22300-22335
EDUCATION CODE
SECTION 22300-22335
22300. The chief executive officer is the chief administrative officer of the system. The chief executive officer may administer oaths. 22301. The chief executive officer has the authority and responsibility for the administration of the system and the plan pursuant to the policies and rules adopted by the board. The chief executive officer may delegate to his or her subordinates any act or duty unless the board by motion or resolution recorded in its minutes has required the chief executive officer to act personally. 22302. (a) The board shall establish an ombudsman position to serve as an advocate for the members of the Defined Benefit Program and participants of the Cash Balance Benefit Program. The duties of the ombudsman position shall include reviewing and making recommendations to the chief executive officer regarding complaints by school employees, members, employee organizations, the Legislature, or the public regarding actions of the employees of the system. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the salary of the position of ombudsman be offset, as much as possible, through savings realized from a reduction in interest payments on delinquent benefits to members, and through a more efficient and improved public relations program. 22302.5. The board may contract with a qualified third-party administrator for custodial, record keeping, or other administrative services necessary to carry into effect the provisions of Chapter 38 (commencing with Section 25000) of this part or Part 14. 22303. (a) Due to an increase in the demand for retirement counseling services, the system, notwithstanding any other provision of law, may contract with a county superintendent or other employer to provide retirement counseling. Retired public employees may be employed on a part-time basis for that purpose, unless and until the study required by subdivision (b) of Section 7 of Chapter 1532 of the Statutes of 1985 recommends against the employment of retired public employees for these purposes. This authorization is subject to the availability of funds appropriated for that purpose in the annual Budget Act. (b) The board may, by resolution, designate one or more official contracted offices or benefits counselors that provide retirement counseling pursuant to subdivision (a) to receive documents submitted pursuant to this part, Part 13.5 (commencing with Section 25900), or Part 14 (commencing with Section 26000). Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any document received by an official contracted office or a benefits counselor designated by the board pursuant to this subdivision during the office's regular business hours or any benefits counseling activity shall be deemed to have been received by the system's headquarters office, as established pursuant to Section 22375, on the date received by the designated official contracted office or benefits counselor. 22303.5. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board shall offer a midcareer retirement information program for the benefit of all members. (b) In implementing this section, the board shall develop plans for the development and delivery of information to enhance awareness of the features and benefits of the Defined Benefit Program, and services of the system, federal Social Security Act programs and benefits as they apply to members, and awareness of personal planning responsibilities. This information shall be provided to assist members in understanding the importance of financial, legal, estate, and personal planning, and how choices and options offered by the system may impact retirement. (c) The board, at a public meeting, may assess a participation fee for the recovery of all startup and ongoing expenses of the midcareer information program. (d) The board shall provide both active and retired members with notice pertaining to paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 44830 and pertaining to Section 44252.5, making all members aware of the time constraints and possible requirement for passing the state basic skills proficiency test if an individual wants to return to the classroom after 39 months. The methods for providing the notice may include, but are not limited to, any of the following: (1) Inclusion in annual member publications. (2) Inclusion within packets of information provided to members upon or prior to retirement. (3) Inclusion as an attachment to any warrants issued to members. 22304. (a) The costs of administration of the plan shall be paid from the retirement fund and those costs may not exceed the amount made available by law during any fiscal period. (b) The administrative costs of the plan shall be divided proportionately in accordance with the assets of the Defined Benefit Program, the Defined Benefit Supplement Program, and the Cash Balance Benefit Program. 22305. Any rules and regulations adopted by the board for the purpose of the administration of this part and Part 14 (commencing with Section 26000), and not inconsistent with this part and Part 14 (commencing with Section 26000), have the force and effect of law. 22306. (a) Information filed with the system by a member, participant, or beneficiary of the plan is confidential and shall be used by the system for the sole purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this part. No official or employee of the system who has access to the individual records of a member, participant, or beneficiary shall divulge any confidential information concerning those records to any person except in the following instances: (1) To the member, participant, or beneficiary to whom the information relates. (2) To the authorized representative of the member, participant, or beneficiary. (3) To the governing board of the member's or participant's current or former employer. (4) To any department, agency, or political subdivision of this state. (5) To other individuals as necessary to locate a person to whom a benefit may be payable. (6) Pursuant to subpoena. (7) To an agent or a physician authorized by the board in the performance of duties pursuant to Section 24003, 24012, 24103, or 24111. (8) To a physician or psychologist authorized by the member to receive medical information, if the system determines that the information may be detrimental to the member, as provided under Section 1798.40 of the Civil Code. (b) Information filed with the system in a beneficiary designation form may be released after the death of the member or participant to those persons who may provide information necessary for the distribution of benefits. (c) The information is not open to inspection by anyone except the board and its officers and employees of the system, and any person authorized by the Legislature to make inspections. 22307. (a) The board may authorize the transfer and disbursement of funds from the retirement fund for the purpose of carrying into effect this part and Part 14 (commencing with Section 26000). That action shall require signatures of either the board chairperson and vice chairperson, or the signatures of the board chairperson or vice chairperson and the chief executive officer or any employee of the system designated by the chief executive officer. (b) Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, the board may disburse funds for benefits payable under this part and Part 14 (commencing with Section 26000), for the payment of refunds and for investment transactions. Funds for these purposes shall not require appropriation by the annual Budget Act. (c) Funds for the payment of administrative expenses are not continuously appropriated, and funds for that purpose shall be appropriated by the annual Budget Act. 22307.5. (a) There is in the State Treasury a trust fund to be known as the Teachers' Retirement Program Development Fund. There shall be deposited directly in that fund, and not transferred from the Teachers' Retirement Fund, that portion of employer contributions determined by the board as necessary to fund the expenditures authorized by this section. (b) Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, moneys in the Teachers' Retirement Program Development Fund are continuously appropriated without regard to fiscal years to pay any costs determined by the board to be related to the development of programs authorized by statute that the board determines directly or indirectly enhance the financial security of members, participants, or beneficiaries of the State Teachers' Retirement Plan, if the board determines, by resolution, the proposed program is to have a reasonable expectation to generate sufficient revenue to carry out the ongoing responsibilities of the programs under development and permit the subsequent deposit of funds, pursuant to subdivision (e), into the Teachers' Retirement Fund. (c) The board may authorize the transfer and disbursement of funds from the Teachers' Retirement Program Development Fund for the purpose of carrying into effect this section upon the signature of either or both of its chairperson and vice chairperson or the chief executive officer or any employee of the system designated by the chief executive officer. (d) Disbursements of moneys from the Teachers' Retirement Program Development Fund of whatever nature shall be made upon claims duly audited in the manner prescribed for the disbursement of other public funds. (e) An amount equal to employer contributions deposited in the Teachers' Retirement Program Development Fund pursuant to subdivision (a), together with interest calculated based on the actuarially assumed rate of investment return for the Defined Benefit Program for the period beginning with the deposit of employer contributions into the Teachers' Retirement Program Development Fund and ending with the transfer to the Teachers' Retirement Fund, on terms and conditions established by the board pursuant to subdivision (b), shall be deposited in the Teachers' Retirement Fund, from funds generated from the programs receiving development funds pursuant to this section. 22307.6. The board may, by resolution, direct the Controller to transfer all or a portion of the assets in the Teachers' Retirement Program Development Fund, established pursuant to Section 22307.5, into the designated fund or account that is authorized to expend funds for the same program for which the assets in the Teachers' Retirement Program Development Fund were credited, if the board finds that the transfer of the assets of the Teachers' Retirement Program Development Fund into the designated fund or account would facilitate the efficient administration of the program for which the fund or account was established. 22308. (a) Subject to subdivision (d), the board may, in its discretion and upon any terms it deems just, correct the errors or omissions of any member or beneficiary of the Defined Benefit Program, and of any participant or beneficiary of the Cash Balance Benefit Program, if all of the following facts exist: (1) The error or omission was the result of mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect, as each of those terms is used in Section 473 of the Code of Civil Procedure. (2) The correction will not provide the party seeking correction with a status, right, or obligation not otherwise available under this part. (b) Failure by a member, participant or beneficiary to make the inquiry that would be made by a reasonable person in like or similar circumstances does not constitute an "error or omission" correctable under this section. (c) Subject to subdivision (d), the board may correct all actions taken as a result of errors or omissions of the employer or this system. (d) The duty and power of the board to correct errors and omissions, as provided in this section, shall terminate upon the expiration of obligations of the board, system, and plan to the party seeking correction of the error or omission, as those obligations are defined by Section 22008. (e) Corrections of errors or omissions pursuant to this section shall be such that the status, rights, and obligations of all parties described in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) are adjusted to be the same that they would have been if the act that was taken or would have been taken, but for the error or omission, was taken at the proper time. However, notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this section, corrections made pursuant to this section shall adjust the status, rights, and obligations of all parties described in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) as of the time that the correction actually takes place if the board finds any of the following: (1) That the correction cannot be performed in a retroactive manner. (2) That even if the correction can be performed in a retroactive manner, the status, rights, and obligations of all of the parties described in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) cannot be adjusted to be the same as they would have been if the error or omission had not occurred. 22309. (a) The board shall issue to each active and inactive member, no less frequently than annually after the close of the school year, a statement of the member's individual Defined Benefit Program and Defined Benefit Supplement accounts, provided the employer or member has informed the system of the member's current United States Postal Service mailing address. If the member indicates that he or she prefers to receive that annual statement through the Web site of the system, the board may, in lieu of mailing, issue the annual statement by secured access through the Web site of the system. (b) The board shall periodically make a good faith effort to locate inactive members to provide these members with information concerning any benefit for which they may be eligible. 22310. (a) If a benefit or refund cannot be paid because, after a good faith effort, the member or beneficiary cannot be located, the amount payable shall be returned to the retirement fund until the time the party entitled to payment is located. (b) Interest shall continue to accrue on the accumulated contributions pursuant to this part. 22311. The board shall maintain all data necessary to perform an actuarial investigation of the demographic and economic experience of the plan and for the actuarial valuation of the assets and liabilities of the plan. 22311.5. The board shall acquire the services of an actuary to do all of the following: (a) Make recommendations to the board for the adoption of actuarial assumptions that, in the aggregate, are reasonably related to the past experience of the plan and reflect the actuary's informed estimate of the future experience. (b) Make an actuarial investigation of the demographic and economic experience, including the mortality, service, and other experience, of the plan with respect to members and beneficiaries of the Defined Benefit Programs; members, beneficiaries, and annuity beneficiaries of the Defined Benefit Supplement Program; and participants and beneficiaries of the Cash Balance Benefit Program. (c) Make an annual actuarial review of the goals regarding the sufficiency of the Gain and Loss Reserves with respect to the Defined Benefit Supplement Program and the Cash Balance Benefit Program and recommend to the board the goal for maintaining sufficient Gain and Loss Reserves for the Defined Benefit Supplement Program and the Cash Balance Benefit Program. (d) Recommend to the board the amount, if any, to be transferred to the separate Gain and Loss Reserves from the investment earnings of the plan with respect to the Defined Benefit Supplement Program and the Cash Balance Benefit Program. (e) At least once every six years with respect to the Defined Benefit Program and annually with respect to the Defined Benefit Supplement Program and the Cash Balance Benefit Program, using actuarial assumptions adopted by the board, perform an actuarial valuation of the plan that identifies the assets and liabilities of the plan, and report the findings to the board. The report of the actuary on the results of the actuarial valuation shall identify and include the components of normal cost and adequate information to determine the effects of changes in actuarial assumptions. Copies of the report on the actuarial valuation shall be transmitted to the Governor and to the Legislature. (f) Recommend to the board all rates and factors necessary to administer the plan, including, but not limited to, mortality tables, annuity factors, interest rates, and additional earnings credits. (g) Recommend to the board a strategy for amortizing any unfunded actuarial obligation. (h) As requested by the board, perform any other actuarial services that may be required for administration of the plan. 22311.5. The board shall acquire the services of an actuary to do all of the following: (a) Make recommendations to the board for the adoption of actuarial assumptions that, in the aggregate, are reasonably related to the past experience of the plan and reflect the actuary's informed estimate of the future experience. (b) Make an actuarial investigation of the demographic and economic experience, including the mortality, service, and other experience, of the plan with respect to members and beneficiaries of the Defined Benefit Program; members, beneficiaries, and annuity beneficiaries of the Defined Benefit Supplement Program; and participants and beneficiaries of the Cash Balance Benefit Program. (c) Make an annual actuarial review of the goals regarding the sufficiency of the Gain and Loss Reserves with respect to the Defined Benefit Supplement Program and the Cash Balance Benefit Program and make recommendations to the board for maintaining a sufficient Gain and Loss Reserves for the Defined Benefit Supplement Program and the Cash Balance Benefit Program. (d) Recommend to the board the amount, if any, to be transferred to the separate Gain and Loss Reserves from the investment earnings of the plan with respect to the Defined Benefit Supplement Program and the Cash Balance Benefit Program. (e) At least once every six years with respect to the Defined Benefit Program and annually with respect to the Defined Benefit Supplement Program and the Cash Balance Benefit Program, using actuarial assumptions adopted by the board, perform an actuarial valuation of each program that identifies the assets and liabilities, and report the findings to the board. The report of the actuary on the results of each actuarial valuation shall identify and include the components of normal cost, if applicable, and adequate information to determine the effects of changes in actuarial assumptions. Copies of the report on each actuarial valuation shall be transmitted to the Governor and the Legislature. (f) Recommend to the board all rates and factors necessary to administer the plan, including, but not limited to, mortality tables, annuity factors, interest rates, and additional earnings credits. (g) Recommend to the board a strategy for amortizing any unfunded actuarial obligation. (h) As requested by the board, perform any other actuarial services that may be required for administration of the plan. 22311.7. Upon the basis of the actuarial investigation and actuarial valuation pursuant to Section 22311.5, or any part thereof, the board shall adopt by plan amendment actuarial assumptions, rates, factors, and tables as the board determines are necessary for administration of the plan and its programs. 22313. (a) No adjustment shall be included in new rates of contribution adopted by the board on the basis of an investigation, valuation, and determination or because of amendment to the Teachers' Retirement Law with respect to the Defined Benefit Program, for time prior to the effective date of the adoption or amendment, as the case may be. (b) No action of the board, other than correction of errors in calculating the allowance or annuity at the time of retirement, disability or death of a member shall change the allowance or annuity payable to a retired member or beneficiary prior to the date the action is taken. 22314. The system shall inform a member, upon retirement, that future tax liabilities may occur as the result of the pending retirement allowance. 22317.5. The amount of compensation that is taken into account in computing benefits payable under this part to any person who first becomes a member of the Defined Benefit Program on or after July 1, 1996, shall not exceed the annual compensation limitations prescribed by Section 401(a)(17) of Title 26 of the United States Code upon public retirement systems, as that section may be amended from time to time and as that limit may be adjusted by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue for increases in cost of living. The determination of compensation for each 12-month period shall be subject to the annual compensation limit in effect for the calendar year in which the 12-month period begins. In a determination of average annual compensation over more than one 12-month period, the amount of compensation taken into account for each 12-month period, shall be subject to the annual compensation limit applicable to that period. Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, no member contribution shall be paid upon any compensation in excess of the annual compensation limitations prescribed by Section 401(a)(17) of Title 26 of the United States Code. 22318. (a) The initial payment to a disabled member or member retired for disability shall be paid within 45 days following the date the disability is approved, the effective date of the disability retirement or disability allowance, or receipt of all necessary information, whichever occurs last. Monthly payments shall continue thereafter. Initial payments may be based on a good faith estimated amount pending receipt by the system of all necessary employment, dependent, and other public benefit information. (b) The allowance payable to a disabled member or member retired for disability shall be finalized and a retroactive payment, if one is due, shall be issued within 45 days of receipt by the system of all necessary information. 22319. (a) The initial payment to a member retired for service shall be issued within 45 days of either the effective date of retirement or receipt by the system of a completed application for retirement, whichever is later. The initial payment to an option beneficiary shall be issued within 45 days following receipt by the system of a completed application for death benefits and proof of death of the member. Monthly payments shall continue thereafter. Payments may be based on a good faith estimate pending receipt by the system of all necessary employment information. (b) The allowance payable to a member retired for service or option beneficiary shall be finalized and a retroactive payment, if one is due, shall be issued within 45 days of receipt by the system of all necessary information. 22320. The death benefits provided pursuant to Chapter 22 (commencing with Section 23800), Chapter 23 (commencing with Section 23850), and Chapter 24 (commencing with Section 23880) shall be paid to the beneficiary or estate within 45 days of receipt by the system of all necessary information. 22321. The system shall pay interest for delays in excess of the allowable days specified in Sections 22318 to 22320, inclusive. The interest rate for late payments shall be the regular interest rate. Interest payments shall be deemed to be interest earned in the calendar year in which paid. All interest payments under this section shall be paid in addition to any credited interest that is paid. 22322. The system shall report monthly to the board on all late payments. 22323. The system shall report monthly to the board concerning outstanding death benefits payable that have not been paid within six months of the notification of the death of the member. 22324. The board shall file an annual report with the Governor and the Legislature by March 1 of each year on all phases of its work that could affect the need for public contributions for costs of administration of the system, including the subjects of benefits, programs, practices, procedures, comments on trends and developments in the field of retirement, and the following information on the assets of the plan: (a) A copy of the annual audit performed pursuant to Section 22217. (b) A certification letter from the system's consulting actuary concerning the findings of the most recent actuarial valuation, accompanied by summaries of the actuarial cost method, assumptions, and demographic data and analysis of funding progress. (c) A review of the system's asset mix strategy, a market review or the economic and financial environment in which investments were made, and a summary of the system's general investment strategy. (d) A description of the investments of the system at cost and market value, and a summary of major changes that occurred since the previous year. (e) The following information regarding the rate of return of the system by asset type: (1) Time-weighted market value rate of return on a five-year, three-year, and one-year basis. (2) Time-weighted book value rate of return on a five-year, three-year, and one-year basis. (3) Portfolio return comparisons that compare investment returns with universes and indexes. (f) A report on the use of outside investment advisers and managers. (g) A report on shareholder voting. 22327. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Employment Development Department shall disclose to the board information in its possession relating to the earnings of any person who is receiving a disability benefit under the Defined Benefit Program. The earnings information shall be released to the board only upon written request from the board specifying that the person is receiving disability benefits under the Defined Benefit Program. The request may be made by the chief executive officer of the system or by an employee of the system so authorized and identified by name and title by the chief executive officer in writing. The board shall notify recipients of disability benefits that earnings information shall be obtained from the Employment Development Department upon request by the board. The board shall not release any earnings information received from the Employment Development Department to any person, agency, or other entity. The system shall reimburse the Employment Development Department for all reasonable administrative expenses incurred pursuant to this section. 22328. (a) Upon termination of a retirement allowance or disability allowance that began to accrue on or after July 1, 1972, the person' s individual account shall be credited with the amount of his or her accumulated retirement contributions as they were on the effective date of retirement or disability, less the sum of all payments made under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 24202, and under Sections 24006 and 24007. The reduction shall not be greater than the total of the accumulated retirement contributions. (b) Upon the termination of a retirement allowance, the person's accumulated annuity deposit contribution accounts shall be credited with the amounts of the contributions as they were on the date the annuity became payable because of the retirement less the sum of all payments made under paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 24202. 22329. In order to provide equitable telephone assistance to all members and beneficiaries, regardless of their location in California, the system shall install a toll-free, "800" prefix, line. 22330. (a) The board shall provide the Legislature with an analysis of the asset and liability implications of each bill that would affect the investment strategy of the system, the funding of the plan, or the benefit structure of the plan. The analysis shall include an explanation of the methodology employed and the assumptions used in its preparation. Neither fiscal committee of the Legislature shall hear any such bill until the analysis has been provided to the committee. (b) There is hereby continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal years, from the retirement fund, an amount sufficient to pay all costs arising from subdivision (a), but not to exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) in any one fiscal year. 22335. (a) All moneys in the Teachers Tax-Sheltered Annuity Fund are continuously appropriated to the board for disbursement for the purposes of the tax-sheltered annuity plan previously provided under this part. (b) The board may provide by board rule for optional forms of payment from the Teachers Tax-Sheltered Annuity Fund. (c) The Teachers Tax-Sheltered Annuity Fund as it existed on December 31, 1994, shall continue to exist for purposes of this section. (d) This section shall cease to be operative 180 days after the date that an annuity contract and custodial account established pursuant to Chapter 36 (commencing with Section 24950) becomes operative. On the date this section ceases to be operative this section is repealed unless a statute that is enacted before that date deletes or extends that date.