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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 5Pt. 3Ch. 3Art. 2§ 20303 Retirement System Service Exclusion

§ 20303 Retirement System Service Exclusion

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

§ 20303 Retirement System Service Exclusion

Key Takeaways

  • •If you're already getting retirement benefits from another government job, you can't get benefits for the same work from this system.
  • •Getting money from a private retirement plan (like a 401(a)) doesn’t automatically block you from this system.
  • •If your employer has a special extra retirement plan, you might still qualify for this system as long as the main plan is this one.

Example

A teacher works for a public school and gets a pension from that job. Later, they take a second job with the state government.

The teacher can’t get retirement benefits from the state for the same years they’re already getting a pension from their school job. But if they have a private retirement plan from a side job, that doesn’t count against them.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 20303 Retirement System Service Exclusion

(a) Persons who are members of any other retirement or pension system supported wholly or in part by funds of the United States government, any state government, or any political subdivision thereof and who are receiving credit in the other system for service are, as to that service, excluded from this system. (b) (1) For the purpose of this section only, persons who are receiving pensions, retirement allowances, or other payments, from any source whatever, because of service rendered to an employer other than the state and while they were not in state service, are not, because of that receipt, members of any other retirement or pension system. (2) For the purposes of this section only, persons who participate in a deferred compensation plan established pursuant to Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 19993) or Chapter 8.6 (commencing with Section 19999.3) of Part 2.6 or pursuant to Article 1.1 (commencing with Section 53212) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 2 of Title 5, are not, because of that participation, members of any other retirement or pension system. (3) For the purposes of this section only, persons who participate in a money purchase pension plan and trust that meets the requirements of Section 401(a) of Title 26 of the United States Code are not, because of that participation, members of any other retirement or pension system, so long as the contracting agency has received a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service stating that the money purchase pension plan and trust qualifies under Section 401(a) and furnishes proof thereof upon request by the board. (4) For the purposes of this section only, persons who participate in a supplemental defined benefit plan maintained by their employer that meets the requirements of Section 401(a) of Title 26 of the United States Code are not, because of that participation, members of another retirement or pension system, provided that all of the following conditions exist: (A) The defined benefit plan provided under this part has been designated as the employer’s primary plan for the person. (B) The supplemental defined benefit plan has received a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service stating that the plan qualifies under Section 401(a) of Title 26 of the United States Code, and has furnished proof thereof to the employer and, upon request, to the board. (C) The person’s participation in the supplemental defined benefit plan does not, in any way, interfere with the person’s rights to membership in the defined benefit plan, or any benefit provided, under this part. (5) For purposes of this section only, a person who elects membership pursuant to Section 20326 is deemed, with respect to service with the California National Guard, not to be a member of any other retirement or pension system. (Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 355, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2008.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

retirementcontractbenefitallowanceportemployerfinepension

Related Statutes

  • § 31482.5 Public Retirement Service Credit
  • § 67 Early Retirement Pension Rules
  • § 21362.2 Safety Member Pension Calculation
  • § 21548 Surviving Spouse Retirement Benefits
  • § 31458 Beneficiary Definition

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 20303.
View Official Source