(a) Deposit in the United States mail of an initial warrant drawn as directed by the member as a refund of contributions upon termination of employment, and addressed to the address directed by the member, constitutes a return of the member’s accumulated retirement contributions under this part. In lieu of an initial warrant, the system may initiate a disbursement by electronic funds transfer to a specific account at a financial institution as directed by the member as a refund of contributions upon termination of employment, which shall constitute a return of the member’s accumulated retirement contributions under this part.

(b) Except as provided in subdivision (e), if the member has elected on a form provided by the system to transfer all or a specified portion of the accumulated retirement contributions that are eligible for direct trustee-to-trustee transfer to the trustee of a qualified plan under Section 402 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Sec. 402), deposit in the United States mail of a notice that the requested transfer has been made constitutes a return of the member’s accumulated retirement contributions under this part.

(c) Except as provided in subdivision (e), for refunds not involving direct trustee-to-trustee transfers, if the member returns the total gross distribution amount to the system’s headquarters office within 30 days from the mailing date, the refund shall be canceled and the person shall be restored as a member of the Defined Benefit Program with all the rights and privileges under this part restored.

(d) Except as provided in subdivision (e), for refunds involving direct trustee-to-trustee transfers, if the member returns the warrant drawn to the trustee of the qualified plan or the trustee returns the amount of the qualified refund and, if applicable, any additional amounts necessary to equal, but in no event to exceed, the total gross distribution amount to the system’s headquarters office within 30 days from the mailing date, the refund shall be canceled and the person shall be restored as a member of the Defined Benefit Program with all the rights and privileges under this part restored.

(e) The mode of notice described in subdivision (b) and the measurement of time within which the return of total gross distribution amounts described in subdivisions (c) and (d) shall be made are subject to Section 22337.

(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 755, Sec. 25. (SB 1220) Effective January 1, 2015.)