22002.5.

 The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(a) The current and projected assets of the State Teachers’ Retirement Plan administered by the State Teachers’ Retirement System with respect to the Defined Benefit Program are insufficient to meet the obligations of that program already accrued or projected to be accrued in the future with respect to service credited to members of that program before July 1, 2014.

(b) Various legal rulings have determined that vested contractual rights of existing members generally cannot be changed without providing a comparable new advantage.

(c) The improvement factor currently provided under the Defined Benefit Program pursuant to Sections 22140 and 22141, as those sections read before July 1, 2014, is not a contractually enforceable promise.

(d) The Legislature hereby increases the contributions of active members by an amount not to exceed the normal cost of the improvement factor, providing a comparable new advantage by removing the statutory right to adjust the improvement factor, and thereby establishing the improvement factor as a contractually enforceable promise.

(e) The statutory changes adopted by the act that added this section address the long-term funding needs of the Defined Benefit Program in a manner that allocates increased contributions among members of the system and school employers, consistent with the contractual rights of existing members.

(f) The provisions of the act that added this section were based on various legal understandings and would not have been adopted without those understandings. The new obligations and benefits provided in Sections 7 and 9 of the act adding this section are contingent on those legal understandings being accurate. Thus if there is a final unappealable judicial decision that holds that the increased contributions in Section 22950.5 constitute a new functional responsibility for schools and community colleges pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 41204, and correspondingly require an adjustment pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution, or a final unappealable administrative or judicial decision that holds that the increased contributions in Section 22950.5 constitutes a reimbursable mandate pursuant to Article XIII B of the California Constitution, then it is the intent of the Legislature that the provisions added by the act adding this section shall cease to be effective.

(g) It is in the public interest and a matter of urgency to authorize, and to implement as soon as possible, a remedy to the funding problem of the system. This remedy is necessary to ensure that funds will be available to support a pension system upon which hundreds of thousands of teachers rely and for which the current funding structure raises significant fiscal policy concerns.

(h) It is of great importance to the state, the system, and school districts that there not be long term doubt about the feasibility of the solutions provided in the act that added this section. In order to fulfill the important objective of facilitating the system’s and school districts’ financial transactions the legality of the act that added this section must be quickly affirmed. The system, school districts, and teachers need to settle promptly all questions about the validity of each other’s duties and obligations under this statute.

(i) It is well-established that the terms and conditions of public retirement plans generally are established by statute or other comparable enactment rather than by contract. Statutes governing the terms of compensation and deferred compensation of public employees are thus significant financial obligations contemplated and covered by Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 860) of Title 10 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

22140.

 (a) “Improvement factor,” with respect to the Defined Benefit Program, means an increase of 2 percent in monthly allowances. The improvement factor shall be added to a monthly allowance each year on September 1, commencing on September 1 following the first anniversary of the effective date of retirement, or the date on which the monthly allowance commenced to accrue to any beneficiary, or other periods specifically stated in this part.

(b) The improvement factor may not be compounded nor shall it be applicable to annuities payable from the accumulated annuity deposit contributions or the accumulated tax-sheltered annuity contributions.

(c) Beginning July 1, 2014, the improvement factor shall vest for an active member in any calendar year in which active members paid increased member contributions pursuant to Section 22901.7.

(d) If, for any reason, the increased employee contribution referenced in subdivision (c), and as required by subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 22901.7, ceases to be legally required to be made pursuant to the act that added this subdivision, then the Legislature reserves the right to adjust the amount of the improvement factor up or down as the economic conditions dictate for all members who retire on or after January 1, 2014. No adjustments of the improvement factor shall reduce the monthly retirement allowance or benefit below that which would be payable to the recipient under this part had this section not been enacted.

(e) For members who retired before the calendar year in which Section 22901.7 was added the Legislature reserves the right to adjust the amount of the improvement factor up or down as economic conditions dictate. Any adjustment of the improvement factor may not reduce the monthly retirement allowance or annuity below that which would be payable to the recipient under this part had this section not been enacted.

22141.

  (a)  Notwithstanding Section 22140, “improvement factor” means an increase of 2 percent in benefits provided under Sections 24408 and 24409 for each year commencing on September 1, 1981, and under Section 24410.5 for each year commencing September 1, 2001, and under Sections 24410.6 and 24110.7 for each year commencing September 1, 2002. The factor shall not be compounded nor shall it be applicable to annuities payable from the accumulated annuity deposit contributions or the accumulated tax-sheltered annuity contributions. The Legislature reserves the right to adjust the amount of the improvement factor up or down as the economic conditions dictate. No adjustments of the improvement factor shall reduce the monthly retirement allowance or benefit below that which would be payable to the recipient under this part had this section not been enacted.

(b) Beginning July 1, 2014, the improvement factor shall vest for an active member in any calendar year in which active members paid increased member contributions pursuant to Section 22901.7.

(c) If, for any reason, the increased employee contribution referenced in subdivision (b), and as required by subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 22901.7, ceases to be legally required to be made pursuant to the act that added this subdivision, then the Legislature reserves the right to adjust the amount of the improvement factor up or down as the economic conditions dictate for all members who retire on or after January 1, 2014. No adjustments of the improvement factor shall reduce the monthly retirement allowance or benefit below that which would be payable to the recipient under this part had this section not been enacted.

(d) For members who retired before the calendar year in which Section 22901.7 was added, the Legislature reserves the right to adjust the amount of the improvement factor up or down as the economic conditions dictate. No adjustments of the improvement factor shall reduce the monthly retirement allowance or benefit below that which would be payable to the recipient under this part had this section not been enacted.

22311.9.

 (a) The board shall report to the Legislature on or before July 1, 2019, and every five years thereafter, on the fiscal health of the Defined Benefit Program and the unfunded actuarial obligation with respect to service credited to members of that program before July 1, 2014. The first report shall include the unfunded actuarial obligation and funded ratio as of the date of enactment of this section and compare that with the unfunded actuarial obligation and funded ratio as of June 30, 2018, and the projected unfunded actuarial obligation and funded ratio as of June 30, 2046, based on contributions, and economic and demographic assumptions identified in the June 30, 2018, actuarial valuation. The report shall also identify adjustments required in contribution rates in order to eliminate by June 30, 2046, the unfunded actuarial obligation of the Defined Benefit Program with respect to service credited to members of that program before July 1, 2014. Subsequent reports shall include the unfunded actuarial obligation and the funded ratio of the Defined Benefit Program based on the actuarial valuation of the preceding year, and shall identify adjustments required in contribution rates in order to eliminate by June 30, 2046, the unfunded actuarial obligation of the Defined Benefit Program with respect to service credited to members of that program before July 1, 2014. These reports shall be provided consistent with the requirements of Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(b) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2046, and as of January 1, 2047, is repealed.

22901.7.

 (a) Commencing July 1, 2014, the amount of contributions required under subdivision (a) of Section 22901 and Section 22901.3 as it applies to a member who is not subject to the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 shall increase by the percentage of the member’s compensation that is creditable to the Defined Benefit Program as follows:

(1) On July 1, 2014, by 0.15 percent.

(2) On July 1, 2015, by 1.20 percent.

(3) On July 1, 2016, by 2.25 percent.

(b) Commencing July 1, 2014, the amount of contributions required under subdivision (b) of Section 22901 and Section 22901.3 as it applies to members who are subject to the Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 shall increase by the following percentages of the member’s compensation that is creditable to the Defined Benefit Program as follows:

(1) On July 1, 2014, by 0.15 percent.

(2) On July 1, 2015, by 0.56 percent.

(3) On July 1, 2016, by 1.205 percent.

(c) The act adding this section establishes the improvement factor provided pursuant to Sections 22140 and 22141 as a vested benefit pursuant to a contractually enforceable promise and a comparable new advantage in exchange for the contribution increases made pursuant to this section.

22905.

 (a) Member contributions pursuant to Sections 22901, 22901.3, and 22901.7, employer contributions pursuant to Section 22903 or 22904, and member contributions made by an employer pursuant to Section 22909 shall be credited to the member’s individual account under the Defined Benefit Program or the Defined Benefit Supplement Program, whichever is applicable pursuant to the provisions of this part.

(b) Except as provided in subdivision (g), member and employer contributions, exclusive of contributions pursuant to Sections 22901.7, 22950.5, and 22951, on a member’s compensation under the following circumstances shall be credited to the member’s Defined Benefit Supplement account:

(1) Compensation for creditable service that exceeds one year in a school year.

(2) Compensation that is consistent with subdivision (b) of Section 22119.2.

(3) Compensation that is paid for a limited number of times as specified by law, a collective bargaining agreement, or an employment agreement.

(c) A member may not make voluntary pretax or posttax contributions under the Defined Benefit Supplement Program, except as provided in subdivision (d), nor may a member redeposit amounts previously distributed based on the balance in the member’s Defined Benefit Supplement account.

(d) Member and employer contributions pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) under the Defined Benefit Supplement Program shall be credited to the accounts of members as of July 1 each year following a determination by the system under the provisions of this part that those contributions should be credited to the Defined Benefit Supplement Program. Any other contributions under the Defined Benefit Supplement Program pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (b), shall be credited to the individual account of the member upon receipt by the system. Contributions to a member’s Defined Benefit Supplement account shall be identified separately from the member’s contributions credited under the Defined Benefit Program.

(e) Any contributions on compensation that is creditable to the Defined Benefit Supplement account shall be limited to the contributions made pursuant to Sections 22901, 22901.3, 22950, and 22951. Any excess member contributions, as determined by the system, shall be returned to the member through the employer and any excess employer contributions shall be returned to the employer.

(f) The provisions of this section shall become operative on July 1, 2002, if the revenue limit cost-of-living adjustment computed by the Superintendent of Public Instruction for the 2001–02 fiscal year is equal to or greater than 3.5 percent. Otherwise this section shall become operative on July 1, 2003.

(g) Paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (b) shall not apply to a member subject to the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013.

22950.5.

 (a) Commencing July 1, 2014, the amount of contributions required under subdivision (a) of Section 22950 shall increase by the following percentages of the creditable compensation upon which members’ contributions under the Defined Benefit Program are based:

(1) On July 1, 2014, by 0.63 percent.

(2) On July 1, 2015, by 2.48 percent.

(3) On July 1, 2016, by 4.33 percent.

(4) On July 1, 2017, by 6.18 percent.

(5) On July 1, 2018, by 8.03 percent.

(6) On July 1, 2019, by 9.88 percent.

(7) On July 1, 2020, by 10.85 percent.

(b) (1) For fiscal year 2021–22 and each fiscal year thereafter, the board shall increase or decrease the percentages paid specified in this section from the percentage paid during the prior fiscal year to reflect the contribution required to eliminate by June 30, 2046, the remaining unfunded actuarial obligation with respect to service credited to members before July 1, 2014, as determined by the board based upon a recommendation from its actuary.

(2) If a rate adjustment is required, the percentages authorized in paragraph (1) shall not change in any single fiscal year by more than 1.00 percent of the creditable compensation upon which members’ contributions to the Defined Benefit Program are based. The percentages described in subdivision (a) and as may be adjusted pursuant to this subdivision shall not exceed 12.00 percent of the creditable compensation upon which members’ contributions to the Defined Benefit Program are based, inclusive of the percentages identified in subdivision (a).

(3) The board shall not increase the rates in order to supplant the state’s obligation pursuant to Section 22955.1.

(c) (1) Except as described in paragraph (2), this section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2046, and as of January 1, 2047, is repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), on July 1 of the first fiscal year after a 30-day notice has been sent to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the Controller in compliance with subdivision (d) of Section 22957, this section shall become inoperative and, as of the following January 1, is repealed.

22955.

 (a) Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, commencing July 1, 2003, a continuous appropriation is hereby annually made from the General Fund to the Controller, pursuant to this section, for transfer to the Teachers’ Retirement Fund. The total amount of the appropriation for each year shall be equal to 2.017 percent of the total of the creditable compensation of the fiscal year ending in the immediately preceding calendar year upon which members’ contributions are based, as reported annually to the Director of Finance, the Chairperson of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, and the Legislative Analyst pursuant to Section 22955.5, and shall be divided into four equal payments. The payments shall be made on, or the following business day after, July 1, October 1, December 15, and April 15 of each fiscal year.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, commencing October 1, 2003, a continuous appropriation, in addition to the appropriation made by subdivision (a), is hereby annually made from the General Fund to the Controller for transfer to the Teachers’ Retirement Fund. The total amount of the appropriation for each year shall be equal to 0.524 percent of the total of the creditable compensation of the fiscal year ending in the immediately preceding calendar year upon which members’ contributions are based, as reported annually to the Director of Finance, the Chairperson of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, and the Legislative Analyst pursuant to Section 22955.5, and shall be divided into four equal quarterly payments. The percentage shall be adjusted to reflect the contribution required to fund the normal cost deficit or the unfunded obligation as determined by the board based upon a recommendation from its actuary. If a rate increase is required, the adjustment may be for no more than 0.25 percent per year and in no case may the transfer made pursuant to this subdivision exceed 1.505 percent of the total of the creditable compensation of the fiscal year ending in the immediately preceding calendar year upon which members’ contributions are based. At any time when there is neither an unfunded obligation nor a normal cost deficit, the percentage shall be reduced to zero. The funds transferred pursuant to this subdivision shall first be applied to eliminating on or before June 30, 2027, the unfunded actuarial liability of the fund identified in the actuarial valuation as of June 30, 1997.

(c) For the purposes of this section, the term “normal cost deficit” means the difference between the normal cost rate as determined in the actuarial valuation required by Section 22311 and the total of the member contribution rate required under Section 22901 and the employer contribution rate required under Section 22950, and shall exclude (1) the portion for unused sick leave service credit granted pursuant to Section 22717, and (2) the cost of benefit increases that occur after July 1, 1990. The contribution rates prescribed in Section 22901 and Section 22950 on July 1, 1990, shall be utilized to make the calculations. The normal cost deficit shall then be multiplied by the total of the creditable compensation upon which member contributions under this part are based to determine the dollar amount of the normal cost deficit for the year.

(d) Pursuant to Section 22001 and case law, members are entitled to a financially sound retirement system. It is the intent of the Legislature that this section shall provide the retirement fund stable and full funding over the long term.

(e) This section continues in effect but in a somewhat different form, fully performs, and does not in any way unreasonably impair, the contractual obligations determined by the court in California Teachers’ Association v. Cory, 155 Cal.App.3d 494.

(f) Subdivision (b) shall not be construed to be applicable to any unfunded liability resulting from any benefit increase or change in contribution rate under this part that occurs after July 1, 1990.

(g) The provisions of this section shall be construed and implemented to be in conformity with the judicial intent expressed by the court in California Teachers’ Association v. Cory, 155 Cal.App.3d 494.

(h) Subdivisions (a) through (g), inclusive, shall be inoperative on and after July 1, 2014, and shall become operative beginning the earlier of July 1, 2046, or July 1 of the first fiscal year after a 30-day notice has been sent to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the Controller in compliance with subdivision (d) of Section 22957.

22955.1.

 (a) Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, commencing July 1, 2003, a continuous appropriation is hereby annually made from the General Fund to the Controller, pursuant to this section, for transfer to the Teachers’ Retirement Fund. The total amount of the appropriation for each year shall be equal to 2.017 percent of the total of the creditable compensation of the fiscal year ending in the immediately preceding calendar year upon which members’ contributions are based, as reported annually to the Director of Finance, the Chairperson of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, and the Legislative Analyst pursuant to Section 22955.5, and shall be divided into four equal payments. The payments shall be made on, or the following business day after, July 1, October 1, December 15, and April 15 of each fiscal year.

(b) (1) Commencing July 1, 2014, the amount of the appropriation required under subdivision (a) shall increase by the following percentages of the creditable compensation upon which that appropriation is based:

(A) On July 1, 2014, by 1.437 percent.

(B) On July 1, 2015, by 2.874 percent.

(C) On July 1, 2016, by 4.311 percent.

(2) For fiscal year 2017–18 and each fiscal year thereafter, the board shall increase or decrease the percentage specified in this subdivision from the percentage paid during the prior fiscal year to reflect the contribution required to eliminate the remaining unfunded actuarial obligation, as determined by the board based upon a recommendation from its actuary. If a rate increase is required, the adjustment may be for no more than 0.50 percent per year of the total of the creditable compensation of the fiscal year ending in the immediately preceding calendar year upon which members’ contributions are based. At any time when there is not an unfunded actuarial obligation as determined by the board, the percentage specified in this subdivision shall be reduced to zero.

(c) Pursuant to Section 22001 and case law, members are entitled to a financially sound retirement system. It is the intent of the Legislature that this section shall provide the retirement fund stable and full funding over the long term.

(d) This section continues in effect but in a somewhat different form, fully performs, and does not in any way unreasonably impair, the contractual obligations determined by the court in California Teachers’ Association v. Cory, 155 Cal.App.3d 494.

(e) Subdivision (b) shall not be construed to be applicable to any unfunded actuarial obligation resulting from any benefit increase or change in member or employer contribution rate under this part that occurs after July 1, 1990.

(f) The provisions of this section shall be construed and implemented to be in conformity with the judicial intent expressed by the court in California Teachers’ Association v. Cory, 155 Cal.App.3d 494.

(g) (1)  Except as described in paragraph (2), this section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2046, and as of January 1, 2047, is repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), on July 1 of the first fiscal year after a 30-day notice has been sent to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the Controller in compliance with subdivision (d) of Section 22957, this section shall become inoperative and, as of the following January 1, is repealed.

22955.5.

 (a) For purposes of Sections 22954, 22955, and 22955.1, “creditable compensation” shall include only creditable compensation for which member contributions are credited under the Defined Benefit Program.

(b) On or after October 1 and on or before October 25 of each year, beginning in 2008, the board shall calculate the total amount of creditable compensation for the fiscal year that ended on the immediately preceding June 30. For the purpose of informing the Department of Finance and the Legislature of the amount of the state’s appropriations pursuant to Sections 22954, 22955, and 22955.1 in the next fiscal year, the system shall immediately submit a report that includes this calculation to the Director of Finance, the Chairperson of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, and the Legislative Analyst.

(c) After submission of the report described in subdivision (b), on or before the April 15 after submission of the report described in subdivision (b), the system shall notify the Director of Finance, the Chairperson of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, and the Legislative Analyst of any revisions in its calculation of the total amount of creditable compensation for the fiscal year that ended on the immediately preceding June 30.

(d) The last revised calculation submitted pursuant to subdivision (c) on or before April 15 of each year or, if no such revised calculation is submitted, the calculation in the report submitted pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be the calculation of creditable compensation upon which the state’s appropriations pursuant to Sections 22954, 22955, and 22955.1 will be based in the next fiscal year. On or after April 15 and on or before May 1 of each year, the system shall submit to the Controller a copy of this calculation, along with a requested schedule of transfers to be made pursuant to the appropriations in Sections 22954, 22955, and 22955.1 in the next fiscal year beginning on the next July 1. The system shall also provide a copy of this schedule to the Director of Finance and the Legislative Analyst.

22957.

 (a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the provisions of Section 22950.5 do not constitute a new functional responsibility for schools and community colleges pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 41204, and do not require an adjustment pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution. The Legislature further finds and declares that the provisions of Section 22950.5 do not constitute a reimbursable mandate for school districts pursuant to Article XIII B of the California Constitution. Any challenge to these findings shall be filed in Sacramento Superior Court within 60 days of the effective date of the act adding this section. Any action so filed shall be consolidated with any action filed pursuant to Section 22958.

(b) On or before June 1 of each year, the Director of Finance shall determine if an adjustment to the constitutional minimum guarantee of funding for schools shall be made pursuant to a final, unappealable judicial decision holding that the increased contributions in Section 22950.5 constitute a new functional responsibility for schools and community colleges, pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 41204, or any other final, unappealable, judicial decision holding that the increased contributions in Section 22950.5 require an adjustment in funding provided to schools and community colleges pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 8 of Article XVI of the California Constitution. If the Director of Finance estimates that an adjustment will require increased General Fund expenditures of more than ten million dollars ($10,000,000), then the determination described in this subdivision shall be considered to have been met. This estimate shall be calculated solely within the discretion of the Director of Finance.

(c) On or before June 1 of each year, the Director of Finance shall determine if any amounts are needed to fund school districts or other local governments due to a final unappealable administrative or judicial decision holding that the increased contributions in Section 22950.5 constitute a reimbursable mandate pursuant to Article XIII B of the California Constitution. If the Director of Finance estimates that the cost of the mandate is more than ten million dollars ($10,000,000), then the determination described in this subdivision shall be considered to have been met. This estimate shall be solely within the discretion of the Director of Finance, and the director need not wait for a final cost estimate, nor any other administrative determination, from the Commission of State Mandates prior to making this determination.

(d) If, before June 1 of each year, the Director of Finance determines that the determinations described in subdivisions (b) or (c) have been met, then the Director of Finance shall immediately notify, in writing, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the Controller of this determination.

22958.

 (a) Any action or proceeding challenging the validity of any matter authorized by the act adding this section by any person or entity shall be brought in accordance with, and within the time specified in, Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 860) of Title 10 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(b) This section provides the authorization for all entities referenced in the act adding this section as required by Section 860 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

(c) Any action initiated pursuant to this section shall be brought in the Superior Court of the County of Sacramento.