Public employees' retirement.

Existing law, the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) establishes various limits on retirement benefits generally applicable to a public employee retirement system, except as specified, and among other things, prescribes limits on service after retirement without reinstatement into the applicable retirement system. Under PEPRA, a retired person is not eligible to be employed for a period of 180 days following the date of retirement unless he or she meets specified requirements, including a requirement that the state employer certifies the nature of the employment and that the appointment is necessary to fill a critically needed state employment position before 180 days have passed and the appointment has been approved by the Department of Human Resources. This bill would instead provide, for purposes of that requirement, that either the Senate Committee on Rules or the Assembly Rules Committee or the Trustees of the California State University makes those certifications and approvals for legislative and California State University employees, respectively, instead of the Department of Human Resources. PEPRA requires a public employee, including one who is elected or appointed to a public office, who is convicted of any state or federal felony for conduct arising out of, or in the performance of, his or her official duties in pursuit of the office or appointment, or in connection with obtaining salary, disability retirement, service retirement, or other benefits, to forfeit right, and benefits earned or accrued from the earliest date of the commission of the felony to the forfeiture date, as specified. This bill would provide, instead, that a member of the retirement system who is convicted, as described above, would forfeit those rights and benefits. The bill would also make other technical, clarifying changes.