Bill Full Text
Home
-
Bills
-
Bill
-
Authors
-
Dates
-
Locations
-
Analyses
-
Organizations
<?xml version="1.0" ?>
<ns0:MeasureDoc xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:ns0="http://lc.ca.gov/legalservices/schemas/caml.1#" xmlns:ns3="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" version="1.0" xsi:schemaLocation="http://lc.ca.gov/legalservices/schemas/caml.1# xca.1.xsd">
<ns0:Description>
<ns0:Id>20250ACA_000299INT</ns0:Id>
<ns0:VersionNum>99</ns0:VersionNum>
<ns0:History>
<ns0:Action>
<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2024-12-02</ns0:ActionDate>
</ns0:Action>
</ns0:History>
<ns0:LegislativeInfo>
<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
<ns0:SessionNum>0</ns0:SessionNum>
<ns0:MeasureType>ACA</ns0:MeasureType>
<ns0:MeasureNum>2</ns0:MeasureNum>
<ns0:MeasureState>INT</ns0:MeasureState>
</ns0:LegislativeInfo>
<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Member Jackson</ns0:AuthorText>
<ns0:Authors>
<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>ASSEMBLY</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Jackson</ns0:Name>
</ns0:Legislator>
</ns0:Authors>
<ns0:Title> A resolution to propose to the people of the State of California an amendment to the Constitution of the State, by repealing and adding Section 4.5 of Article IV thereof, relating to the Legislature. </ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>the Legislature</ns0:RelatingClause>
<ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:Subject>Legislature: retirement.</ns0:Subject>
</ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:DigestText>
<html:p>The California Constitution prohibits Members of the Legislature from accruing any pension or retirement benefit other than participation in the federal Social Security program as a result of legislative service.</html:p>
<html:p>This measure, the Legislative Diversification Act, would repeal that prohibition and instead require the Legislature to establish a retirement system for Members elected to or serving in the Legislature on or after November 1, 2010. The measure would require a Member to serve at least 10 years in the Legislature to be eligible to receive benefits under the retirement system. The measure would authorize a Member who serves fewer than 10 years to transfer the service credit earned as a result of service in the Legislature to any other public employees’ pension or retirement system in which the Member participates.</html:p>
</ns0:DigestText>
<ns0:DigestKey>
<ns0:VoteRequired>TWO_THIRDS</ns0:VoteRequired>
<ns0:Appropriation>NO</ns0:Appropriation>
<ns0:FiscalCommittee>YES</ns0:FiscalCommittee>
<ns0:LocalProgram>NO</ns0:LocalProgram>
</ns0:DigestKey>
</ns0:Description>
<ns0:Resolution id="resolution">
<ns0:Resolved id="id_BE8B0C4A-1350-4B7C-AE45-176132D4E232">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
<html:i>Resolved by the Assembly, the Senate concurring,</html:i>
That the Legislature of the State of California at its 2025–26 Regular Session commencing on the second day of December 2024, two-thirds of the membership of each house concurring, hereby proposes to the people of the State of California that the Constitution of the State be amended as follows:
</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_3872C305-72DE-42D7-979D-FA47AE1377B6">
<ns0:Num>First—</ns0:Num>
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
This measure shall be known, and may be cited, as the Legislative Diversification Act.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
In 1990, the California Constitution was amended to prohibit state lawmakers from earning pension benefits during their tenure in the Legislature. While this policy was established to address specific concerns at the time, it has had unintended consequences that limit opportunities for public service and disproportionately affect individuals from lower- and middle-income backgrounds.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
California state lawmakers may dedicate up to 12
years to representing their constituents and shaping critical public policies that impact the lives of all Californians. These individuals are among the state’s most committed public servants, and they should have the opportunity to earn pension credit for their years of service, as is afforded to most other state officials and employees.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Retirement planning is a significant consideration for many Californians, and the absence of pension benefits may discourage qualified individuals, particularly those without substantial personal financial resources, from pursuing service in the Legislature. This lack of equitable access undermines the diversity and representativeness of the Legislature, to the detriment of the people of California.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
It is the intent of the Legislature to address this inequity by amending existing laws to allow state lawmakers to earn pension benefits for
their years of legislative service, ensuring that all Californians, regardless of economic background, have the opportunity to serve in elected office and contribute to the democratic process.
</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
</ns0:BillSection>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_D7D37D27-49D3-444A-8BC9-038BFD246185">
<ns0:Num>Second—</ns0:Num>
<ns0:ActionLine action="IS_REPEALED" ns3:type="locator" ns3:href="urn:caml:codes:CONS:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3AConstitution%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'ARTICLE'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'IV'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'SEC.%204.5.'%5D)" ns3:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION">That Section 4.5 of Article IV thereof is repealed.</ns0:ActionLine>
<ns0:Fragment/>
</ns0:BillSection>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_EC582EAF-1240-4A07-9405-95A099FA379D">
<ns0:Num>Third—</ns0:Num>
<ns0:ActionLine action="IS_ADDED" ns3:type="locator" ns3:href="urn:caml:codes:CONS:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3AConstitution%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'ARTICLE'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'IV'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'SEC.%204.5.'%5D)" ns3:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION">That Section 4.5 is added to Article IV thereof, to read:</ns0:ActionLine>
<ns0:Fragment>
<ns0:LawSection id="id_A65D039D-6265-4410-B0AC-74076DA790C4">
<ns0:Num>SEC. 4.5.</ns0:Num>
<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_FCF656D4-BF61-4E9F-8194-097661E582B6">
<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The Legislature shall establish a retirement system for Members of the Legislature.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A person elected to or serving in the Legislature on or after November 1, 2010, may participate in the retirement system if the person is eligible pursuant to subdivision (c).
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
To be eligible to receive retirement benefits under the retirement system established pursuant to subdivision (a), a Member of the Legislature shall serve at least 10 years in the Legislature.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A Member of the Legislature who serves fewer than 10 years may elect to transfer the service credit earned as a result of the
Member’s service in the Legislature to any other public employees’ pension or retirement system in which the Member participates.
</html:p>
</ns0:Content>
</ns0:LawSectionVersion>
</ns0:LawSection>
</ns0:Fragment>
</ns0:BillSection>
</ns0:Resolved>
</ns0:Resolution>
</ns0:MeasureDoc>