Section 31590.2 - [Effective 1/1/2025] Authorization; method of payment of benefits(a)(1) This section applies only to a retirement system in a county of the first class, as described in Sections 28020 and 28022.(2) All warrants, checks, and electronic fund transfers drawn on the retirement fund shall be signed or authorized by at least two board officers or employees, designated by the board or by the treasurer if designated by the board. If the treasurer is designated by the board, the board shall also designate the auditor to sign or authorize warrants, checks, and electronic fund transfers. The authorization may be by blanket authorization of all warrants, checks, or electronic fund transfers appearing on a list or register, or may be by a standing order to draw warrants, checks, or electronic fund transfers, which shall be good until revoked. If the treasurer and auditor are designated by the board, a warrant, check, or electronic fund transfer is not valid until it is signed or authorized, numbered, and recorded by the county auditor, except as provided in subdivision (c).(b) Any person entitled to the receipt of benefits may authorize the payment of the benefits to be deposited as follows: (1) Directly deposited by electronic fund transfer into the person's account at the financial institution of the person's choice under a program for direct deposit by electronic transfer established by the board or treasurer if authorized by the board. The direct deposit shall discharge the system's obligation in respect to that payment.(2) Deposited into a prepaid account under a program for deposit into a prepaid account that is established by the board or by the treasurer if authorized by the board. That deposit shall discharge the system's obligation in respect to that payment. For purposes of this paragraph, a prepaid account shall have the same meaning as in Section 1339.1 of the Unemployment Insurance Code and shall meet the applicable requirements of that section to qualify under this paragraph.(c) The board may, or, if authorized by the board, the treasurer shall, authorize a trust company or trust department of any state or national bank authorized to conduct the business of a trust company in this state or the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco or any branch thereof within this state, to process and issue payments by check or electronic fund transfer.(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed.Added by Stats 2024 ch 108 (AB 2474),s 3, eff. 1/1/2025.