AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 13, 2026

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 18, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

97

Introduced by Assembly Member Zbur

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Boerner and Caloza)

February 20, 2026

An act to add Section Sections 22339 and 87483.5 to the Education Code, relating to community colleges. retirement.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: yes

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, administered by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in the state. Existing law requires the board to appoint a chief executive officer, known as the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state, under the administration of community college district governing boards, and authorizes these districts to provide instruction at the community college campuses they operate.

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 federal law requires public employers, which includes community college employers, to provide their employees with either social security coverage or membership in a qualified retirement plan. Existing law requires employers subject to STRS, including community college employers, to make available criteria for membership, including optional membership, in a timely manner to persons employed to provide creditable service subject to coverage by the Defined Benefit Program and to inform part-time and substitute employees that they may elect membership in the Defined Benefit Program at any time while employed, as specified.

This bill would require STRS and STRS, in consultation with the Public Employees’ Retirement System, on or before July 1, 2027, to develop and post provide on their internet websites certain informational materials regarding its internet website links to specified information regarding the Defined Benefit Program, the Cash Balance Benefit Program, and social security. The bill would require the informational materials that information to include, among other things, the differences between membership and contributions made to these retirement options. the Defined Benefit Program and the Cash Balance Benefit Program and covered by social security. The bill would require a community college district, commencing July 1, 2027, to provide those informational materials the information to a newly hired person who is classified as a temporary employee, as provided. The bill would require a person classified as a temporary employee, as specified, who is employed by a community college district to perform credible service to be provided with the option of membership in the Defined Benefit Program, the Cash Balance Benefit Program, if offered, or social security, as provided. To the extent that the bill would impose new duties on a community college district, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 22339 is added to the Education Code, immediately after Section 22338, to read:

SECTION 1.SEC. 2.

Section 87483.5 is added to the Education Code, to read:

87483.5.

(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:

(1) “Cash Balance Benefit Program” has the same meaning as defined in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 22100) of Part 13 of Division 1 of Title 1.

(2) “Creditable service” has the same meaning as defined, with respect to community colleges, in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 22100) of Part 13 of Division 1 of Title 1.

(3) “Defined Benefit Program” has the same meaning as defined in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 22100) of Part 13 of Division 1 of Title 1.

(4) “Social security” means the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 301 et seq.).

(b) A person classified as a temporary employee pursuant to Section 87482.5 who is employed by a community college district to perform creditable service shall be provided with the option of membership in the Defined Benefit Program aligned with Section 22509, 22515, the Cash Balance Benefit Program aligned with Section 26300, if offered, or social security.

(c) This section does not limit a community college district from offering an alternative retirement option in addition to those described in subdivision (b).

(d) Commencing July 1, 2027, a community college district shall provide the informational materials described in paragraph (1) information provided by the State Teachers’ Retirement System pursuant to Section 22339 to a newly hired person who is classified as a temporary employee pursuant to Section 87482.5.

SEC. 2.SEC. 3.

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.