(a) If the retirement benefits of any member or his or her survivors or beneficiaries payable pursuant to Part 3 (commencing with Section 20000) would be limited by Section 415 of Title 26 of the United States Code, the board shall adjust the payment of those benefits, including, but not limited to, cost-of-living adjustments, cost-of-living banks, temporary annuities, survivor continuance benefits, or any combinations thereof, in order to maximize benefits within the limits of Section 415.

(b) The board shall establish a plan of replacement benefits for members and any survivors or beneficiaries whose retirement benefits are limited by Section 415 and cannot be fully maximized pursuant to Part 3 (commencing with Section 20000). The benefits provided by that plan may consist of deferred compensation, cash payments, health benefits, or supplemental disability benefits, as shall be determined by the board to give effect to the purpose of this part. The factors the board may take into consideration in making its determination shall include, but not be limited to, the following: legal constraints, administrative feasibility, and cost effectiveness. The board may periodically modify the replacement benefits plan and may add or eliminate any type of replacement benefits, as necessary, to carry out the purpose of this part. The administrative costs of the replacement benefits plan shall be satisfied out of funds credited to the accounts of the participant members, and shall not be paid from the retirement fund or the retirement trust fund of a participating agency.

(c) The application of Section 415 to benefits provided under Part 3 (commencing with Section 20000) and this part shall not be taken into account for purposes of determining employers’ or employees’ contribution rates, until replacement benefits are implemented pursuant to Section 21758.

(d) Under no circumstances shall the replacement benefit plan result in increased benefit costs to an employer, member, or annuitant.

(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 793, Sec. 33. Effective January 1, 2002. Conditionally inoperative as prescribed in Section 21763.)