Article 3 - Safety Member Classification—State

California Government Code — §§ 20390-20416

Sections (32)

Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 305, Sec. 31. Effective January 1, 1997.

(a)“Patrol member” includes all members employed in the Department of the California Highway Patrol or by a county in connection with its highway patrol function, respectively, whose principal duties consist of active law enforcement service, except those whose principal duties are those of a telephone operator, clerk, stenographer, machinist, mechanic, or otherwise clearly do not fall within the scope of active law enforcement service, even though the person is subject to occasional call, or is occasionally called upon, to perform duties

within the scope of active law enforcement service.

(b)“Patrol member” does not include employees of the Department of the California Highway Patrol who are designated as peace officers by the Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol under subdivision (a) of Section 2250.1 of the Vehicle Code.

Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 70, Sec. 104. (AB 141) Effective July 12, 2021.

“State peace officer/firefighter member” means:

(a)All persons in the Board of Parole Hearings, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Department of Cannabis Control, the Department of Developmental Services, the Department of Health Care Services, the Department of Toxic Substances Control, the California Horse Racing Board, the Department of Industrial Relations, the Department of Insurance, the State Department of State Hospitals, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Social Services employed with the class title of Special Investigator (Class Code 8553), Senior Special Investigator (Class Code 8550), and Investigator Assistant (Class Code 8554) who have been

designated as peace officers as defined in Sections 830.2 and 830.3 of the Penal Code.

(b)All persons in the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control employed with the class title Investigator Trainee, Alcoholic Beverage Control (Class Code 7553), Investigator I, Alcoholic Beverage Control, Range A and B (Class Code 7554), and Investigator II, Alcoholic Beverage Control (Class Code 7555) who have been designated as peace officers as defined in Sections 830.2 and 830.3 of the Penal Code.
(c)All persons within the Department of Justice who are state employees as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 3513 and who have been designated as peace officers and performing investigative duties.
(d)All persons in the Department of Parks and Recreation employed with the class title of Park Ranger (Intermittent) (Class Code

0984) who have been designated as peace officers as defined in Sections 830.2 and 830.3 of the Penal Code.

(e)All persons in the Franchise Tax Board who have been designated as peace officers in subdivision (s) of Section 830.3 of the Penal Code.
(f)A member who is employed in a position that is reclassified to state peace officer/firefighter pursuant to this section may make an irrevocable election in writing to remain subject to the service retirement benefit and the normal rate of contribution applicable prior to reclassification by filing a notice of election with the board within 90 days of notification by the board. A member who so elects shall be subject to the reduced benefit factors specified in Section 21353 or 21354.1, as applicable, only for service included in the federal system.

Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 159, Sec. 112. Effective January 1, 2002.

“State peace officer/firefighter member” also includes officers and employees with the following class titles:

A member

who is employed in a position that is reclassified to state peace officer/firefighter pursuant to this section may make an irrevocable election in writing to remain subject to the service retirement benefit and the normal rate of contribution applicable prior to reclassification by filing a notice of the election with the board within 90 days after notification by the board. A member who so elects shall be subject to the reduced benefit factors specified in Section 21353 or 21354.1, as applicable, only for service also included in the federal system.

Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 555, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2000.

“State peace officer/firefighter member” also means:

(a)All persons in the office of the Secretary of State, office of the Controller, and the Public Employees’ Retirement System employed on a full-time permanent basis with the class title of Special Investigator (Class Code 8553), Senior Special Investigator (Class Code 8550), and Investigator Assistant (Class Code 8554) who have been designated as peace officers as defined in Sections 830.2 and 830.3 of the Penal Code.
(b)All persons employed on a full-time permanent basis with the class title of Corporations Investigator (Class Code 8570) or Associate Corporations Investigator (Class Code 8571) who have been designated as peace officers as defined in Sections 830.2 and 830.3 of the Penal Code.
(c)All persons employed on a full-time permanent basis with the class title of Sergeant, State Fair Police (Class Code 1946), State Fair Police Officer (Class Code 1945), Lottery Agent (Class Code 8602), District Representative I and II, Division of Codes and Standards (Class Codes 8960 and 8958), Deputy Registrar of Contractors I and II (Class Codes 8793 and 8792), Polygraph Examiner, California Department of the Youth Authority (Class Code 8542), Community Services Consultant I (Class Code 9717), or Parole Service Associate (Class Code 9776) who have been designated as peace officers as defined in

Sections 830.2, 830.3, and 830.5 of the Penal Code.

(d)All persons employed on a full-time permanent basis with the class title of Forester I (Class Code 1054) and Forester II (Class Code 9721).

Any person so designated may elect, within 90 days of notification by the board, to remain subject to the service retirement benefit and the normal rate of contribution applicable prior to the effective date that this section is applicable to the member by filing an irrevocable notice of election with the board. A member who so elects shall be subject to the reduced benefit factors specified in Section 21353 or 21354.1, as applicable, only for service also included in the federal system.

Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 971, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2000.

“State peace officer/firefighter member” also includes the employees of a California State University police department, established pursuant to Section 89560 of the Education Code, who have been designated as peace officers as defined in Section 830.2 of the Penal Code, and who are (a) members represented by Public Safety Unit No. 8, or (b) members excluded from the definition of employee in Section 3562 or are supervisory employees as defined in Section 3580.3, provided that these employees have responsibility for the direct supervision of the state peace

officer/firefighter members represented in Public Safety Unit No. 8. The Trustees of the California State University shall notify this system when employees meet these conditions and whenever a state peace officer/firefighter member ceases to meet the conditions.

Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 402, Sec. 12. Effective September 11, 2000.

“State peace officer/firefighter member” means all members who are full-time permanent employees represented in Corrections Unit No. 6, Protective Services and Public Safety Unit No. 7, and Firefighters Unit No. 8 and are employed in class titles that are designated as peace officer as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code or are firefighters whose principal duties consist of active firefighting/fire suppression.

A member who is employed in a position that is

reclassified from state miscellaneous to state peace officer/firefighter pursuant to this section, may make an irrevocable election in writing to remain subject to the miscellaneous service retirement benefit and the normal rate of contribution by filing a notice of the election with the board within 90 days of notification by the board. A member who so elects shall be subject to the reduced benefit factors specified in Section 21353 or 21354.1, as applicable, only for service also included in the federal system.

Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 906, Sec. 40. Effective January 1, 1997.

(a)“State peace officer/firefighter member” also includes employees of the California State University who are campus fire apparatus engineers and who are members represented by Technical and Support Services Unit No. 9.
(b)This section shall be operative with respect to the employees described in subdivision (a) only if authorized by, and in accordance with, a memorandum of understanding reached between the Trustees of the California State University and the recognized

employee organization pursuant to the Higher Education Employer-Employee Relations Act Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 3560) of Division 4 of Title 1.

Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 364, Sec. 6. (SB 112) Effective September 27, 2019.

“State peace officer/firefighter member” also includes:

(a)The Sergeants-at-Arms of each house of the Legislature who have been designated as peace officers in subdivision (a) of Section 830.36 of the Penal Code.
(b)Bailiffs and security coordinators of the judicial branch who have been designated as peace officers in subdivision (b) of Section 830.36 of the Penal Code.

A member who is reclassified from state miscellaneous to state peace officer/firefighter pursuant to this section may make an irrevocable election in writing to remain subject to the miscellaneous service retirement benefit and

the normal rate of contribution by filing a notice of the election with the board within 90 days of notification by the board. A member who so elects shall be subject to the reduced benefit factors specified in Section 21353 or 21354.1, as applicable, only for service included in the federal

system.

Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 665, Sec. 113. (SB 1308) Effective January 1, 2013.

“State peace officer/firefighter member” also includes:

(a)(1) State officers and employees designated as peace officers as defined in Sections 830.1, 830.2, 830.3, 830.38, 830.4, and 830.5 of the Penal Code, or a firefighter whose principal duties consist of active firefighting/fire suppression, who is either excluded from the definition of state employee in subdivision (c) of Section 3513 or is a nonelected officer or employee of the executive branch of government who is not a member of the civil service, if the majority of his or her duties consists of one of the following:

(A) Responsibility for the direct supervision of state peace officer/firefighter personnel specified in Sections 20391, 20392,

20393, and 20395.

(B) Conducting investigations or audits of investigatory practices and other audits of, or in, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

(C) Administration of programs of an agency, department, or other organizational unit that is primarily responsible for active law enforcement or active firefighting/fire suppression.

(2)For purposes of this subdivision, “administration” means the actions of the employee designated as a peace officer/firefighter member in a position that is in the direct chain of command over an agency, department, or organizational unit in which the majority of employees are state peace officer/firefighter members as described in Section 20391, 20392, 20393, or 20395.
(b)“State peace officer/firefighter

member” shall not include persons whose primary responsibilities are limited to personnel administration, budgeting, public affairs, data processing or information technology, governmental relations, or legal support, or administration or oversight of these responsibilities.

(c)“State peace officer/firefighter member” shall include individuals hired prior to January 1, 2009, who do not meet the criteria in subdivision (a) if those individuals have been continuously employed in positions that were deemed to come within the “state peace officer/firefighter member” classification pursuant to this section prior to January 1, 2009.
(d)“State peace officer/firefighter member” shall include individuals hired prior to April 1, 2011, or the first day of the first pay period following the enactment of the act that added this subdivision if that act is enacted after April 1, 2011, who do

not meet the criteria in subdivision (a) if those individuals have been continuously employed in positions in the Office of the Inspector General that were deemed to come within the “state peace officer/firefighter member” classification pursuant to this section prior to April 1, 2011, or prior to the first day of the first pay period following the enactment of the act that added this subdivision if that act is enacted after April 1, 2011.

(e)The Department of Human Resources shall annually determine which classes meet the conditions described in this section and are not classes specified in Sections 20391, 20392, 20393, and 20395, and report its findings to the Legislature and to this system, to be effective July 1 of each year. An agency or department shall not designate a classification as a “state peace officer/firefighter member” classification pursuant to this section without prior approval from the Department of Human Resources.
(f)Members who are reclassified pursuant to this section may file an irrevocable election to remain subject to their prior retirement formula and the corresponding rate of contributions. The Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation may, upon appointment to that office on or after January 1, 1999, file an irrevocable election to be subject to the industrial formula and the corresponding rate of contributions. The elections shall be filed within 90 days of notification by the board. Members who so elect shall be subject to the reduced benefit factors specified in Section 21353 or 21354.1, as applicable, only for the service included in the federal system.

Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 379, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1996.

“State safety member,” includes persons employed in the Department of Fish and Game in connection with its warden service, whose principal duties consist of active law enforcement service, including immediate supervision by persons employed to perform the duties performed under the titles of Chief and Assistant Chief of Warden Service, and Captain of Patrol Boats, except those whose principal duties are those of a telephone operator, clerk, stenographer, machinist, mechanic, assistant fish and game warden, or otherwise clearly do not fall within the scope of active

law enforcement service, even though the person is subject to occasional call, or is occasionally called upon, to perform duties within the scope of active law enforcement.

Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 457, Sec. 11. Effective September 21, 1999.

(a)“State safety member” also includes members employed in the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, whose principal duties consist of active fire suppression or supervision, including, but not limited to, members employed to perform duties now performed under the following titles: State Forester; all classes of State Forest Rangers; all classes of Deputy State Forester; all classes of fire prevention and law enforcement officers; all classes of Foresters; Fire Captain; all classes of Fire Crew Foreman; all classes of Forestry

Trainees; all classes of forestry equipment and civil engineers; Forestry Superintendent, Conservation Camps; Fire Apparatus Engineer; Fireman, C.D.F.; Firefighter (Seasonal); Equipment Maintenance Foreman; Heavy Fire Equipment Operator. However, “state safety members” shall not include members employed in classes other than those set forth in this section whose principal duties are clerical or such as otherwise clearly do not fall within the scope of active fire suppression.

(b)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), “state safety member” shall not include civil engineers hired by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection on or after January 1, 2000.

Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 305, Sec. 32. Effective January 1, 1997.

“State safety member” means all persons within the Department of Justice designated as peace officers and performing investigative duties and whose principal duties consist of active law enforcement, but excluding clerical personnel or those whose principal duties are that of telephone operator, machinist, mechanic, security officer, or otherwise clearly not within the scope of active law enforcement, even though the person is subject to occasional call, or is occasionally called upon to perform duties within the scope of active law enforcement.

Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1152, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2003.

(a)“State safety member” also includes state prosecutors and state public defenders.
(b)For purposes of this part, “state prosecutor” means a state officer or employee who meets all of the following criteria:
(1)He or she is employed by the Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General.
(2)His or her job classification is Chief Assistant

Attorney General, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Supervising Deputy Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, or any other similar classification or title.

(3)His or her effective date of retirement is on or after the date the state employer and the bargaining unit elect to be subject to this section as provided in subdivision (f).
(c)For purposes of this part, “state public defender” means a state officer or employee who meets all of the following criteria.
(1)He or she is employed by the Office of the State Public Defender.
(2)His or her job classification is State Public Defender, Senior Deputy State Public Defender, Supervising Deputy State Public Defender, Deputy State Public Defender, or any other similar classification or title.
(3)His or her effective date of retirement is on or after the date the state employer and the bargaining unit elect to be subject to this section as provided in subdivision (f).
(d)Past state miscellaneous service performed by a state prosecutor or state public defender who becomes a state safety member pursuant to this section shall be converted to state safety service if the past service was rendered in a position that has subsequently been reclassified as a state safety position pursuant to this section. Any unfunded liability resulting from this section shall be paid by the employer.
(e)Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, state prosecutors and state public defenders shall be subject to the benefit formula contained in Section 21369.1, or any other benefit formula applicable to state safety members

that does not provide benefits greater than those benefits provided under Section 21363.1.

(f)This section does not apply to any officers or employees described in subdivision (b) or (c) who are members of State Bargaining Unit 2 unless and until the state employer and the bargaining unit elect to be subject to this section by amendment to or by express provision in a memorandum of understanding entered into between the parties.
(g)This section does not apply to any officer or employee described in subdivision (b) or (c) who dies prior to the date the state employer and the bargaining unit elect to be subject to this section as provided in subdivision (f).

Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 379, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1996.

“State safety member” shall also include those persons while employed by the San Francisco Port Authority prior to their transfer to the San Francisco Port Commission whose principal duties consisted of active law enforcement and who were peace officers, as defined in former Section 830.35 of the Penal Code, as amended by Chapter 460 of the Statutes of 1979, but excluding any person whose principal duties did not clearly fall within the scope of active law enforcement even though the person is subject to occasional call, or is called upon occasionally, to perform

duties within the scope of active law enforcement.

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 241, Sec. 14. (SB 857) Effective January 1, 2026.

“State safety member” shall also include officers and employees in (a) the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation employed to perform the duties now performed in positions with the following class titles: Deputy Director, Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation; Deputy Director, Institutions, Camps and Program Services Division; Deputy Director, Parole and Community Services; Warden; Warden—San Quentin; Superintendent II and III, Department of

Corrections and Rehabilitation; Deputy Superintendent; Correctional Administrator; Program Administrator, Correctional Institution; all classes of Correctional Program Supervisor; Correctional Captain; Correctional Lieutenant; Correctional Sergeant; Correctional Officer; all classes of Women’s Correctional Supervisor; Assistant Deputy Director, Parole and Community Services; all classes of Parole Administrator, Adult Parole; all classes of Parole Agent, Adult Parole; Assistant Director, Investigations and Law Enforcement Liaison; Senior Special Agent; Special Agent; all classes of Women’s Parole Agent; Medical Facility Superintendent; Superintendent, California Institution for Women; all classes of Correctional Counselor; Chief and Assistant Chief Transportation Officer, (b) the Department of the Youth Authority employed to perform the duties now performed in positions with the

following class titles: Director, Department of the Youth Authority; Chief, Division of Parole and Community Services; Deputy Chief, Division of Parole and Community Services; Program Administrator, Correctional School; Assistant Superintendent, Correctional School; all classes of Superintendent, Correctional School; Youth Authority Camp Superintendent; Assistant Superintendent, Youth Authority Camp; Chief, Division of Institutions; Treatment Team Supervisor; all classes of Transportation Officers, Youth Authority; Security Officer; all classes of Group Supervisors; all classes of Parole Agent, Youth Authority; all classes of Youth Counselor; Supervisor Community Treatment Programs; Correctional Casework Training Supervisor; Correctional Casework Trainee; all classes of Correctional Counselor, (c) the Board of Prison Terms employed to perform duties now performed in positions with the following class

titles: all classes of Parole Agent; all classes of Correctional Counselor and the Chief of Investigation, (d) the Youthful Offender Parole Board employed to perform duties now performed in

positions with the following class titles: all classes of Parole Agent, and (e) the California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority employed to perform duties now performed in positions with the following class titles: Director; Deputy Director, Administration; Deputy Director, Marketing; and Deputy Director, Workforce Development.

Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 379, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1996.

Notwithstanding Section 20401 “state safety member” shall include persons employed as members of a state college police department who meet the minimum standards of competence established by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 13500) of Title 4 of Part 4 of the Penal Code, except those members employed under class titles of Parking Officer and Campus Guard.

Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 797, Sec. 3. (AB 248) Effective January 1, 2024.

(a)“State safety member” shall also include officers and employees of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in the following classifications:
(b)In addition, “state safety member” shall also include officers and employees of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in any classification of Vocational Instructor, Industrial Supervisor, Industrial Superintendent, Assistant Industrial Superintendent, or Production Manager II (Prison Industries) that is established on or after January 1, 1984, if the Department of Human Resources and the State Personnel Board approve the inclusion of the classification.
(c)“State safety member” shall also include officers and employees in parenthetical specialty classes when the core class has already been expressly included in the state

safety membership category if the Department of Human Resources and the State Personnel Board approve the inclusion of the classifications. The inclusion shall not be effective until notice of the inclusion has been received by the board.

(d)Any of these officers or employees in employment on the operative date of an amendment to this section and who becomes a state safety member as a result of that amendment, may elect by a writing filed with the board prior to 90 days after notification by the board, to be restored to their previous status as a state industrial member. Upon the filing of the election the member shall cease to be a state safety member, and their rights and obligations shall be restored prospectively and retroactively to the operative date of that amendment.

Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 665, Sec. 115. (SB 1308) Effective January 1, 2013.

Notwithstanding Section 20405, this section shall apply to state employees in state bargaining units that have agreed to these provisions in a memorandum of understanding between the state employer and the recognized employee organization, as defined in Section 3513, state employees who are excluded from the definition of “state employee” by subdivision (c) of Section 3513, and officers or employees of the executive branch of state government who are not members of the civil service.

(a)On and after the effective date of this section, state safety members shall also include officers and employees whose classifications or positions are found to meet the state safety criteria prescribed in Section 19816.20, provided the Department of Human

Resources agrees to their inclusion, and officers and employees whose classifications or positions have been designated as subject to state safety membership pursuant to Section 19816.21. For employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the effective date of safety membership shall be the date on which the department and the employees’ exclusive representative reach agreement by memorandum of understanding pursuant to Section 3517.5 or any later date specified in the memorandum of understanding. For employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the Department of Human Resources shall determine the effective date of safety membership.

(b)The department shall notify the board as new classes or positions become eligible for state safety membership, as specified in subdivision (a), and specify how service prior to the effective date shall be credited.
(c)The

department shall prepare and submit to the Legislature an annual report that contains the classes or positions that are eligible for state safety membership under this section.

(d)Any person designated as a state safety member pursuant to this section may elect, within 90 days of notification by the board, to remain subject to the miscellaneous or industrial service retirement benefit and contribution rate by filing an irrevocable election with the board. A member who so elects shall be subject to the reduced benefit factors specified in Section 21076, 21353, or 21354.1, as applicable, only for service also included in the federal system.

Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 665, Sec. 116. (SB 1308) Effective January 1, 2013.

A member who made the election to remain under the miscellaneous or industrial retirement benefit, as provided in Section 20405.1, may elect to be subject to the state safety formula within 90 days of notification by the board. The election, which shall be provided by the board on and after January 1, 2000, shall be filed with the board. Past service that would have been credited as a safety member, but for the member’s election to remain under the miscellaneous or industrial formula, shall be credited under the safety formula. This section shall apply to state employees in state bargaining units that have agreed to this provision in a memorandum of understanding, or authorized by the Director of Human Resources for classifications of state employees that are excluded from the definition of state employee by

paragraph (c) of Section 3513.

Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 665, Sec. 117. (SB 1308) Effective January 1, 2013.

(a)A member who is an employee of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, who made the election to remain under the state industrial membership classification, as provided in subdivision (d) of Section 20405, may elect to be subject to state safety membership within 90 days of notification by the board, if the employee is in any of the following classifications:
(1)Dentist, Correctional Facility.
(2)Physician and Surgeon, Correctional Facility.
(3)Staff Psychiatrist, Correctional Facility.
(4)Podiatrist, Correctional

Facility.

(b)The election, which shall be provided by the board on and after January 1, 2002, shall be filed with the board. Past service that would have been credited as a state safety member, but for the member’s election to remain under the state industrial formula, shall be credited as safety service.
(c)This section shall apply to state employees in State Bargaining Unit 16 and, if authorized by the Director of Human Resources, state employees that are excluded from the definition of “state employee” by paragraph (c) of Section 3513.

Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 379, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1996.

“State safety member” also includes persons employed by the state to perform lifeguard services and whose principal duties consist of active protection, rescue, and rendition of aid or assistance to persons injured or imperiled at beaches and lakes, streams, dams, reservoirs, or other bodies of open water, but not including swimming pools, and including members employed to perform duties performed under the titles of “District Aquatic Supervisor,” “Lifeguard Supervisor,” and “Lifeguard” or equivalent successor classes, some of which (including the maintenance of

peace and order and the apprehension of law violators) are customarily performed by police or peace officers, and whose other duties (such as resuscitation work involving the use of special equipment in cases having no connection with their principal duties) that in other areas are customarily performed by firemen, and other and further duties that do not come directly within any of the above classifications but are essential to the safety and security of the public, other than persons employed under those titles on a seasonal basis, but excluding clerical, maintenance personnel, and others who do not fall within the scope of active lifeguarding or lifesaving services as described in this section even though those persons are subject to occasional call or are occasionally called upon to perform duties within the scope of active lifeguarding or lifesaving.

Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 440, Sec. 27. (AB 1488) Effective September 22, 2012.

“State safety member” also includes officers and employees with the State Department of State Hospitals and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in the following classifications:

“State safety member” also includes an officer or employee of the State Department of State Hospitals at Patton State Hospital or Atascadero State Hospital, the State Department of State Hospitals Psychiatric Program of California Medical Facility at Vacaville, or any other state hospital that is deemed a forensic facility, who either is excluded from the definition of state employee in subdivision (c) of Section 3513 or is a nonelected officer or employee of the executive branch of government who is not a member of the civil service. An officer or employee may be a state safety member under this paragraph only if the person has responsibility for the direct supervision of state safety personnel specified in the classifications listed in this section and if the State

Personnel Board determines that these officers and employees meet the state safety membership criteria established pursuant to Section 18717. The Department of Human Resources shall determine which classes meet the above conditions and report its findings to the Public Employees’ Retirement System, whereupon the change in membership categories shall take effect.

Any person so designated pursuant to this section may elect, within 90 days of notification by the board, to remain subject to the miscellaneous service retirement benefit and contribution rate by filing an irrevocable notice of election with the board. A member who so elects shall be subject to the reduced benefit factors specified in Section 21353 or 21354.1, as applicable, only for service also included in the federal system.

Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 440, Sec. 28. (AB 1488) Effective September 22, 2012.

(a)Notwithstanding Section 20407, any person designated as a state safety member pursuant to Section 20407 who elected to remain subject to the miscellaneous service retirement benefit and contribution rate as provided in that section may elect instead to be subject to the state safety service retirement benefit and contribution rate.
(b)This section shall apply to those officers and employees of the State Department of State Hospitals described in Section 20407 who are represented by State Bargaining Unit 18 and who became safety members effective January 1, 1998, when the Napa State Hospital and the Metropolitan State Hospital were designated as forensic facilities.
(c)This section shall also apply to any member who is excluded from the definition of state employee in subdivision (c) of Section 3513 and who is directly associated with employees represented by State Bargaining Unit 18.
(d)The election provided under this section shall be filed with the board by the member within 90 days after notification by the board that the member has the right to elect to be subject to the state safety member service retirement formula and contribution rates. If the election is not made by the member, he or she shall remain subject to the miscellaneous service retirement benefit and contribution rate.

Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 440, Sec. 29. (AB 1488) Effective September 22, 2012.

“State safety member” also includes officers and employees with the State Department of State Hospitals or the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in the following classifications:

“State safety member” also includes an officer or employee of the State Department of State Hospitals at Patton State Hospital or Atascadero State Hospital, who either is excluded from the definition of state employee in subdivision (c) of Section

3513, or is a nonelected officer or employee of the executive branch of government who is not a member of the civil service. An officer or employee may be a state safety member under this paragraph only if the person has responsibility for the supervision of state safety personnel specified in the classifications listed in this section and if the State Personnel Board determines that these officers and employees meet the state safety membership criteria established pursuant to Section 18717. The Department of Human Resources shall determine which classes meet the above conditions and report its findings to this system, whereupon the change in membership categories shall take effect.

Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 555, Sec. 11. Effective January 1, 2000.

(a)“State safety member” shall also include officers and employees of the following departments with the following class titles:
(b)Any person employed in the classifications described in subdivision (a) in the department indicated may elect, within 90 days of September 27, 1982, to remain subject to the miscellaneous service retirement benefit by filing an irrevocable notice of election with the board. A member who so elects shall be subject to the reduced benefit factors specified in Section 21353 or 21354.1, as applicable, only for service also included in the federal system.
(c)This section shall not become applicable to any member included in a classification until a ruling or regulation authorizing the inclusion of persons employed in that classification within the definition of “policeman” or “fireman,” or both, is issued by the federal agency for purposes of Section 418(d)(5)(A) of Title 42 of the United States Code.

Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 76, Sec. 95. (AB 383) Effective January 1, 2014.

“State safety member” also includes all persons in the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the Board of Parole Hearings, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Department of Developmental Services, the Department of Health Care Services, the Department of Toxic Substances Control, the California Horse Racing Board, the Department of Industrial Relations, the Department of Insurance, the State Department of State Hospitals, the Department of Motor Vehicles, and the Department of Social Services employed with the class title of Special Investigator (Class Code 8553), Senior Special Investigator (Class Code 8550), Investigator Trainee (Class Code 8555) and Investigator Assistant (Class Code 8554), Supervising Special Investigator I (Class Code 8548), Special Investigator II (Class Code 8547), and persons in the class of State Park Ranger

(Intermittent) (Class Code 0984) in the Department of Parks and Recreation, who have been designated as peace officers as defined in Sections 830.2 and 830.3 of the Penal Code.

Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 906, Sec. 48. Effective January 1, 1997.

“State safety member” also includes members employed in the positions with the classification of Vocational Instructor (Barber Shop Practices) (Correctional Facility) (Class Code 2441).

Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 906, Sec. 49. Effective January 1, 1997.

“State safety member” shall also include persons employed to perform full-time active firefighting duties performed on April 1, 1972, under the titles of “institution fire chief,” “institution fireman,” and “campus firefighter” by state agencies other than the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 906, Sec. 50. Effective January 1, 1997.

“State safety member” shall also include persons employed under the title of “campus firefighter” who performed active firefighting duties for the state on April 1, 1973, and who, on January 1, 1979, performed those duties for a local agency providing fire protection under contract to the state.

Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 906, Sec. 51. Effective January 1, 1997.

“State safety member” also includes members employed in the Department of Parks and Recreation in the following classifications: State Park Ranger Trainee, State Park Ranger I, State Park Ranger II, State Park Ranger III, State Park Ranger IV, and State Park Technician.

“State safety member” also includes members employed in the Military Department in the following classifications: Firefighter Guard, Supervising Firefighter Guard, and Chief Firefighter Guard.

“State safety

service,” with respect to a member who becomes a state safety member pursuant to this section, shall also include service with the specified departments prior to April 1, 1982.

Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 906, Sec. 52. Effective January 1, 1997.

“State safety member” also includes members employed in the Department of Parks and Recreation in the following classifications: Manager I, State Park; Manager II, State Park; Manager III, State Park; Manager IV, State Park; and Manager V, State Park. New incumbents to these classes who are not peace officers, shall receive the training required by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training within two years of appointment.

“State safety service,” with respect to a member who becomes a state safety member

pursuant to this section, shall also include service prior to September 22, 1982.

Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 379, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1996.

“State safety member” includes all persons specified in this article by employer, classification, or duties performed, except persons in those classes defined as state peace officer/firefighter members.