GOV §31486.2: (a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in Section 31486.

(a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in Section 31486.3 or 31486.35, there shall be no general members’ contributions under the plan created by this article. (2) A member who transfers to the retirement plan created by this article shall have refunded, within a reasonable period of time, not to exceed nine months from the date of receipt of election to transfer by the board, the member’s accumulated contributions, together with interest thereon, which are credited to the member’s account. Interest shall be credited to the June 30 or December 31 date, whichever is later, immediately preceding the date of the refund warrant. A refund under this section shall be payable to the member. (3) A member who has five or more years of county service as defined in subdivision (g) of Section 31486.1 may elect to leave his or her contributions on deposit for service retirement benefits only. (b) (1) Except as provided in Sections 31486.3 and 31486.9 and under reciprocal provisions of this article, a member who was in public service prior to becoming a member may not elect to receive credit in this retirement plan for that public service time, and may not receive credit for that prior public service. (2) Absence from work without pay may not be considered as breaking the continuity of service.