The governor on Friday signed Senate Bill 432, proposed by Sen. Dave Cortese, a San Jose Democrat, ensuring retired teachers will have legal protection against penalties arising from errors made by the California State Teachers' Retirement System or CalSTRS.
Cortese said in a statement Friday: "Caring for California's students means taking care of all the people who work at our public schools. Governor Newsom recognizes the importance of ensuring that retired teachers are not penalized through no fault of their own."
The senator added that the proposed law will bolster the teaching profession "during a time when it's needed most," amid rising living costs across much of the state.
According to Cortese's office, mistakes made by the CalSTRS can put retired teachers' financial stability at risk. For instance, if CalSTRS identifies an overpayment it is responsible for, a retired teacher might face a penalty, reducing their monthly benefits.
SB 432 ensures that retired teachers will be informed about these errors, and the bill shields their monthly retirement payments from penalties when the mistake is not their fault.
California Retired Teachers Association President Suzie Dixon said in a statement Friday that the legislation "will further California's goal of protecting our retired teachers from mistakes they did not make."
