Public Employees’ Retirement System: contracting members.
The bill is designed to provide greater flexibility for public agencies in California concerning how they manage retirement contributions for their employees. By streamlining the required agreements for cost-sharing, it alleviates bureaucratic burdens that can arise from needing to negotiate minor adjustments through contract amendments. This efficiency could lead to stronger compliance among agencies and ultimately a more stable PERS structure.
Assembly Bill No. 2310, introduced by Aguiar-Curry, amends Section 20516 of the Government Code, focusing on the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). The bill allows contracting agencies and their employees to agree in writing on sharing employer contribution costs, using either a specified percentage or a methodology for calculating this cost-sharing. This places a significant emphasis on collective agreements, enabling bargaining units and contracting agencies to formalize their cost-sharing arrangements without needing constant contract amendments, thus simplifying the administrative process involved in these contracts.
Generally, the sentiment surrounding AB 2310 appears to be positive, especially among proponents who view this amendment as modernizing and making public sector retirement benefit management more efficient. Supporters believe that the legislation fosters better cooperation between contracting agencies and employee bargaining units, thus enhancing the ability of public employees to secure their retirement benefits. However, some members may express concerns regarding adequate protections in place for workers, especially as negotiations may shift towards centralized methodologies of contribution fixing that could affect employee costs.
While AB 2310 seems to have garnered overall support, potential contention could arise over the interpretation of what constitutes a 'methodology' for calculating the cost-sharing rates. It's essential that clear guidelines ensure protection for employees against arbitrary increases in contribution rates that may arise from vague terms within agreements. Additionally, there may be discussions regarding how this impacts different classifications of employees, particularly if there are inequities resulting from varying methodologies applied across classifications.