2008 Legislation

Assembly Bill

AB 498 (Hernandez) – State Contract Eligibility: Sudan

Prohibits a scrutinized company, as defined, that is involved in specified activities in Sudan, from entering into a contract with a state agency for goods and services. Stipulates that a state agency must require a company that submits a bid to self-certify that it is not a scrutinized company. Permits termination of a contract for false certification and requires the Attorney General to determine whether to bring civil actions to recover costs.

Assembly Bill

AB 591 (Dymally) – Community College Part-Time Employees

Allows the California Community Colleges to hire temporary part-time employees to teach up to 67 percent, rather than 60 percent, of the hours per week that constitute a regular, full-time assignment.

  • Version: Chaptered (Chapter 84, Statutes of 2008)
  • Sponsor: California Part-Time Faculty Association
  • Location: Signed by Governor
  • Board Position: Support
Assembly Bill

AB 1389 (Budget) – Omnibus State Government Trailer Bill

Increases the upper limit on the purchasing power benefit from 80 percent to 85 percent and gives the Teachers’ Retirement Board authority to adjust the benefit between 80 and 85 percent based on long-term actuarial projections. Reduces state General Fund payments into the Supplemental Benefit Maintenance Account by $66 million in 2008-09, $70 million in 2009-10, $71 million in 2010-11 and $72 million in 2011-12 and thereafter.

Assembly Bill

AB 1844 (Hernandez) – Benefit Fraud (Public Employee Benefits)

Makes it a crime for a person to make false material statements in connection with applying for and receiving public pension benefits. Requires public agencies to report to the State Contoller about the post-employment benefits they provide other than pensions (known as OPEBs), and requires the Controller to develop cost-efficient procedures to collect and report this information.

Assembly Bill

AB 1967 (Torrico) – Private Equity Investment Act

Prohibits CalSTRS and CalPERS from investing in a private equity company that is owned by a sovereign wealth fund, or in a fund managed directly or indirectly by a private equity company that is owned by a sovereign fund, if the country(ies) associated with that sovereign wealth fund does not meet specified human rights criteria.

  • Version: Introduced 2/14/2008
  • Sponsor: SEIU
  • Location: Assembly PER&SS Committee
  • Board Position: Oppose

CalSTRS Analysis:

Introduced 02/14/2008

Assembly Bill

AB 2390 (Karnette) – Post-Retirement Earnings Limit Exemptions

Extends the sunset date on the post-retirement earnings limit until June 30, 2010, extends certain exemptions to members who retired for service on or before January 1, 2007, and permits members retired between 6/1/07 and 12/31/07 to purchase foreign service credit.

  • Version: Chaptered (Chapter 494, Statutes of 2008)
  • Sponsor: CalSTRS
  • Location: Signed by Governor
  • Board Position: Sponsor

CalSTRS Analysis:

Introduced 02/21/2008

Amended 06/19/2008

Assembly Bill

ABX3 8 (Budget) – 2007 State Budget Act

Identical to SBX3 6, this bill enacts legislation necessary to implement changes to the 2007-08 Budget and implement policy changes affecting the 2008-09 Budget. Specifies the 2008-09 SBMA General Fund transfer shall be made on November 1st.

  • Version: Chaptered (Chapter 6, Statutes of the Third Extraordinary Session of 2008)
  • Sponsor: Governor
  • Location: Signed by Governor
  • Board Position: N/A
Assembly Bill

SB 242 (Torlakson) – Claims Against the State

Appropriates funds to pay for litigation costs incurred by CalSTRS and expresses the Legislature’s intent to appropriate funds in future fiscal years to pay the interest due to CalSTRS from underfunding the appropriation to the Supplemental Benefits Maintenance Account.

  • Version: Chaptered (Chapter 59, Statues of 2008)
  • Sponsor: Department of Justice
  • Location: Signed by Governor
  • Board Position: N/A
Senate Bill

SB 1488 (Calderon) – Substitute Teacher Exemption

Provides that a member shall not forfeit the 2 years of additional service credit received as an early retirement incentive if the member is reemployed within 5 years after retirement as a substitute teacher by the school district from which they retired with the retirement incentive.

  • Version: Introduced 2/21/08
  • Sponsor: Author
  • Location: Senate
  • Board Position: Oppose Unless Amended

CalSTRS Analysis:

Introduced 2/21/2008

Senate Bill

SBX3 6 (B&FR) – 2007 State Budget Act

Identical to ABX3 8, this bill enacts legislation necessary to implement changes to the 2007-08 Budget and implement policy changes affecting the 2008-09 Budget. Specifies the 2008-09 General Fund transfer to the Supplemental Benefits Maintenance Account shall be made on November 1st.

  • Version:Amended 2/13/08
  • Sponsor: Governor
  • Location: Senate 
  • Board Position: N/A