who has elected to be subject to Section 20552 may, at any annual open period next following the attainment of 10 years of credited service with the contracting agency, irrevocably elect to be subject, prospectively only, to the benefits provided by Section 21353 or Section 20553. Any person who makes that election may never thereafter change that election. (Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 379, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1996.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

electioncontractbenefitsemployerattainment

Related Statutes

  • § 19134 State Service Worker Wages
  • § 31564.2 District Retirement Liability Calculation
  • § 31778.1 Retirement Lump-Sum Calculation
  • § 7522.56 Post-Retirement Public Employment
  • § 12440.6 State Employee Pay Continuation

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 20551.
View Official Source