To All StanCERA Active and Deferred Members Regarding the Alameda Decision:
In late July, the California State Supreme Court handed down its decision in now what is commonly referred to as the “Alameda Decision”. Essentially, the Court has disallowed the use of elements of pay associated with “on-call” duty to be used in the calculation of a member’s final average compensation at retirement. As such, StanCERA will no longer be accepting member contributions on pay elements associated with on-call duty beginning with the first full payroll period in September. The Decision affects all StanCERA members who were active at any point in time between January 1, 2013 and August 31, 2020 and who had on-call pay elements reported in their salary to StanCERA during that period. Accordingly, from this point forward, we will no longer be using these elements in the calculation of final average compensation which ultimately determines a member’s retirement benefit or benefit estimate.
It is also anticipated that StanCERA will be refunding active member contributions made to StanCERA on on-call pay elements between January 1, 2013 and August 31, 2020. The timing of the refunds most likely will not be made until early 2021 and should include refundable interest earnings earned on those contributions through June 30, 2020.
Thank you in advance for your patience in this matter. Please refer back to StanCERA’s website at www.stancera.org for additional information should it become available.
Rick Santos, CFA, ASA, MAAA
Executive Director, StanCERA