Published: 2015-07-09
Key Benefits:
(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that this chapter is intended to satisfy the requirements prescribed by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA). Section 3121(b)(7)(F) of the Internal Revenue Code requires that state employees who are not members of the Public Employees’ Retirement System must be covered by social security, or, in the alternative, be provided benefits through a qualified pension or annuity program, effective with compensated services rendered on or after July 2, 1991. Therefore, the Legislature hereby authorizes the development of a retirement program under the State’s Deferred Compensation Plan, the Savings Plan, or any other acceptable defined contribution plan in which state employees can defer compensation at 7.5 percent of wages, as the term “wages” is defined for social security purposes.
(b) “State employees,” as used in subdivision (a), includes the employees defined in Section 19815, as well as employees of the California State University, who are not covered by social security or by the Public Employees’ Retirement System.
(c) This section shall not apply to employees of the California State University unless and until the trustees authorize their coverage in this retirement program.
(d) In the event that the retirement program authorized by this section is inconsistent with federal laws or rules or becomes unnecessary under the state or federal law, this section shall become inoperative.
(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 538, Sec. 289. Effective January 1, 2007. Conditionally inoperative as provided in subd. (d).)
The Department of Human Resources shall administer the retirement program established by this chapter. The department shall provide by rule for the regulation of the retirement program and the method by which the benefit payments would be made to eligible recipients. The department shall by rule establish the level of employee deferrals to the plan, cessation of, or transfer of membership to the Public Employees’ Retirement System upon qualification, continued participation in the plan, and other provisions necessary for the implementation of this retirement program. The department may assess each state agency a fee for the costs associated with administration of this program.
The regulations shall not be subject to the review and approval of the Office of Administrative Law, pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2. The regulations shall become effective immediately upon filing with the Secretary of State.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 665, Sec. 108. Effective January 1, 2013.)
