Bill Text: CA AB979 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Corporations: boards of directors: underrepresented communities.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-08-29 - Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 26. Noes 8. Page 4432.). [AB979 Detail]

Download: California-2019-AB979-Amended.html

Amended  IN  Assembly  January 06, 2020

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 979


Introduced by Assembly Member Reyes

February 21, 2019


An act to amend Sections 7522.30, 22760, 22814, 75506.7, 75521, 75522, 75523, 75553, 75570, 75571.5, 75590, 75601, and 75602 of, and to add Sections 75522.5 and 75591.5 to, the Government Code, relating to judges’ retirement, and making an appropriation therefor. An act to add Section 22228 to the Education Code, and to add Section 20136 to the Government Code, relating to public retirement systems.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 979, as amended, Reyes. Judges’ Retirement System II: deferred retirement. Asset management: emerging managers.
The California Constitution grants the retirement board of a public employee retirement system plenary authority and fiduciary responsibility for investment of moneys and administration of the retirement fund and system.
The Public Employees’ Retirement Law creates the Public Employees’ Retirement Fund for the benefit of the members and retired members of this retirement system and their survivors and beneficiaries. The Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) has the exclusive control of the administration and investment of the retirement fund.
The Teachers’ Retirement Law establishes the State Teachers’ Retirement System (STRS) for the benefit of teachers and other persons employed in connection with the schools of this state. STRS is administered by the Teachers’ Retirement Board.
This bill would require the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System and the Teachers’ Retirement Board to each provide a report to the Legislature, commencing March 1, 2021, and annually thereafter, on the status of achieving appropriate objectives and initiatives, to be defined by the boards, regarding participation of emerging managers responsible for asset management within each system’s portfolio of investments. The bill would require that the report be based on contracts that the system enters into on and after January 1, 2020, and be based on information from the prior fiscal year. The bill would require each report to include certain elements and would require the boards to define emerging manager for purposes of these provisions.

(1)Existing law establishes the Judges’ Retirement System II, which the Board of Retirement of the Public Employees’ Retirement System administers. Existing law authorizes a judge who is a member of the system and who retires upon attaining both 65 years of age and 20 or more years of service, or upon attaining 70 years of age with a minimum of 5 years of service, to elect from specified retirement benefits including a monthly pension. Existing law requires a judge who leaves judicial office after accruing 5 or more years of service, but who has not reached the applicable age of retirement, to be paid a lump sum equal to monetary credits that accrued while in office, as specified. Existing law authorizes a judge who, among other things, separates from office after accruing 5 or more years of service and has not reached 65 years of age to continue health care benefits if the judge assumes certain payments. Existing law specifies benefits provided to a surviving spouse or other beneficiary in relation to these provisions.

This bill would authorize a judge who is a member of the system to retire upon attaining both 63 years of age and 15 or more years of service, or when a judge who has accrued at least 5 years of service and who has not received specified discipline is defeated for reelection. The bill would authorize a judge who is not otherwise eligible to retire and who has either attained 60 years of age with a minimum of 5 years of service or accrued 15 or more years of service to leave the judge’s monetary credits on deposit with the system, to retire, and upon reaching retirement age, as specified, to receive a retirement allowance, as provided. The bill would prescribe procedures to apply if the judge fails to elect within 30 days of separation and would authorize the board to charge an administrative fee, as specified, to a judge who elects to apply these provisions. The bill would specify the monthly allowance provided to a surviving spouse or other beneficiary and would make other conforming changes in relation to these provisions.

(2)Existing law establishes the Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act (PEMHCA) for the purpose of providing health care benefits to employees and annuitants, as defined. PEMHCA defines an annuitant for purposes of receiving postretirement health benefits as including, among others, a person who retires within 120 days of separation from public employment and a judge who receives the above-described lump sum payment of monetary credits. Contributions and premiums paid under PEMHCA are deposited in the Public Employees’ Contingency Reserve Fund, which is continuously appropriated.

This bill would authorize a judge who elects to retire as described above, but is not yet receiving a retirement allowance, to continue health care benefits upon separation from office if the judge assumes specified payments. The bill would include these judges within the definition of annuitant upon commencement of the judge’s retirement allowance, thereby authorizing the judge to receive applicable postretirement health benefits. By authorizing the use of continuously appropriated funds for a new purpose, and by depositing additional amounts into a continuously appropriated fund, this bill would make an appropriation.

(3)Existing law, the California Public Employees Pension Reform Act of 2013, requires, among other things, specified public employees to contribute at least 50% of the annual actuarially determined normal cost for the plan of retirement benefits provided to the member, as provided.

This bill would require a judge who is a member of the Judges’ Retirement System II to contribute an unspecified percent of the judge’s monthly salary to the judge’s retirement, as provided.

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: YESNO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 22228 is added to the Education Code, to read:

22228.
 (a) Commencing March 1, 2021, and annually thereafter, the board shall submit a report to the Legislature on the status of achieving appropriate objectives and initiatives, as defined by the board, regarding participation of emerging managers responsible for asset management within its portfolio of investments. The report shall be based on contracts that the system enters into on and after January 1, 2020.
(b) The report shall also identify and include all of the following:
(1) The name of each emerging manager providing investment portfolio or asset management services at the end of the prior fiscal year, including, but not limited to, fund of funds contracts, for all asset classes, as applicable.
(2) The amount managed by each emerging manager by asset class at the end of the prior fiscal year.
(c) The board shall define the term “emerging manager” for purposes of this section.
(d) The report required by this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(e) Nothing in this section shall require the board to take action unless the board determines in good faith that the action described in this section is consistent with the fiduciary responsibilities of the board as described in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.
(f) This section shall not require the board to disclose information that is excepted from disclosure under Section 6254.26 of the Government Code.

SEC. 2.

 Section 20136 is added to the Government Code, to read:

20136.
 (a) Commencing March 1, 2021, and annually thereafter, the board shall submit a report to the Legislature on the status of achieving appropriate objectives and initiatives, as defined by the board, regarding participation of emerging managers responsible for asset management within its portfolio of investments. The report shall apply to contracts the system enters into on and after January 1, 2020.
(b) The report shall also identify and include all of the following:
(1) The name of each emerging manager providing investment portfolio or asset management services at the end of the prior fiscal year, including, but not limited to, fund of fund contracts, for all asset classes, as applicable.
(2) The amount managed by each emerging manager by asset class at the end of the prior fiscal year.
(c) The board shall define the term “emerging manager” for purposes of this section.
(d) The report required by this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.
(e) Nothing in this section shall require the board to take action unless the board determines in good faith that the action described in this section is consistent with the fiduciary responsibilities of the board as described in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution.
(f) This section shall not require the board to disclose information that is excepted from disclosure under Section 6254.26.

SECTION 1.Section 7522.30 of the Government Code is amended to read:
7522.30.

(a)This section shall apply to all public employers and to all new members. Equal sharing of normal costs between public employers and public employees shall be the standard. The standard shall be that employees pay at least 50 percent of normal costs and that employers not pay any of the required employee contribution.

(b)The “normal cost rate” shall mean the annual actuarially determined normal cost for the plan of retirement benefits provided to the new member and shall be established based on the actuarial assumptions used to determine the liabilities and costs as part of the annual actuarial valuation. The plan of retirement benefits shall include any elements that would impact the actuarial determination of the normal cost, including, but not limited to, the retirement formula, eligibility and vesting criteria, ancillary benefit provisions, and any automatic cost-of-living adjustments as determined by the public retirement system.

(c)New members employed by those public employers defined in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (i) of Section 7522.04, the Legislature, the California State University, and the judicial branch who participate in a defined benefit plan shall have an initial contribution rate of at least 50 percent of the normal cost rate for that defined benefit plan, rounded to the nearest quarter of 1 percent, unless a greater contribution rate has been agreed to pursuant to the requirements in subdivision (e). This contribution shall not be paid by the employer on the employee’s behalf.

(d)Notwithstanding subdivision (c), once established, the employee contribution rate described in subdivision (c) shall not be adjusted on account of a change to the normal cost rate unless the normal cost rate increases or decreases by more than 1 percent of payroll above or below the normal cost rate in effect at the time the employee contribution rate is first established or, if later, the normal cost rate in effect at the time of the last adjustment to the employee contribution rate under this section.

(e)Notwithstanding subdivision (c), employee contributions may be more than one-half of the normal cost rate if the increase has been agreed to through the collective bargaining process, subject to the following conditions:

(1)The employer shall not contribute at a greater rate to the plan for nonrepresented, managerial, or supervisory employees than the employer contributes for other public employees, including represented employees, of the same employer who are in related retirement membership classifications.

(2)The employer shall not increase an employee contribution rate in the absence of a memorandum of understanding that has been collectively bargained in accordance with applicable laws.

(3)The employer shall not use impasse procedures to increase an employee contribution rate above the rate required by this section.

(f)If the terms of a contract, including a memorandum of understanding, between a public employer and its public employees, that is in effect on January 1, 2013, would be impaired by any provision of this section, that provision shall not apply to the public employer and public employees subject to that contract until the expiration of that contract. A renewal, amendment, or any other extension of that contract shall be subject to the requirements of this section.

(g)Subdivisions (a) and (c) shall not apply to a judge, as defined in Section 75502.

SEC. 2.Section 22760 of the Government Code is amended to read:
22760.

“Annuitant” means:

(a)A person, other than a National Guard member defined in Section 20380.5, who has retired within 120 days of separation from employment and who receives a retirement allowance under any state or University of California retirement system to which the state was a contributing party.

(b)A surviving family member receiving an allowance in place of an annuitant who has retired as provided in subdivision (a), or as the survivor of a deceased employee under Section 21541, 21546, 21547, or 21547.7, or similar provisions of any other state retirement system.

(c)A person who has retired within 120 days of separation from employment with a contracting agency as defined in Section 22768 or, if applicable, consistent with the provisions of subdivision (b) of Section 22893, and who receives a retirement allowance from the retirement system provided by that employer, or a surviving family member who receives the retirement allowance in place of the deceased.

(d)A judge who receives the benefits provided by subdivision (e) of Section 75522, or who retires pursuant to Section 75522.5 and is receiving a retirement allowance pursuant to that section.

(e)A person who was a state member for 30 years or more and who, at the time of retirement, was a local member employed by a contracting agency.

(f)A Member of the Legislature or an elective officer of the state whose office is provided by the California Constitution, who has at least eight years of credited service, and who meets the following conditions:

(1)Permanently separates from state service on or after January 1, 1988, and not more than 10 years before or 10 years after the minimum age for service retirement, or is an inactive member of the Legislators’ Retirement System pursuant to Section 9355.2.

(2)Receives a retirement allowance under a state retirement system supported in whole or in part by state funds other than the University of California Retirement System.

(g)An exempt employee who meets all of the following conditions:

(1)Has at least 10 years of credited state service that includes at least 2 years of credited service while an exempt employee.

(2)Permanently separates from state service on or after January 1, 1988, and not more than 10 years before or 10 years after the minimum age for service retirement.

(3)Receives a retirement allowance under a state retirement system supported in whole or in part by state funds other than the University of California Retirement System.

(h)A person receiving a survivor allowance pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 21570) of Chapter 14 of Part 3 provided that the person was eligible to enroll in a health benefit plan on the date of the member’s death, on whose account the survivor allowance is payable.

(i)(1)A family member of a deceased retired member of the State Teachers’ Retirement Plan, if the deceased member meets the following conditions:

(A)Retired within 120 days of separation from employment.

(B)Retired before the member’s school employer elected to contract for health benefit coverage under this part.

(C)Prior to the judge’s death, received a retirement allowance that did not provide for a survivor allowance to family members.

(2)The family member shall elect coverage as an annuitant within one calendar year from the date that the deceased member’s school employer elected to contract for health benefit coverage under this part.

(j)A person who reinstates benefits pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 7522.57.

SEC. 3.Section 22814 of the Government Code is amended to read:
22814.

(a)A judge who retires pursuant to Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 75000) of Title 8, but is not yet receiving a pension, may continue coverage and the coverage of any family members for the duration of the leave of absence, upon the judge’s application and upon assuming payment of the contributions otherwise required of the employer.

(b)(1)A judge who leaves judicial office pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 75521 and who has not attained 65 years of age may continue coverage and the coverage of any family members upon assuming payment of the contributions otherwise required of the employer. The judge shall also pay an additional 2 percent of the premium amount to cover administrative expenses incurred by the system or the Department of Human Resources.

(2)An election to continue coverage under this subdivision shall be made within 60 days of permanent separation. A retired judge who cancels that coverage may not reenroll.

(3)Upon attaining 65 years of age, a retired judge who has continuous and uninterrupted coverage pursuant to this subdivision shall be entitled to the applicable employer contribution.

(c)(1)A judge who retires pursuant to Section 75522.5, but is not yet receiving a retirement allowance, may continue coverage and the coverage of any family members upon assuming payment of all contributions, including those otherwise required of the employer. The judge shall also pay an additional 2 percent of the premium amount to cover administrative expenses incurred by the system or the Department of Human Resources.

(2)Upon commencement of the judge’s retirement allowance, the judge shall become an annuitant, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 22760, and thereupon the judge may continue current health plan enrollment, enroll in a health benefit plan within 60 days of the commencement of the judge’s retirement allowance, or enroll during any future open enrollment period, without discrimination as to premium rates or benefit coverage.

SEC. 4.Section 75506.7 of the Government Code is amended to read:
75506.7.

(a)A judge may receive service credit for the purposes of retirement under Section 75522, 75522.5, or 75560, or for purposes of calculating survivor benefits under Section 75590, for the time during which the judge was absent from the position as a judge by reason of service with the uniformed services, if the judge returns to judicial office within six months of separation from an eligible period of service in the uniformed services, as prescribed in Chapter 43 (commencing with Section 4301) of Title 38 of the United States Code, and the judge elects and satisfies the requirements of subdivision (b).

(b)In order to receive service credit under subdivision (a) a judge shall contribute an amount equal to the member contributions that would have been made by the judge during the absence as required under Sections 75061 and 75602. The judge’s contributions shall be made prior to the judge’s retirement and shall be effective only if accompanied by a lump-sum payment of the contributions due for the period during which the judge was absent due to service with the uniformed services. The judge’s payment of contributions shall not exceed the amount the judge would have been required to contribute had the judge not served in the uniformed services and remained in judicial office continuously throughout the eligible period of service in the uniformed services.

(c)Upon satisfaction of the requirements of subdivisions (a) and (b), the judge shall be credited with the service that would have accrued had the judge remained continuously employed and not undertaken service in the uniformed services.

(d)Upon satisfaction of the requirements of subdivisions (a) and (b), the judge shall receive the monetary credits that would have accrued under Section 75520 if the member had not served in the uniformed services and had remained in judicial office continuously.

(e)The system shall comply with Chapter 43 (commencing with Section 4301) of Title 38 of the United States Code, as that chapter may be amended from time to time.

(f)For the purposes of this section:

(1)“Uniformed services” means the Armed Forces, the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard when engaged in active duty for training, inactive duty training, or full-time National Guard duty, the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, and any other category of persons designated by the President in time of war or national emergency.

(2)“Service in the uniformed services” means the performance of duty on a voluntary or involuntary basis in a uniformed service under competent authority and includes: active duty, active duty for training, initial active duty for training, inactive duty training, full-time National Guard, or a period for which a person is absent from a position of employment for the purpose of an examination to determine the fitness of the employment for the purpose of performing funeral honors duty as provided in Section 12503 of Title 10 or Section 115 of Title 32 of the United States Code.

SEC. 5.Section 75521 of the Government Code is amended to read:
75521.

(a)A judge who leaves judicial office before accruing at least five years of service shall be paid the amount of the judge’s contributions to the system, and no other amount.

(b)(1)Except as provided in paragraph (2), a judge who leaves judicial office after accruing five or more years of service and who is not eligible to elect to retire under Section 75522 shall be paid the amount of the judge’s monetary credits determined pursuant to Section 75520, including the credits added under subdivision (b) of that section computed to the last day of the month preceding the date of distribution, and no other amount.

(2)A judge who meets the requirements of Section 75522.5 and who is not otherwise eligible for retirement under Section 75522 may elect to leave the judge’s monetary credits on deposit with the system and retire under Section 75522.5.

(c)Judges who leave office as described in subdivision (b) are “retired judges” for purposes of a concurrent retirement with respect to the benefits provided under Section 20639 and assignment pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 68540.7) of Chapter 2 and are eligible for benefits provided under Section 22814.

(d)After a judge has withdrawn the judge’s accumulated contributions or the amount of the judge’s monetary credits upon leaving judicial office, the service shall not count in the event the judge later becomes a judge again, until the judge pays into the Judges’ Retirement System II Fund the amount withdrawn, plus interest thereon at the rate of interest then being required to be paid by members of the Public Employees’ Retirement System under Section 20750 from the date of withdrawal to the date of payment.

SEC. 6.Section 75522 of the Government Code is amended to read:
75522.

(a)A judge is eligible to retire pursuant to this section upon attaining both 63 years of age and 15 or more years of service, or upon attaining 70 years of age with a minimum of five years of service.

(b)The office of a judge who retires under this section becomes vacant on the date of the retirement.

(c)A judge who retires pursuant to this section shall, within 30 days after the effective date of the retirement, elect to receive either the benefits provided by subdivision (d) or the benefits provided by subdivision (e). Under rules adopted by the board, the time for the election may be extended in cases of illness or other hardship, but once made, the election shall be final and irrevocable.

(d)The judge may elect to receive for life a monthly retirement allowance equal to the benefit factor multiplied by the judge’s final compensation multiplied by the number of years of service credit.

(1)The benefit factor for a judge eligible to retire pursuant to this section equals 3.75 percent per year of service.

(2)In no event shall the retirement allowance at the time of retirement exceed 75 percent of the judge’s final compensation.

(e)The judge may elect to receive the amount of the judge's monetary credits determined pursuant to Section 75520, including the credits added under subdivision (b) of that section computed to the last day of the month preceding the date of distribution. Under rules adopted by the board, the judge may elect to receive that amount in a single payment, or may direct that it be paid in an annuity of actuarially equivalent value for the judge’s life or in one of the optional forms provided for in Section 75571 if the judge retires on or before December 31, 2017, or Section 75571.5 if the judge retires on or after January 1, 2018.

(f)If a retired judge fails or refuses to make an election pursuant to subdivision (c) within the time allowed, the retired judge shall be deemed to have elected to receive a monthly retirement allowance under subdivision (d).

(g)Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a judge who has a minimum of five years of service, who is defeated for reelection, and who has not been disciplined by, or has any pending discipline with, the Commission on Judicial Performance shall be eligible to retire pursuant to this section.

SEC. 7.Section 75522.5 is added to the Government Code, to read:
75522.5.

(a)A judge who is not eligible to retire under Section 75522 and who has either attained 60 years of age with a minimum of 5 years of service or accrued 15 or more years of service may elect to retire subject to the requirements of this section.

(b)(1)A judge who leaves judicial office after attaining 60 years of age and accruing 5 or more years of service may retire and leave the judge's monetary credits determined pursuant to Section 75520 on deposit with the system, including additional amounts credited to the judge’s account pursuant to subdivision (b) of that section, and upon attaining 65 years of age receive a retirement allowance calculated as described in subdivision (d) of Section 75522.

(2)A judge who leaves judicial office after accruing 15 or more years of service may retire and leave the judge's monetary credits determined pursuant to Section 75520 on deposit with the system, including additional amounts credited to the judge’s account pursuant to subdivision (b) of that section, and upon attaining 63 years of age receive a retirement allowance calculated as described in subdivision (d) of Section 75522.

(3)A judge who elects to retire under this section shall have the judge's monetary credits determined pursuant to Section 75520 on deposit with the system and shall continue to accrue interest as described in subdivision (b) of Section 75520 through the last day of the month preceding distribution of either the first monthly allowance payment or distribution of the monetary credits pursuant to Section 75591.5.

(c)(1)An eligible judge who wishes to retire and receive a retirement allowance pursuant to this section shall make an election to do so within 30 days of separation. If an eligible judge fails or refuses to make an election within 30 days of separation, the judge shall receive the amount of the judge's monetary credits pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 75521.

(2)Under the rules adopted by the board, the time within which an election shall be made may be extended in cases of illness or other hardship, but once made, the election shall be final and irrevocable.

(d)The board may charge a judge who elects to retire pursuant to this section a fee to cover the administrative costs to the system, including costs associated with health care coverage that a judge may elect pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 22814.

(e)A judge who elects to retire pursuant to this section shall not be considered to have received an enhancement to the judge's retirement formula or retirement benefit for purposes of Section 7522.44.

SEC. 8.Section 75523 of the Government Code is amended to read:
75523.

(a)The retirement allowance of retired judges who have elected to receive a monthly allowance under subdivision (d) of Section 75522 or who have retired for disability and are receiving an allowance under Section 75560.4 shall be adjusted effective in January of each year after a judge has been retired under this chapter for more than six months to reflect any increase in the cost of living occurring after January 1 of the immediately preceding fiscal year. The United States city average of the “Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers,” as published by the United States Bureau of Statistics, shall be used as the basis for determining changes in the cost of living.

(b)The retirement allowance of a retired judge who has elected to retire under Section 75522.5 shall be adjusted effective in January of each year after the judge has received a retirement allowance under this chapter for more than six months to reflect any increase in the cost of living occurring after January 1 of the immediately preceding fiscal year. The United States city average of the “Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers,” as published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, shall be used as the basis for determining changes in the cost of living.

(c)No adjustment shall be made unless the cost-of-living increase equals or exceeds 1 percent. The allowance shall not be increased more than 3 percent in a single year. Increases shall be compounded.

(d)The allowance shall not be decreased as a result of the cost-of-living adjustment.

(e)The board shall provide, by rule, any details needed for the implementation of this section.

SEC. 9.Section 75553 of the Government Code is amended to read:
75553.

(a)If a member leaves judicial office after a nonmember has received a share of the member’s contributions or a share of the member’s monetary credits pursuant to Section 75551, the member’s retirement fund rights shall be determined pursuant to this section.

(b)If the member has redeposited the amount paid to the nonmember, with interest, pursuant to Section 75552, the payment to the nonmember shall be ignored and the member’s rights shall be determined as though the payment to the nonmember had not occurred; and subdivisions (c), (d), and (e) shall not apply.

(c)If the member leaves judicial office before accruing at least five years of service, the member shall be paid the dollar amount of the member’s contributions to the system minus the amount paid to the nonmember, and no other amount.

(d)If the member leaves office after accruing five or more years of service and either: (1) elects, pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 75522, to receive the amount of the member’s monetary credits; or (2) is entitled, pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 75521 to receive only the amount of the member’s monetary credits, the member shall be paid the amount of the member’s monetary credits as provided in Section 75521 or subdivision (e) of Section 75522, reduced as provided in subdivision (d) of Section 75551.

(e)If the member elects to retire and receive a retirement allowance pursuant to either subdivision (d) of Section 75522 or Section 75522.5, the judge’s monthly allowance shall equal the monthly allowance that would have been payable pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 75522 based on the judge’s service and salary, multiplied by a fraction equal to:

NMS

S

+

50% (MS)

S

where:

“S”
“MS”

“NMS”

=
=

=

the member’s total service
the member’s service while married to
the nonmember prior to their separation
the member’s service while not married
to the nonmember

(f)If, notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 75551, the judgment did not specify the number of years of service that accrued during the marriage or other necessary facts, the system may make its own determination in order to make the computation in subdivision (e).

SEC. 10.Section 75570 of the Government Code is amended to read:
75570.

(a)In lieu of electing the unmodified allowance for the judge’s life alone, a judge who elects to retire and receive a retirement allowance under either subdivision (d) of Section 75522 or Section 75522.5 may, on or before the date of retirement, elect to have the actuarial equivalent of the judge's retirement allowance as of the date of retirement applied to a lesser retirement allowance, in accordance with one of the optional settlements specified in Section 75571 if the judge retires on or before December 31, 2017, or Section 75571.5 if the judge retires on or after January 1, 2018.

(b)A revocation or change of election shall be made by a writing filed with the system within 30 calendar days after the making of the first payment on account of any retirement allowance.

(c)If there is a spouse who would qualify for the survivor allowance under subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 75590, then the election, with respect to any optional settlement other than the optional settlement in subdivision (a) of Section 75571 or subdivision (b) of Section 75571.5, shall apply only to the portion of the retirement allowance that exceeds the amount of the allowance deemed payable to the surviving spouse.

SEC. 11.Section 75571.5 of the Government Code is amended to read:
75571.5.

This section shall apply to any judge who retires on or after January 1, 2018.

(a)The unmodified allowance consists of the right to have the maximum retirement allowance paid to the judge for the judge's life alone. A continuing allowance to the surviving spouse, other than the benefit provided in subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 75590, is not provided and there is not a return of unused accumulated contributions after the death of the judge.

(b)The Return of Remaining Contributions Option 1 consists of the right to have a retirement allowance paid to the judge for the judge's life alone and if the judge dies before receiving in annuity payments the amount of the judge's accumulated contributions at retirement, to have the balance at death paid to the judge's surviving spouse, or if none, to the judge's estate.

(c)(1)The 100 Percent Beneficiary Option 2 consists of the right to have a retirement allowance paid to the judge until the judge's death and thereafter to have the same monthly allowance paid to the judge's surviving spouse for life; provided that with respect to a judge subject to subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 75590, the surviving spouse shall receive that portion of the judge’s monthly allowance that exceeds the amount of the allowance deemed payable pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 75590.

(2)Upon the death of both the judge and the surviving spouse, any remaining balance of the judge’s accumulated contributions at retirement not used to fund the allowances paid to the judge and the surviving spouse pursuant to this subdivision will be paid in a lump sum to the estate of the deceased.

(d)(1)The 100 Percent Beneficiary Option 2 with Benefit Allowance Increase consists of the right to have a retirement allowance paid to the judge until the judge's death and thereafter to have the same monthly allowance paid to the judge's surviving spouse for life; provided that with respect to a judge subject to subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 75590, the surviving spouse shall receive that portion of the judge’s monthly allowance that exceeds the amount of the allowance deemed payable pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 75590.

(2)If the judge’s spouse predeceases the judge and the judge elected this optional settlement, the judge’s allowance shall be adjusted effective the first day of the month following the death of the spouse to reflect the benefit that would have been paid had the judge not elected an optional settlement.

(3)If the marriage of a retired judge is dissolved or a legal separation filed, and the judgment dividing the community property between the judge and the surviving spouse awards the total interest in this system to the retired judge, or the marriage is annulled and confirmed by a court, the retired judge’s allowance shall be adjusted effective the first day of the month following the filing of the judgment with the board to reflect the benefit that would have been paid had the judge not elected an optional settlement.

(e)(1)The 50 Percent Beneficiary Option 3 consists of the right to have a retirement allowance paid to the judge until the judge's death and thereafter to have one-half of the monthly allowance paid to the judge's surviving spouse for life; provided that with respect to a judge subject to subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 75590, the surviving spouse shall receive one-half of that portion of the judge’s monthly allowance that exceeds the amount of the allowance deemed payable pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 75590.

(2)Upon the death of both the judge and the surviving spouse, any remaining balance of the judge’s accumulated contributions at retirement not used to fund the allowances paid to the judge and the surviving spouse pursuant to this subdivision will be paid in a lump sum to the estate of the deceased.

(f)(1)The 50 Percent Beneficiary Option 3 with Benefit Allowance Increase consists of the right to have a retirement allowance paid to the judge until the judge's death and thereafter to have one-half of the monthly allowance paid to the judge's surviving spouse for life; provided that with respect to a judge subject to subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 75590, the surviving spouse shall receive one-half of that portion of the judge’s monthly allowance that exceeds the amount of the allowance deemed payable pursuant to subdivision (b) or (c) of Section 75590.

(2)If the judge’s spouse predeceases the judge and the judge elected this optional settlement, the judge’s allowance shall be adjusted effective the first day of the month following the death of the spouse to reflect the benefit that would have been paid had the judge not elected an optional settlement.

(3)If the marriage of a retired judge is dissolved or a legal separation filed, and the judgment dividing the community property between the judge and the surviving spouse awards the total interest in this system to the retired judge, or the marriage is annulled and confirmed by a court, the retired judge’s allowance shall be adjusted effective the first day of the month following the filing of the judgment with the board to reflect the benefit that would have been paid had the judge not elected an optional settlement.

(g)The Flexible Beneficiary Option 4 consists of the right to have a retirement allowance paid to a judge until the judge's death, and thereafter to have a monthly allowance paid to the judge's surviving spouse for life. Subject to Section 75570.5, the judge may select the monthly allowance payable to the surviving spouse from the options below:

(1)Specific Dollar Amount to a Surviving Spouse. The judge may specify that upon the judge's death after retirement, a monthly allowance in an amount determined by the judge be paid to the judge's surviving spouse for life.

(2)Specific Percentage to a Surviving Spouse. The judge may specify that upon the judge's death after retirement, a monthly allowance in an amount equivalent to a specified percentage of the judge’s allowance be paid to the judge's surviving spouse for life.

SEC. 12.Section 75590 of the Government Code is amended to read:
75590.

(a)A surviving spouse of a judge who was eligible to retire pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 75522 shall, within 90 days after the judge’s death, elect to receive either of the following:

(1)A monthly retirement allowance equal to one-half of the judge’s benefit factor computed as stated in subdivision (d) of Section 75522 as of the date of death, multiplied by the judge’s final compensation multiplied by the number of years of service credit. This allowance shall be adjusted for changes in the cost of living as provided in Section 75523.

(2)The judge’s monetary credits determined pursuant to Section 75520, including the credits added under subdivision (b) of that section computed to the last day of the month preceding the date of distribution.

(b)A surviving spouse of a retired judge who elected to receive a monthly allowance under subdivision (d) of Section 75522 or who was retired for disability and receiving an allowance under Section 75560.4 shall receive a monthly allowance equal to 50 percent of the deceased judge’s unmodified monthly retirement allowance. This allowance shall be adjusted for changes in the cost of living in the same manner as provided in Section 75523.

(c)(1)A surviving spouse of a retired judge who was receiving a retirement allowance under Section 75522.5 shall receive a monthly allowance equal to 50 percent of the deceased judge’s unmodified monthly retirement allowance. This allowance shall be adjusted for changes in the cost of living as provided in Section 75523.

(2)A surviving spouse of a judge who elected to retire and receive a retirement allowance under Section 75522.5, but who died before receiving the retirement allowance, shall receive a monthly allowance equal to 50 percent of the unmodified monthly retirement allowance the deceased judge would have received had the judge been living and receiving the retirement allowance, beginning the date the judge would have been eligible to receive benefits under Section 75522.5. This allowance shall be adjusted for changes in the cost of living as provided in Section 75523.

(d)(1)Notwithstanding any other provision of this article to the contrary, the surviving spouse of a judge who (A) died in office, (B) had attained the minimum age for service retirement applicable to the judge preceding death, with a minimum of 20 years of service, and (C) was eligible to receive an allowance pursuant to Section 75522, shall receive an allowance that is equal to the amount that the judge would have received if the judge had been retired from service on the date of death and had elected the optional settlement specified in subdivision (b) of Section 75571 and in Section 75573.

(2)A surviving spouse receiving an allowance pursuant to this subdivision shall have no other claim to benefits with respect to the Judges’ Retirement Fund or with respect to any other provision of the Judges’ Retirement System II Law.

(3)The benefits provided by this subdivision are only payable to the surviving spouse of a judge who elects to come within this subdivision. That election may be made at any time while the judge is in office and, once made, the election is irrevocable.

(e)Except as provided in paragraph (2) of subdivision (c), a monthly allowance payable to a surviving spouse pursuant to this section is payable commencing upon the death of the judge and continuing until the death of the surviving spouse.

SEC. 13.Section 75591.5 is added to the Government Code, to read:
75591.5.

If a judge who retired pursuant to Section 75522.5 dies before receiving the judge's retirement allowance, and there is no retirement allowance payable to a surviving spouse, the judge’s monetary credits on deposit, including interest accrued through the last day of the month preceding the date of distribution, shall be paid pursuant to the following order:

(a)To the beneficiary designated by the judge.

(b)To the estate of the deceased judge. The payment to the estate shall be paid to either the estate of the deceased judge or to the duly authorized representative or representatives of the estate when the system receives a court order appointing an executor, administrator, or personal representative.

(c)If the estate does not require probate and the deceased has a trust, the monetary credits on deposit, including interest accrued through the last day of the month preceding the date of distribution, may be paid, in the judgment of the board, to the successor trustee named in the trust.

(d)To the surviving next of kin of the deceased judge pursuant to the order of distribution specified in Section 21493.

SEC. 14.Section 75601 of the Government Code is amended to read:
75601.

(a)Except as provided in Section 75605, the Controller shall at the end of each month deduct 8 percent from the monthly salary, not including the additional compensation pursuant to Section 68203.1, of each justice of the Supreme Court and of the courts of appeal and of the portion paid by the state of the monthly salary of each judge of the superior court and shall cause this amount to be paid into the Judges’ Retirement System II Fund.

(b)For a new member, as defined in Section 7522.04, who is subject to this chapter and was subject to Section 7522.30, and for new judges hired thereafter, the Controller shall at the end of each month deduct ______ percent from the monthly salary, not including the additional compensation pursuant to Section 68203.1, of each justice of the Supreme Court and of the courts of appeal and of the portion paid by the state of the monthly salary of each judge of the superior court and shall cause this amount to be paid into the Judges’ Retirement System II Fund.

SEC. 15.Section 75602 of the Government Code is amended to read:
75602.

(a)Except as provided in Section 75605, the Controller or the auditor of each county shall deduct 8 percent from the portion paid by a county, or the Controller and the auditor, if appropriate, of the monthly salary, not including the additional compensation pursuant to Section 68203.1, of each judge of the superior court and cause this amount to be paid into the Judges’ Retirement System II Fund.

(b)For a new member, as defined in Section 7522.04, who is subject to this chapter and was subject to Section 7522.30, and for new judges hired thereafter, the Controller or the auditor of each county shall deduct ______ percent from the portion paid by a county, or the Controller and the auditor, if appropriate, of the monthly salary, not including the additional compensation pursuant to Section 68203.1, of each judge of the superior court and cause this amount to be paid into the Judges’ Retirement System II Fund.

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