Zbur Bill to Strengthen Retirement Security for Part-Time Community College Faculty Heads to Governor's Desk

AB 2417 Expands Retirement Information and Access to Social Security for Part-Time Educators

SACRAMENTO, CA - Democratic Caucus Chair and Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur's (D-Hollywood) AB 2417 has passed the California State Senate and received final concurrence in the Assembly and now heads to the Governor's desk. Sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) - A Union of Educators & Classified Professionals, AFL-CIO, AB 2417 strengthens retirement security for part-time community college faculty by ensuring access to Social Security and providing educators with clear information about the retirement options available to them.

"Part-time faculty are essential to California's community college system, but too many educators face complicated retirement choices without the information they need to understand how those decisions will affect their financial future," said Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur. "AB 2417 gives part-time faculty greater transparency and choice by ensuring they understand all of the retirement options available to them, including Social Security. I'm grateful to CFT and our colleagues in the Legislature for helping us get this important measure to the Governor's desk."

Many part-time community college faculty enter education after careers in other industries where they have contributed to Social Security for years. Yet the retirement options available through community college districts can be complex, and Social Security may not always be presented as clearly as other retirement systems.

For educators teaching part-time later in life or transitioning from another career, these decisions can have significant consequences. Choosing a pension system in which they may never fully vest can leave some faculty with less retirement security after years in the workforce.

AB 2417 addresses these challenges by:

• Requiring community college districts to offer Social Security as a retirement option for all part-time faculty; and
• Requiring CalSTRS, in consultation with CalPERS to develop informational materials for new part-time faculty explaining the most common retirement plan options available to them.

The legislation follows the enactment of the federal Social Security Fairness Act, which repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), policies that had historically reduced Social Security benefits for many educators and other public employees.

"We are thrilled that AB 2417 is headed to Governor Newsom's desk and grateful to Assemblymember Zbur for authoring this important bill," said Jeff Freitas, President, California Federation of Teachers (CFT). "AB 2417 will help ensure part time faculty will be able to make the best decision for their own retirement, and will make teaching a more attractive path for talented second career educators."

AB 2417 now heads to Governor Newsom for consideration.

Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur serves as the Democratic Caucus Chair for the California State Assembly and represents the 51st Assembly District, which includes Universal City, Hollywood, Hancock Park, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Westwood, West Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and other portions of Los Angeles.

CONTACT: Vienna Montague, (916) 319-2051, [email protected]