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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 4Pt. 3Ch. 3Art. 3§ 31542 Retirement Benefit Compensation Review

§ 31542 Retirement Benefit Compensation Review

Government Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 31542 Retirement Benefit Compensation Review

Key Takeaways

  • •The board checks if extra money was given just to boost someone's retirement pay.
  • •If the board thinks the extra money was for retirement, the person or their boss can show proof it wasn't.
  • •If the board still says the money was for retirement, the person or boss can ask a judge to look at it within 30 days.
  • •Money that was changed or delayed because of a work agreement is still counted as normal pay and not for retirement.

Example

A teacher gets a big bonus right before retiring.

The board might think the bonus was just to make the teacher's retirement pay bigger. The teacher or the school can show it was for extra work, not retirement. If the board still says it was for retirement, they can ask a judge to check.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 31542 Retirement Benefit Compensation Review

(a) The board shall establish a procedure for assessing and determining whether an element of compensation was paid to enhance a member’s retirement benefit. If the board determines that compensation was paid to enhance a member’s benefit, the member or the employer may present evidence that the compensation was not paid for that purpose. Upon receipt of sufficient evidence to the contrary, a board may reverse its determination that compensation was paid to enhance a member’s retirement benefits. (b) Upon a final determination by the board that compensation was paid to enhance a member’s retirement benefit, the board shall provide notice of that determination to the member and employer. The member or employer may obtain judicial review of the board’s action by filing a petition for writ of mandate within 30 days of the mailing of that notice. (c) Compensation that a member was entitled to receive pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement that was subsequently deferred or otherwise modified as a result of a negotiated amendment of that agreement shall be considered compensation earnable and shall not be deemed to have been paid to enhance a member’s retirement benefit. (Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 296, Sec. 29. (AB 340) Effective January 1, 2013.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

retirementcompensationagreementcontractbenefitsterminationemployerpension

Related Statutes

  • § 31499.2 No General Contributions
  • § 31539 Retirement Benefit Error Correction
  • § 31631 Employee Retirement Contribution Rules
  • § 31778.1 Retirement Lump-Sum Calculation
  • § 3558.8 Union Representative Leave Rights

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 31542.
View Official Source