Subject: CRTA Legislation Team
Date: Tue, 2 May 2006 13:48:33 -0700

CRTA Area V Division Legislation Chairs,

It is nearing CRTA Convention and a State Legislation Committee Meeting.
Please report briefly of your division legislation activities, including
planning for "Legislation Action Plan 2006" (attached).  State strategies
for communicating with members, legislators, and public.  A short list of
phrases works for me, no lengthy reports, please.  Kindly send by May
15th.

Also, if you have ideas or activities you would like presented at the
State Legislation Committee Meeting, please let me know.  All of us make
the CRTA Legislation Team!

FYI, below is the list of CRTA position bills and their current status.
Double click on http://www.crtav.org/crtavllink.htm for legislation
links.

In appreciation,
Irene Wetzel, CRTA Area V Legislation Chair, www.crtav.org
1682 El Cerrito Court, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805)543-2145   iawetzel@juno.com

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      Current Legislation on which CRTA has taken a Position
May/06

SUPPORT: CA AB 2970  Pavley, Fran (D) Agoura Hills  Karnette, Mullin,
Kuehl etc.
SUMMARY:Extends the operation of provisions of the Teachers' Retirement
Law pertaining to the amount of postretirement income that may be earned
by a retired member of the Defined Benefit Program. Provides that the
member have an effective retirement date at least 30 days prior to the
date he or she returns to work. Creates additional categories of service
a member could provide to be within the exemption to the earnings limit
to include providing support in the Peer Assistance and Review Program
for Teachers. STATUS:  02/24/2006     INTRODUCED.

SUPPORT: CA SB 1249 (Alquist) SUMMARY: Relates to existing laws allowing
individual taxpayers to contribute amounts in excess of their tax
liability for the support of the California Fund for Senior Citizens.
Provides for the repeal of the contribution provisions for this account
only when the board estimates the annual contribution amount will be less
than a specified amount for a taxable year.
STATUS:  02/16/2006 To SENATE Committee on REVENUE AND TAXATION.

SUPPORT: CA SB 1466  (PERS)  SUMMARY:   Deletes a restriction for the
member of the Defined Benefit Supplement Program who elects a modified
retirement allowance with a pop-up feature and permits that member to
change his or her beneficiary. Defines creditable service under the Cash
Balance Benefit Program as trustee service for an employer.
STATUS: 02/23/2006   INTRODUCED.

OPPOSE: CA SB 1514  (Moldonado)   SUMMARY: Prohibits the Superintendent
of Schools from approving a county board of education budget unless the
budget discloses the long-term liabilities of the school district or
school districts governed by the county board for retirement benefits and
includes a plan for satisfying those obligations.  STATUS: 02/23/2006
INTRODUCED.

OPPOSE: CA SB 1768  (Hollingsworth) SUMMARY: Provides a credit, for a
qualified contribution, as defined, made by a tax payer to a school
tuition organization, or a public school, as defined.       STATUS:
02/24/2006 INTRODUCED.


OPPOSE: CA AB 2077  37 Strickland, Audra  (R) Moorepark
SUMMARY:
Allows a credit in an amount equal to the cost paid or incurred by the
taxpayer for tuition at any qualified school on behalf of any dependent
of that taxpayer.  STATUS:  02/23/2006      To ASSEMBLY Committee on
REVENUE AND TAXATION.


SUPPORT:  BILL NUMBER: SB 1094    AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 12, 2005
INTRODUCED BY   Senator Soto   FEBRUARY 22, 2005

  SB 1094, as amended, Soto.   County employees retirement.  To correct
abuses on STRS by school districts.
   State Teachers' Retirement Plan:creditable compensation.
Members of the Defined Benefit Program of the State Teachers' Retirement
Plan receive service retirement benefits calculated, in part, on the
members' final compensation. An element in the calculation of final
compensation is creditable compensation, as defined, which excludes
certain types of remuneration, including fringe benefits.     This bill
would specify that housing stipends and car allowances are fringe
benefits that are excluded from the definition of creditable
compensation.

The County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 sets forth a
comprehensive system retirement benefits for county and district
employees.     This bill would make technical, nonsubstantive changes to
these provisions.
    Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  State-mandated local program: no.