Public employment: benefits.

Existing law authorizes the creation of retirement systems for public employees by counties, cities, and districts. Existing law creates the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) , which provide a defined benefit to their members based on age at retirement, service credit, and final compensation. Existing law establishes the criteria for membership in the various public employee retirement systems and may exclude certain employment classifications from membership. Existing law excludes board members of the State Compensation Insurance Fund from membership in PERS. Existing law also provides optional membership in PERS to people who are appointed by the Governor, Attorney General, Controller, Secretary of State, Treasurer, or Superintendent of Public Instruction who are exempt from civil service, as specified. This bill would prohibit a person who is appointed to any state board or commission, on and after January 1, 2012, from becoming a member of PERS or STRS by virtue of that service and from acquiring any retirement right or benefit for serving on that board or commission. That provision would not apply to a person who obtained membership by virtue of being appointed to a state board or commission prior to January 1, 2012, for so long as he or she holds that position or shall be reappointed to that position. The bill would also prohibit a person appointed to any state board or commission on and after January 1, 2012, from earning service credit for any services performed on that state board or commission. The bill would make related conforming changes. The California Constitution requires the California Citizens Compensation Commission to establish the annual salary and the medical, dental, insurance, and other similar benefits of state officers. This bill would prohibit the maximum compensation level for a member of a state board or commission from exceeding 100% of the salary recommended by the California Citizens Compensation Commission to be paid to a Member of the Legislature in the State of California who is not receiving any additional compensation due to holding a leadership position in the Legislature.