Strengthening the CalSTRS Funding Plan [Publication Details]

Mar 10, 2021 - This report provides an overview of the 2014 California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) funding plan, and analyzes the various challenges and complexities of the plan that have come to light that may impede CalSTRS’ ability to successfully eliminate the system’s unfunded actuarial obligation (UAO) by 2046.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4400

Strengthening the CalSTRS Funding Plan

Mar 10, 2021 - Appendix Glossary of Key Terms Related to Pension Funds Throughout this report, we refer to terms commonly used when describing pension funds. We define those key terms here, in reference to the California State Teachers ’ Retirement System (CalSTRS).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4400

MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 9 (Professional Engineers)

Jun 27, 2025 - Typically, a furlough for state employees reduces state employee pay by 4.62  percent in exchange for one day (eight hours) off per month without affecting other elements of compensation (for example, pension and health benefits).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5061

MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 8 (Firefighters)

Aug 14, 2024 - The state has experienced some of the most severe wildfire seasons in its history in recent years. These wildfires have placed significant strains on the state ’s firefighters, many of whom have been asked to work for extended periods with few breaks.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4919

MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 10 (Professional Scientific)

Aug 14, 2024 - The agreement specifies that these pay differentials would not affect employee pension benefits. Treatment of Some Pay Differentials. Depending on the specific pay differential, an employee and the state employer might be required to contribute a portion of the payment towards Social Security, Medicare, or the employee ’s pension benefit.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4918

MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 7 (Protective Services and Public Safety)

Aug 8, 2019 - Fully offsetting the increased employee contributions —as this agreement provides —means that for every $1 the state ’s pension contributions are reduced, the state ’s payroll costs increase about $1.50.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4085

MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 19 (Health and Social Services/Professional)

Sep 1, 2023 - Other Major Provisions Reduced Employee Pension Contributions to Align With PEPRA Standard. The Public Employees ’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) established a standard, but not a requirement, that employees and the state each contribute one-half of the normal cost to fund employee pension benefits.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4797

MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 16 (Physicians)

Sep 7, 2023 - The Public Employees ’ Pension Reform Act established a standard, but not a requirement, that employees and the state each contribute one-half of the normal cost to fund employee pension benefits. The actual rates paid by state employees varies and has been established through the collective bargaining process.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4801

MOU Fiscal Analysis: Bargaining Unit 5 (Highway Patrol)

Aug 26, 2019 - Chapter  33 of 2019 (SB  90, Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review) appropriated $265  million from the General Fund in 2020 ‑21 as a supplemental pension payment to state pension plans. The law specified that the money would be apportioned among the state employee pension plans in proportion to each plan ’s
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4089

A Review of the CalSTRS Funding Plan: Background

Feb 2, 2016 - Funding Plan a Major State Accomplishment. Prior to state action, CalSTRS faced a huge unfunded liability with no plan in place for funding teacher pensions. CalSTRS was expected to exhaust its assets in the mid-2040s, an alarming prospect for a pension system.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3332