Retirement: joint powers authorities.

The document was reformatted from the official chaptered legislative format (with page numbers, headers like 'Ch. 756', and formal layout) to a web-based display format that includes navigation links (skip to content, home, accessibility, FAQ, feedback, sitemap, login) and a version selector showing prior bill versions.

Header changed from enrolled bill format (Senate/Assembly passage dates, Governor receipt line) to chaptered law format with 'STATE OF CALIFORNIA AUTHENTICATED ELECTRONIC LEGAL MATERIAL' and Chapter 756 designation.

Approval date added: 'Approved by Governor October 13, 2025. Filed with Secretary of State October 13, 2025.'

Page numbering changed from 'SB 443' headers to 'Ch. 756' headers, and page count adjusted from 95 to 94 pages.

New Section 1.5 added, which restates Government Code Section 7522.02 as proposed by SB 853. This version includes a new standalone subdivision (l) allowing counties and trial courts that separate their joint contract into individual contracts to provide employees the defined benefit plan or formula they received prior to separation, provided the employee does not otherwise meet the definition of a new employee.

New Section 4 added, providing that Section 1.5 (the SB 853 incorporated text) shall only become operative if: (1) both bills are enacted and become effective on or before January 1, 2026, (2) each bill amends Section 7522.02 of the Government Code, and (3) this bill is enacted after SB 853, in which case Section 1 of this bill shall not become operative.

Corrected duplicated word 'non-founding nonfounding' to 'nonfounding' in both the digest and the legislative text of Section 7522.05(a).

The digest now includes a new paragraph noting that the bill incorporates additional changes to Section 7522.02 proposed by SB 853, operative only if both bills are enacted and this bill is enacted last.

New Section 7522.05 is added, creating a general rule that any joint powers authority formed on or after January 1, 2013 may provide employees the defined benefit plan or formula they received from their respective employers before the exercise of a common power, as long as the employee was not a new member and is employed by the authority within 180 days.

The bill now amends both Section 7522.02 (retaining the specific La Verne and Covina provision in subdivision (h)) and the new Section 7522.05, rather than only amending Section 7522.02 as in the introduced version.

The new Section 7522.05 specifically extends the 180-day retention window to non-founding member agencies: if a city or agency joins an existing joint powers authority (rather than being one of the original founders), its employees can still retain their pre-JPA defined benefit plans if they are not new members and are employed by the JPA within 180 days of the agency becoming a member.

The bill's primary target changed from the City of La Verne and the City of Covina to the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency. The La Verne/Covina authorization was removed entirely.

The legislative findings were changed from citing the need for continuous benefits upon formation of a La Verne/Covina joint powers authority to citing the unique need to staff the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency to improve flood protection in a historically vulnerable region and avoid further catastrophic damage.

The Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency may offer defined benefit plans not only to employees of its member agencies but also to employees of another public agency (as defined in Section 20056), broadening eligibility beyond the original scope.

A new deadline of April 1, 2026 was added by which the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency must select a defined benefit plan or formula that was offered by a member agency to its employees on December 31, 2012.

A new requirement in Section 7522.05(c) mandates that a joint powers authority obtain approval from a retirement system, pursuant to procedures prescribed by that system, before adding a new employer and enrolling its employees into membership.

The section numbering was reorganized so that Section 7522.02 appears before Section 7522.05 (reversed from the Senate version). The term 'non-founding' was corrected to 'nonfounding' throughout.