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AB-2417 • 2026

Community colleges: part-time faculty: retirement.

Community colleges: part-time faculty: retirement.

Education Labor
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Zbur
Last action
2026-04-22
Official status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about how the informational materials will be disseminated or what form they will take.

Community Colleges: Part-time Faculty Retirement Options

This law requires community colleges to develop informational materials about retirement options for part-time and temporary faculty, including Defined Benefit Program, Cash Balance Benefit Program, and social security.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the Chancellor of California Community Colleges to create informational materials explaining retirement options such as the Defined Benefit Program, Cash Balance Benefit Program, and Social Security.
  • Provides temporary employees at community colleges with the option to join the Defined Benefit Program or Cash Balance Benefit Program (if available) while employed.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Part-time faculty at California community colleges
  • Temporary employees working for community college districts

Terms To Know

Defined Benefit Program
A retirement plan that provides a fixed benefit based on the employee's salary and years of service.
Cash Balance Benefit Program
A type of defined contribution plan for employees who work less than full-time, providing benefits similar to those in a traditional pension system.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify the exact content or format of the informational materials.
  • It is unclear how much additional funding will be required from community college districts to comply with these new requirements.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-22 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  2. 2026-04-08 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on HIGHER ED. (Ayes 6. Noes 0.) (April 8). Re-referred to Com. on HIGHER ED.

  3. 2026-04-08 California Legislative Information

    Coauthors revised.

  4. 2026-03-09 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Coms. on P. E. & R. and HIGHER ED.

  5. 2026-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

  6. 2026-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2417, as introduced, Zbur.
Community colleges: part-time faculty: retirement.
Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, administered by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in the state. Existing law requires the board to appoint a chief executive officer, known as the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state, under the administration of community college district governing boards, and authorizes these districts to provide instruction at the community college campuses they operate.
Existing law, the Teachers’ Retirement Law, establishes the State Teachers’ Retirement System (STRS) and creates the Defined Benefit Program of the State Teachers’ Retirement Plan, which provides a defined benefit to members of the program, based on final compensation,
credited service, and age at retirement, subject to certain variations. STRS is administered by the Teachers’ Retirement Board. Existing law also creates the Cash Balance Benefit Program, which is administered by the board, to provide a retirement plan for the benefit of participating employees who provide creditable service for less than 50% of full time.
Existing federal law requires public employers, which includes community college employers, to provide their employees with either social security coverage or membership in a qualified retirement plan. Existing law requires employers subject to STRS, including community college employers, to make available criteria for membership, including optional membership, in a timely manner to persons employed to provide creditable service subject to coverage by the Defined Benefit Program and to inform part-time and substitute employees that they may elect membership in the Defined Benefit Program at any time while
employed, as specified.
This bill would require the office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to develop, as specified, informational materials regarding the Defined Benefit Program, the Cash Balance Benefit Program, and social security. The bill would require the informational materials to include, among other things, the differences between membership and contributions made to these retirement options. The bill would require a person classified as a temporary employee, as specified, who is employed by a community college district to perform credible service to be provided with the option of membership in the Defined Benefit Program, the Cash Balance Benefit Program, if offered, or social security, as provided. To the extent that the bill would impose new duties on a community college district, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires
the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

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