BILL ANALYSIS
AB 429
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 429 (Correa)
As Amended August 25, 2000
Majority vote
ASSEMBLY: (June 1, 1999) SENATE: 31-6 (August 31, 2000)
(vote not relevant)
Original Committee Reference: P.E.,R. & S.S.
SUMMARY : Provides an ad hoc increase to retired members of the
State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) of between 1% and 6%
depending on the date the member retired.
The Senate amendments delete the Assembly version of this bill,
and instead:
1)Provide that the monthly allowance amounts of retired members
and nonmember spouses, disabled members, and beneficiaries
will be increased, as specified. The increase will be between
1% and 6% depending on the date of retirement with members who
retired during 1997 receiving a 1% increase, and incrementally
increasing up to 6% for members who retired in 1974 and
before.
2)Specify that the increase will be added to the base salary
with is subject to the annual 2% cost-of-living adjustment and
quarterly purchasing power protection payments.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill authorized the Teachers'
Retirement Board to allocate excess investment earnings to
provide ad hoc benefits to active and retired members of the
CalSTRS defined benefit program, after setting aside funds to
provide for the maintenance of a reasonable reserve.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to CalSTRS, the total present value
cost is $889 million which will be paid for by surplus funds in
the retirement system. CalSTRS will also incur administrative
costs associated with computer system modifications and other
procedural changes.
COMMENTS : SB 400 (Ortiz), Chapter 555, Statutes of 1999,
provided an identical ad hoc retirement benefit increase to
state and school members of the Public Employees Retirement
AB 429
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System.
Supporters state that CalSTRS research concluded that the
pre-1999 retirement program did not provide an adequate
retirement allowance and, therefore, the allowances of current
retirees are inadequate. The ad hoc increase provided by AB 429
would help to improve the adequacy of those allowances.
Analysis Prepared by : Karon Green / P.E., R. & S.S. /
(916)319-3957
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