Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, Riverside County may, after executing an agreement therefor, separate and apart from Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 3500) of Division 4 of Title 1, with representatives of recognized employee organizations, as defined by subdivision (b) of Section 3501, amend its contract to provide the alternate benefit afforded by Section 20552 for its local miscellaneous members whose service is included in the federal system and the benefit afforded by Section 20553 for all its local miscellaneous members. The employer’s contribution rate shall be fixed pursuant to this article.

Participation in the plan afforded by this article shall be available to any employee of the contracting agency who is a local miscellaneous member subject to Section 21353 on the day immediately preceding the effective date of a contract amendment entered into pursuant to this article.

Each contracting agency shall ensure that each eligible member receives sufficient information to permit an informed election, is counseled regarding the financial implications of the foregoing choices, and receives an election document. The election document shall be filed with the contracting agency.

A local miscellaneous member who is subject to this article shall also be subject to all other provisions of this part. However, in the event of a conflict, this article shall supersede and prevail over provisions or the application of provisions otherwise contained in this part.

(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 906, Sec. 61. Effective January 1, 1997.)