KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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SB-538 • 2026

Public Employees’ Retirement System: teaching service.

Public Employees’ Retirement System: teaching service.

Education Elections Labor
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Dahle
Last action
2026-02-02
Official status
Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about 'certain circumstances' or additional requirements beyond the written request within 60 days.

Public Employees’ Retirement System: Teaching Service

This law allows members of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) who work as substitute teachers to choose to stay in PERS under certain conditions.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows PERS members working as substitute teachers to elect to retain coverage by PERS even if they would normally be covered by another retirement plan for teachers.
  • Requires these members to submit a written request within 60 days of starting the substitute teaching job to keep their PERS coverage.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Members of the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) who work as substitute teachers.

Terms To Know

Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS)
A retirement plan for public employees in California.
Defined Benefit Program
A type of pension plan that provides a fixed benefit upon retirement based on salary and years worked.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what 'certain circumstances' means for substitute teachers.
  • It is unclear if there are any limits or additional requirements beyond the written request within 60 days.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-02 California Legislative Information

    Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. 2025-03-05 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.

  3. 2025-02-21 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 23.

  4. 2025-02-20 California Legislative Information

    Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 538, as introduced, Dahle.
Public Employees’ Retirement System: teaching service.
Existing law authorizes a member of the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) who is subsequently employed to perform service subject to coverage by the Defined Benefit Program of the State Teachers’ Retirement Plan to elect to retain coverage by PERS for that subsequent service. Existing law prescribes requirements for the exercise of this election, including that the election be submitted in writing, as specified, within 60 days after the member’s date of hire to perform the service.
Existing law authorized, until January 1, 2024, a member of PERS who provided emergency teaching services pursuant to a specified executive order to elect to retain coverage notwithstanding the failure to meet specified administrative requirements.
This bill would authorize a
member providing services as a substitute teacher, as defined, under certain circumstances to elect to retain coverage under PERS.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
Download Bill PDF