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.

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.