This article was originally published in June 2014.  The information has been reviewed and is up-to-date as of August 2021.

It is a common phrase that most in the public sector have heard of – a “PERS audit.”  However, despite having heard of CalPERS (“PERS”) audits occurring, many have not experienced an audit firsthand and

January 1, 2018, is just around the corner, and as of that date PERS contracting agencies, as well as employers in ‘37 Act county retirement systems, will for the first time have the legal ability to impose increases to the member contribution rate of their classic employees.

The Public Employee Pension Reform Act of 2013

Retirement-Sign.jpgWe’ve all heard the saying, “If it’s not written down, it didn’t happen.”  In the context of retirement benefits for PERS members, the saying is slightly modified: “If an employee’s salary isn’t set forth on a properly adopted salary schedule, that individual’s retirement benefits may not pay out as expected.”  While a mouthful, the message

Retirement Sign.jpgWhat Is An Impairment Of A Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”)?

The Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act  (“PEPRA”) prohibits employers from paying any portion of a “new member’s” member contribution rate.  New member contribution is 50% of total normal cost.  CalPERS recently released new actuarial reports to employers reflecting what the member contribution rate will be

Breaking News.jpgPension reform might still have a fighting chance.  As we mentioned in yesterday’s Special Bulletin, Governor Brown announced that he had reached an agreement with Legislative Democrats to move forward on pension reform with the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (”CPEPRA”).  

At the eleventh hour, the joint Conference Committee on

CA Seal.jpgDoes your public agency contract with, or a member of, CalPERS, STRS, or a ’37 Act system?  Have you exhausted all possible ways under those systems to reduce pension costs such as reducing benefits for new hires, eliminating or reducing employer paid member contributions, or reducing special compensation?  Do you want to achieve

Social Security.jpgThis guest post was authored by Oliver Yee

In today’s challenging economic environment, public agency employers are looking to employ retirees for overflow work, special projects and other extra help assignments.  There are, however, important implications that agencies should be aware of when hiring retirees, particularly retirees who are members of the California Public Employees&rsquo

Retiree_Working.jpgIn an effort to keep public employers and retirees confused, the Legislature made more changes to the limitations of post-retirement employment for retirees of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (“PERS”).  This is the second change to go into effect in less than six months.  Senate Bill 1021, passed by the Legislature on June

Retirement Sign.jpgThe vested nature of public employee retirement benefits is a hot topic. On the one hand, there are municipalities dealing with increasing pension costs and unfunded liabilities. On the other hand, there are often times a vested right to future pension benefits for employees and retirees cannot be impaired except under very limited circumstances.  Most