(a) Due to an increase in the demand for retirement counseling services, the system, notwithstanding any other provision of law, may contract with a county superintendent or other employer to provide retirement counseling. Retired public employees may be employed on a part-time basis for that purpose, unless and until the study required by subdivision (b) of Section 7 of Chapter 1532 of the Statutes of 1985 recommends against the employment of retired public employees for these purposes. This authorization is subject to the availability of funds appropriated for that purpose in the annual Budget Act. (b) The board may, by resolution, designate one or more official contracted offices that provide retirement counseling pursuant to subdivision (a) to receive documents submitted pursuant to this part, Part 13.5 (commencing with Section 25900) or Part 14 (commencing with Section 26000). Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any document received by an official contracted office designated by the board pursuant to this subdivision during the office`s regular business hours shall be deemed to have been received by the system`s headquarters office, as established pursuant to Section 22375, on the date received by the designated official contracted office.
