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AB 2417

Community colleges: part-time faculty: retirement.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tasha Boerner and 2 co-sponsors

Requires districts to inform part-time faculty about and offer enrollment in Defined Benefit, Cash Balance (if offered), or Social Security retirement options.

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on ED. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (June 17). Re-referred to Com. on ED.
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Bill Summary · AB 2417

Summary of AB 2417 (2025-2026 Session) – California Community Colleges: Part-Time Faculty Retirement

Purpose and Intent

AB 2417 would require the California Community Colleges system to provide clearer information and expanded retirement options to temporary/part-time faculty who perform creditable service. Specifically, it adds new duties around informing and offering retirement options, with an emphasis on understanding the Defined Benefit Program, the Cash Balance Benefit Program (if offered), and social security.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • New Education Code Section (87483.5) sets definitions and framework for retirement options:
    • Definitions for:
    • Defined Benefit Program (as defined in state Teachers’ Retirement Law)
    • Cash Balance Benefit Program (as defined in the same framework)
    • Creditable service (for community colleges)
    • Social security (as defined by federal law)
  • Eligibility and Options for Temporary Employees:
    • A person classified as a temporary employee (per section 87482.5) who is employed by a community college district to perform creditable service must be provided with the option to participate in:
    • The Defined Benefit Program
    • The Cash Balance Benefit Program (if offered by the district)
    • Social security
  • Flexibility for Districts:
    • The bill does not prohibit districts from offering an alternative retirement option beyond the three listed options.
  • Informational Materials:
    • The Chancellor’s Office must collaborate with the State Teachers’ Retirement System (STRS) and the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) to develop materials that explain:
    • Differences between membership and contributions across the retirement options described in subdivision (b)
    • Examples showing how long it takes to vest in benefits under each option
    • Examples illustrating the impact of having credits under social security
  • Constitutional and Fiscal Considerations:
    • If the measure imposes new state-mandated local costs, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts would follow existing mandate reimbursement processes.
  • Public Policy Goals:
    • Increase transparency and accessibility of retirement options for part-time/temporary faculty
    • Ensure temporary employees understand and can elect among retirement options available to them

Who is Affected

  • Temporary/Part-Time Faculty classified as temporary employees who perform creditable service for community college districts.
  • Community College Districts (governing boards and administrators) who would implement the new informational and enrollment requirements.
  • Office of the Chancellor, California Community Colleges which would oversee development of informational materials.
  • Statewide Retirement Systems (STRS and PERS) in coordinating informational content and ensuring consistency with existing programs.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Authority and Oversight: The Chancellor’s Office would develop materials and coordinate with STRS and PERS.
  • No Specific Funding in Bill: The bill does not include an appropriation; it references standard state-mandated cost reimbursement processes if mandated costs are determined to exist.
  • Effective Date: The text does not specify an explicit effective date in the excerpt provided; typically, it would become operative after enactment or as provided in the statute’s provisions or subsequent sections.
  • Legislative Process:
    • Coauthors: Assembly Members Zbur (principal) and Boerner (coauthor)
    • Action history shows standard committee referrals and passage process, with revisions noted on April 8, 2026.
  • Basis for Mandate Reimbursement: If the California Commission on State Mandates finds state-mandated costs, reimbursement would follow Government Code procedures.

Practical Impact

  • Temporary/part-time faculty would gain clearer information and a formal option to enroll in or learn about Defined Benefit, Cash Balance (if offered locally), or Social Security retirement arrangements.
  • Districts would incur new duties to present and administer these options, and potentially additional outreach materials.
  • The bill aims to improve retirement planning for part-time staff and enhance awareness of retirement benefit structures available in California’s public higher education system.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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