For the purposes of this section, "person" means any person who is the recipient of a disability retirement benefit.

1. Rehabilitation plan. If the executive director makes the determinations necessary to provide rehabilitation services under this section and rehabilitation is feasible and recommended agreed to by the parties, the retirement system shall designate a rehabilitation provider to evaluate the person and develop a rehabilitation plan.

2. Costs. The executive director may contract with rehabilitation providers to develop and carry out approved rehabilitation plans.

A. Except as provided in paragraph B, the executive director shall pay these providers from funds accumulated in the Disability Retirement Benefit Fund Retirement Allowance Fund, established under section 17251.

B. If the person is entitled to other benefits to meet the cost of rehabilitation services, that person must first apply for and use those benefits to the extent available to pay for the goods and services provided.

3. Approval of rehabilitation plan. The executive director and the person shall approve any rehabilitation plan the executive director finds to be in the person's best interest and consistent with the purposes of this article. The person and the executive director shall developed under subsection 1 and shall indicate in writing their approval of and agreement to the submitted rehabilitation plan. The person shall approve the plan within 30 days or, within that time period, submit to the executive director the name of an alternate provider for the executive director's consideration. If the rehabilitation plan includes return to employment with the employer for whom the person worked before becoming disabled, the employer shall also indicate in writing approval of the plan.