The following words and phrases as used in this section, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context, shall have the following meaning:
"Retirement allowance," "death allowance" or "allowance," shall mean equal monthly payments, beginning to accrue upon the date of retirement, or upon the day following the date of death, as the case may be, and continuing for life unless a different term of payment is definitely provided by the context.
"Compensation," as distinguished from benefits under the Workers' Compensation Insurance and Safety Act of the State of California, shall mean the remuneration payable in cash, by the City and County, without deduction except for absence from duty, for time during which the individual receiving such remuneration is a member of the fire department, but excluding remuneration paid for overtime.
"Compensation earnable" shall mean the compensation which would have been earned had the member received compensation without interruption throughout the period under consideration and at the rates of remuneration attached at that time to the ranks or positions held by him during such period, it being assumed that during any absence he was in the rank or position held by him at the beginning of the absence, and that prior to becoming a member of the fire department, he was in the rank or position first held by him in such department.
"Benefit" shall include "allowance," "retirement allowance," "death allowance" and "death benefit."
"Final compensation" shall mean the monthly compensation earnable by a member at the time of his retirement, or death before retirement, as the case may be, at the rate of remuneration attached at that time to the rank or position which said member held, provided that said member has held said rank or position for at least one year immediately prior to said retirement or death; and provided, further, that if said member has not held said rank or position for at least one year immediately prior to said retirement or death, "final compensation," as to such member, shall mean the monthly compensation earnable by such member in the rank or position next lower to the rank or position which he held at the time of retirement or death at the rate of remuneration attached at the time of said retirement or death to said next lower rank or position; provided, however, that in the case of a member's death before retirement as the result of a violent traumatic injury received in the performance of his duty, "final compensation," as to such member shall mean the monthly compensation earnable by such member at the rate of remuneration attached on the date he receives such injury to the rank or position held by such member on that date.
The amendment of the definition of "final compensation" contained in the proposition therefor submitted to the electorate on June 6, 1972, shall be retroactive and shall be applicable to any death allowance first effective on or after July 1, 1971. Said amendment does not and shall not increase any death allowance first in effect prior to July 1, 1971, nor shall said amendment give any person receiving a death allowance, or his successors in interest any claim against the City and County for any increase in any death allowance paid or payable for time prior to July 1, 1971.
For the purpose of the Retirement System and of this section, the terms "member of the fire department," "member of the department," or "member" shall mean any officer or employee of the fire department, excluding such officers and employees as are members of the Retirement System under Section 8.565 of the Charter, who was or shall be subject to the Charter provisions governing entrance requirements of members of the uniformed force of said department, and said terms further shall mean, from the effective date of their employment in said department, persons employed on July 1, 1949, or employed thereafter, regardless of age, to perform the duties performed under the titles of pilot of fireboats or marine engineer of fireboats, or employed after July 1, 1949, at an age not greater than the maximum age then prescribed for entrance into employment in said uniformed force, to perform the duties now performed by members of the salvage corps in the fire department, or duties now performed under the title of hydrant-gateman. Any fire service performed by such member of the fire department outside the limits of the City and County and under orders of a superior officer of any such member, shall be considered as City and County service, and any disability or death incurred therein shall be covered under the provisions of the Retirement System.
"Retirement system" or "system" shall mean San Francisco City and County Employees' Retirement System as created in Section 8.500 of the Charter.
"Retirement board" shall mean "retirement board" as created in Section 3.670 of the Charter.
"Charter" shall mean the Charter of the City and County of San Francisco.
Words used in the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders, and singular numbers shall include the plural and the plural the singular.
"Interest" shall mean interest at the rate adopted by the retirement board.