(

a) The retirement plan created by this

article shall be known as Retirement Plan 3. (

b) This

article shall be applicable in the retirement system of any county of the 25th class as described by

Section 28046, if the board of supervisors executes a memorandum of understanding with employee representatives and adopts, by majority vote, a resolution providing that the

article shall be applicable. (

c) The purpose of this

article is to provide an optional, noncontributory retirement plan for general members as an alternative to the provisions and benefits otherwise contained in this chapter. (

d) The retirement benefits of (1) all general members employed after the date this

article is made operative and who elect the plan created by this

article and (2) existing general members who transfer to the plan herein created, shall be governed by this article. (

e) In the event of a conflict, this

article shall supersede and prevail over other provisions or application of provisions otherwise contained in this chapter. (

f) Except as otherwise provided below, the provisions contained in this

chapter shall apply:

(1) Article 9 (commencing with

Section 31700) of this

chapter shall not be applicable.

(2) Article 10 (commencing with

Section 31720) of this

chapter shall not be applicable.

(3) Article 11 (commencing with

Section 31760) of this

chapter shall not be applicable.

(4) Article 12 (commencing with

Section 31780) of this

chapter shall not be applicable.

(5) Article 16.5 (commencing with

Section 31870) of this

chapter shall not be applicable. (

g) Article 15 (commencing with

Section 31830) shall only be applicable for service retirement. Those provisions of

Article dealing with disability retirement, death benefits, and the requirement relating to the deposit of accumulated member contributions shall not be applicable. (

h) Except as otherwise provided, any member who upon retirement receives a retirement pension calculated in accordance with sections or provisions added to this

article subsequent to the effective date of this

article shall have his or her pension calculated under each such

section or provision only for the period of time that those sections or provisions were in effect, unless otherwise mutually agreed between the employer and its employee representatives. (

i) Unless specifically otherwise provided therein, no amendment to this

article enacted subsequent to the effective date of this

article shall apply to any county or to the employees of any county unless and until mutually agreed to by the employer and employee representatives and adopted by majority resolution of the board of supervisors.