AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 23, 2026
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
97
Introduced by Assembly Member Valencia
(Coauthor: Assembly Member Chen)
January 21, 2026
An act to amend Section 22223 of the Education Code, and to amend Sections 20091, 31521, and 31521.1 of the Government Code, relating to public employees’ retirement.
Vote: majority Appropriation: no Fiscal committee: yes Local program: no
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST
(1) Existing law, the Teachers’ Retirement Law, establishes the State Teachers’ Retirement System (STRS) and creates the Defined Benefit Program of the State Teachers’ Retirement Plan, which provides a defined benefit to members of the program, based on final compensation, credited service, and age at retirement, subject to certain variations. STRS is administered by the Teachers’ Retirement Board. Existing law also creates the Cash Balance Benefit Program, which is administered by the board, to provide a retirement plan for the benefit of participating employees who provide creditable service for less than 50% of full time. Existing law requires certain board members to receive $100 for attendance at board and committee meetings.
This bill would increase that rate to $320.
(2) Existing law, the Public Employees’ Retirement Law (PERL), creates the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) for the purpose of providing pension benefits to state employees and employees of contracting agencies and prescribes the rights and duties of members of the system and their beneficiaries. Existing law vests management and control of PERS in its board of administration. Existing law authorizes certain board members to receive $100 for attendance at a meeting of the board or committee thereof, as prescribed.
This bill would increase that rate to $320.
(3) Existing law, the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937, authorizes counties to establish retirement systems pursuant to its provisions in order to provide pension benefits to county, city, and district employees and their beneficiaries. Existing law sets forth the membership composition for boards of retirement and boards of investment, as specified. Existing law authorizes the board of supervisors for counties for which these provisions apply to provide that certain members of these boards shall receive compensation at a rate of not more than $100 for a meeting or for a meeting of a committee authorized by the entire board.
This bill would authorize the above-described compensation rate to be increased by the board of retirement to not more than $320 per meeting, and would provide that this provision would not be operative in any county until it is publicly noticed and adopted by a majority vote of the board of supervisors, as specified.
Existing law, applicable to Los Angeles County, authorizes the board of supervisors to provide compensation to certain members of the board of retirement and board of investments at a rate of not more than $100 for a board or committee meeting, subject to certain limits.
This bill would authorize the above-described compensation rate to be increased by the board of retirement or board of investments to a rate of not more than $320 per meeting. The bill would prohibit this provision from becoming operative until it is publicly noticed and adopted by a majority vote of the board of supervisors, as specified.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 22223 of the Education Code is amended to read:
22223.
The members of the board who are not active members of the Defined Benefit Program or active participants of the Cash Balance Benefit Program and who are appointed by the Governor pursuant to Section 22200 shall receive three hundred twenty dollars ($320) for every day of actual attendance at meetings of the board or any meeting of any committee of the board of which the person is a member, and that is conducted for the purpose of carrying out the powers and duties of the board, together with their necessary traveling expenses incurred in connection with performance of their official duties.
SEC. 2.
Section 20091 of the Government Code is amended to read:
20091.
The members of the board appointed by the Governor pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 20090, the public member appointed jointly by the Senate Committee on Rules and the Speaker of the Assembly pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 20090, and any retired person serving on the board pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 20090 shall receive three hundred twenty dollars ($320) for every day or portion thereof of actual attendance at meetings of the board or any meeting of any committee of the board of which committee the person is a member and which meeting is conducted for the purpose of carrying out the powers and duties of the board, together with their necessary traveling expenses incurred in connection with performance of their official duties.
SEC. 3.
Section 31521 of the Government Code is amended to read:
31521.
(a) The board of supervisors may provide that the fourth and fifth members, and in counties having a board consisting of nine members or nine members and an alternate retired member, the fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth, ninth, and alternate retired members, and in counties having a board of investments under Section 31520.2, the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth members of the board of investments, shall receive compensation at a rate of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) for a meeting, or for a meeting of a committee authorized by the board, for not more than five meetings per month, together with actual and necessary expenses for all members of the board.
(b) The compensation rate established by the board of supervisors pursuant to subdivision (a) may be increased by the board of retirement to a rate of not more than three hundred twenty dollars ($320). This subdivision shall not be operative in any county until it is publicly noticed and adopted by a majority vote of the board of supervisors, and shall not be adopted by a consent calendar.SEC. 4.
Section 31521.1 of the Government Code is amended to read:
31521.1.
(a) The board of supervisors may provide that in counties having a board consisting of nine members and an alternate retired member, the fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth, ninth, and alternate retired members, and in counties having a board of investments under Section 31520.2, the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth members of the board of investments, shall receive compensation at a rate of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) for a meeting, or for a meeting of a committee authorized by the board, for not more than five meetings per month, together with actual and necessary expenses for all members of the board.
(b) The compensation rate established by the board of supervisors pursuant to subdivision (a) may be increased by the board of retirement or board of investments to a rate of not more than three hundred twenty dollars ($320). This subdivision shall not become operative until it is publicly noticed and adopted by a majority vote of the board of supervisors, and shall not be adopted by a consent calendar.
(c) This section shall apply only in a county of the first class, as defined by Section 28020, as amended by Chapter 1204 of the Statutes of 1971, and Section 28022, as amended by Chapter 43 of the Statutes of 1961.