Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1476161
Sponsored bills: Benefiting retirees AB 1667 (Cooper): This bill exempts retirees from any reimbursement obligation resulting from overpayment of benefits due to erroneous information provided to CalSTRS by the school district or reporting agency. It also provides adequate notice and due process to all CalSTRS members impacted by CalSTRS audits and clarifies that any changes to CalSTRS' interpretation of creditable compensation laws must be preceded by prior notice. Additionally, AB 1667 creates a more transparent and accountable system to ensure school districts and reporting agencies receive timely and accurate information from CalSTRS, and makes other changes to minimize CalSTRS reporting errors and to pre- vent harm to retirees. This proposal will ensure CalSTRS retirees will be justly compensated for benefit reduc- tions that stem from employer and CalSTRS reporting errors, create a more transparent and accountable system to ensure school and community college districts receive timely and accurate information from CalSTRS, and reduce the likelihood of report- ing mistakes in the future. Status: Amended and re-referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee. SB 868 (Cortese): This bill uses excess funds within CalSTRS' purchasing power account to provide an equitable distribution of these funds by addressing systemic tiers between retirees. It also creates a one-time permanent adjustment applied to the total current benefit that is being paid to CalSTRS retirees and beneficiaries of retirees who retired prior to 1999, helping CalSTRS retired members most in need of assistance while not compromising the financial integrity of the purchasing power account and its ability to provide inflation protection long term. This proposal protects the purchasing power of California's oldest retired teachers while maintaining the fiscal integrity of CalSTRS. "Ensuring educators can retire with dignity and security after decades of service to our public-school students is criti- cal to attracting and retaining teachers and school staff," said CTA President E. Toby Boyd in a statement when the bill was introduced in January. Status: Referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee Suspense File . Co-sponsored bill: Benefiting probationary employees AB 2573 (McCarty): This bill requires a certificated employee of a school district or county office of education who completes two consecutive school years and is reelected to be classified as a perma- nent employee. It also provides permanent status for certificated employees teaching adult education and career technical edu- cation at a regional occupational program after a two-year probationary period, and requires a probationary employee employed in an assignment less than full time, who has served for at least 75 percent of the number of days required of the assignment, to be deemed to have served a complete school year. Additionally, AB 2573 requires a probationary employee of an adult education program to be deemed to have served a complete school year if the employee serves for at least 75 percent of the hours constitut- ing a full-time equivalent position for adult education programs in the school district. If any provisions of the bill conflict with any provision of a collective bargaining agreement entered into before Jan. 1, 2023, the provisions of the bill would not apply to the school district until the expiration or renewal of that collective bar- gaining agreement. Status: Referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee Suspense File. "Ensuring educators can retire with dignity and security after decades of service to our public-school students is critical to attracting and retaining teachers and school staff." —CTA President E. Toby Boyd on SB 868 Legislative Update By Julian Peeples Sponsored bills progress through Capitol T H E F O L L O W I N G CTA-sponsored and co-sponsored bills continue to progress through the legislative process, with the ultimate goal of reaching the governor 's desk and the business end of his pen. 33 A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2