ARTICLE 8. Employment after Retirement [21220. - 21233.]

Cal. Government Code - GOV 8.

in effect

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21220. Section 21220.

(a) A person who has been retired under this system, for service or for disability, may not be employed in any capacity thereafter by the state, the university, a school employer, or a contracting agency, unless the employment qualifies for service credit in the University of California Retirement Plan or the State Teachers’ Retirement Plan, unless the person has first been reinstated from retirement pursuant to this chapter, or unless the employment, without reinstatement, is authorized by this article. A retired person whose employment without reinstatement is authorized by this article shall acquire no service credit or retirement rights under this part with respect to the employment. (b) Any retired member employed in violation of this article, Section 7522.56, or Section 7522.57 shall: (1) Reimburse this system for any retirement allowance received during the period or periods of employment that are in violation of law. (2) Only if reinstated pursuant to Section 21202, pay to this system an amount of money equal to the employee contributions that would otherwise have been paid during the period or periods of unlawful employment, plus interest thereon. (3) Contribute toward reimbursement of this system for administrative expenses incurred in responding to this situation, to the extent the member is determined by the executive officer to be at fault. (c) Any public employer that employs a retired member in violation of this article, Section 7522.56, or Section 7522.57 shall: (1) Only if reinstated pursuant to Section 21202, pay to this system an amount of money equal to employer contributions that would otherwise have been paid for the period or periods of time that the member is employed in violation of this article, plus interest thereon. (2) Contribute toward reimbursement of this system for administrative expenses incurred in responding to this situation, to the extent the employer is determined by the executive officer of this system to be at fault. (d) If an employer fails to enroll, solely for the administrative recordkeeping purposes of the system, a retired member employed in any capacity, without reinstatement, within 30 days of the effective date of hire, the board may assess the employer a fee of two hundred dollars ($200) per retired member per month until the retired member is enrolled in those administrative aspects of the system. (e) If an employer fails to report the pay rate and number of hours worked of a retired member employed in any capacity, without reinstatement, within 30 days following the last day of the pay period in which the retired member worked, the board may assess the employer a fee of two hundred ($200) per retired member per month until the information is reported. (f) An employer shall not pass on to an employee any fees assessed pursuant to subdivisions (d) and (e).

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21220.5. Section 21220.5.

A retired person who has not attained the normal retirement age shall have a bona fide separation in service to the extent required by the Internal Revenue Code, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, before working after retirement pursuant to this article. The board shall establish, by regulation, the criteria under which a bona fide separation is satisfied.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21221. Section 21221.

A retired person may serve without reinstatement from retirement or loss or interruption of benefits provided by this system, as follows: (a) As a member of any board, commission, or advisory committee, upon appointment by the Governor, the Speaker of the Assembly, the President pro Tempore of the Senate, director of a state department, or the governing board of the contracting agency. However, the appointment shall not be deemed employment within the meaning of Division 4 (commencing with Section 3200) and Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 6100) of the Labor Code, and shall not provide a basis for the payment of workers’ compensation to a retired state employee or to his or her dependents. (b) As a school crossing guard. (c) As a juror or election officer. (d) As an elective officer on and after September 15, 1961. However, all rights and immunities which may have accrued under Section 21229 as it read prior to that section’s repeal during the 1969 Regular Session of the Legislature are hereby preserved. (e) As an appointive member of the governing body of a contracting agency. However, the compensation for that office shall not exceed one hundred dollars ($100) per month. (f) Upon appointment by the Legislature, or either house, or a legislative committee to a position deemed by the appointing power to be temporary in nature. (g) Upon employment by a contracting agency to a position found by the governing body, by resolution, to be available because of a leave of absence granted to a person on payroll status for a period not to exceed one year and found by the governing body to require specialized skills. The temporary employment shall be terminated at the end of the leave of absence. Appointments under this section shall be reported to the board and shall be accompanied by the resolution adopted by the governing body. (h) Upon interim appointment by the governing body of a contracting agency to a vacant position during recruitment for a permanent appointment and deemed by the governing body to require specialized skills or during an emergency to prevent stoppage of public business. A retired person shall only be appointed once to this vacant position. These appointments, including any made concurrently pursuant to Section 21224 or 21229, shall not exceed a combined total of 960 hours for all employers each fiscal year. The compensation for the interim appointment shall not exceed the maximum monthly base salary paid to other employees performing comparable duties as listed on a publicly available pay schedule for the vacant position divided by 173.333 to equal an hourly rate. A retired person appointed to a vacant position pursuant to this subdivision shall not receive any benefits, incentives, compensation in lieu of benefits, or any other forms of compensation in addition to the hourly rate. A retired annuitant appointed pursuant to this subdivision shall not work more than 960 hours each fiscal year regardless of whether he or she works for one or more employers. (i) Upon appointment by the Administrative Director of the Courts to the position of Court Security Coordinator, a position deemed temporary in nature and requiring the specialized skills and experience of a retired professional peace officer.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21222. Section 21222.

Notwithstanding Section 21221, if a retired person serves without reinstatement from retirement in an elective office and part or all of his or her retirement allowance is based on service in that elective office, the portion of the allowance based on service in that elective office shall be suspended during incumbency in that elective office. The entire retirement allowance shall be paid for time on and after the person vacates the elective office in the monthly amount payable had the allowance not been suspended. The governing body of every employer other than the state shall cause immediate notice to be given to this system of the election of any retired person to an office of the employer.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21223. Section 21223.

A retired person may serve without reinstatement from retirement or loss or interruption of benefits provided under this system upon approval of the Director of Human Resources or the governing body of a contracting agency, as the case may be, under employment by any state or contracting agency in which he or she previously served while a member of this system, where by reason of actual litigation, or a proceeding before the Department of General Services or the governing body of a contracting agency, as the case may be, or where the state or contracting agency desires to perpetuate testimony in connection with any anticipated litigation involving the state or contracting agency, and adverse interests, the services of the person are or may be necessary in preparing for trial or in testifying as to matters within or based upon his or her knowledge acquired while employed. He or she may be paid a per diem and actual and necessary traveling expenses, but he or she shall not be paid at a greater rate of compensation per diem than the rate ordinarily paid other persons by state agencies or the contracting agency for similar services. However, there shall be deducted from the per diem compensation sums equal to the retirement annuity allocable to the days of actual employment under this section.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21224. Section 21224.

(a) A retired person may serve without reinstatement from retirement or loss or interruption of benefits provided by this system upon appointment by the appointing power of a state agency or public agency employer either during an emergency to prevent stoppage of public business or because the retired person has specialized skills needed in performing work of limited duration. These appointments shall not exceed a combined total of 960 hours for all employers each fiscal year. The compensation for the appointment shall not exceed the maximum monthly base salary paid to other employees performing comparable duties as listed on a publicly available pay schedule divided by 173.333 to equal an hourly rate. A retired person appointed pursuant to this section shall not receive any benefit, incentive, compensation in lieu of benefits, or other form of compensation in addition to the hourly pay rate. A retired person appointed pursuant to this section shall not work more than 960 hours each fiscal year, regardless of whether the retired person works for one or more employers. (b) (1) This section shall not apply to any retired person otherwise eligible if during the 12-month period prior to an appointment described in this section the retired person received any unemployment insurance compensation arising out of prior employment subject to this section with the same employer. (2) A retired person who accepts an appointment after receiving unemployment insurance compensation as described in this subdivision shall terminate that employment on the last day of the current pay period and shall not be eligible for reappointment subject to this section for a period of 12 months following the last day of employment. The retired person shall not be subject to Section 21202 or subdivision (b) of Section 21220. (c) The 960-hour limit set forth in subdivision (a) shall not apply to hours worked in an appointment by the Solano County Sheriff’s Office to perform a function or functions regularly performed by a deputy sheriff, evidence technician, or communications operator provided the Solano County Board of Supervisors certifies, by resolution at a public meeting, that appointment satisfies the following conditions: (1) The retired person has undergone and passed a preemployment background investigation. (2) The retired person is not subject to decertification or under investigation for decertification by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. (3) The County of Solano has posted a position for recruitment of an active member for not less than six continuous months to perform the same function or functions to be performed by the retired person, prior to appointing the retired person to perform the function or functions and no qualified applicant either applied to the position or was available for hire. (4) Notwithstanding the rate of pay described in subdivision (d), the rate of pay for the retired person shall not exceed the average rate of pay of all positions in the same class of the position as filled by active members, divided by 173.333 to equal an hourly rate. (5) Subject to the limitation in paragraph (4), the compensation upon appointment of the retired person shall not exceed the higher of either the retired person’s last monthly base salary paid as an active member or the monthly base salary at the entry step on the publicly available pay schedule for the class. However, the retired person shall be eligible for reasonable and regular adjustments to the base salary that apply generally to positions in the same class, if the rate of pay after the adjustment meets the requirement in paragraph (4). (6) The appointment may not be placed on a consent calendar. (7) The maximum aggregate number of appointments made pursuant to this subdivision and subdivision (j) of Section 7522.56 shall not exceed 20. (8) Pay a fee to the system in the amount of two hundred dollars ($200) for each month the retired person worked. (d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2027, and as of that date is repealed.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21225. Section 21225.

(a) A retired person may serve without reinstatement from retirement or loss or interruption of benefits provided by this system as a substitute in a position requiring certification qualifications, pursuant to Section 59007 or 59113 of the Education Code, at the California School for the Deaf or the California School for the Blind, if that service does not exceed a total for all employers of 960 hours in a fiscal year. (b) (1) This section shall not apply to a retired person otherwise eligible to serve without reinstatement from retirement, if during the 12-month period prior to an appointment described in this section, that retired person receives unemployment insurance compensation arising out of prior employment subject to this section with the same employer. (2) A retired person who accepts an appointment after receiving unemployment insurance compensation as described in this subdivision shall terminate that employment on the last day of the current pay period and shall not be eligible for reappointment subject to this section for a period of 12 months following the last day of employment. The retired person shall not be subject to Section 21202 or subdivision (b) of Section 21220.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21226. Section 21226.

(a) A retired person may serve without reinstatement from retirement or loss or interruption of benefits provided by this system as a member of the academic staff of a California community college or of the University of California, if that service does not exceed a total for all employers of 960 hours in a fiscal year. (b) (1) This section shall not apply to a retired person otherwise eligible to serve without reinstatement from retirement, if during the 12-month period prior to an appointment described in this section, that retired person receives unemployment insurance compensation arising out of prior employment subject to this section with the same employer. (2) A retired person who accepts an appointment after receiving unemployment insurance compensation as described in this subdivision shall terminate that employment on the last day of the current pay period and shall not be eligible for reappointment subject to this section for a period of 12 months following the last day of employment. The retired person shall not be subject to Section 21202 or subdivision (b) of Section 21220.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21227. Section 21227.

(a) A retired person may serve without reinstatement from retirement or loss or interruption of benefits provided by this system as a member of the academic staff of the California State University, if that service does not exceed a total for all employers of 960 hours in a fiscal year or 50 percent of the hours the member was employed during the last fiscal year of service prior to retirement, whichever is less. (b) (1) This section shall not apply to a retired person otherwise eligible to serve without reinstatement from retirement, if during the 12-month period prior to an appointment described in this section, that retired person receives unemployment insurance compensation arising out of prior employment subject to this section with the same employer. (2) A retired person who accepts an appointment after receiving unemployment insurance compensation as described in this subdivision shall terminate that employment on the last day of the current pay period and shall not be eligible for reappointment subject to this section for a period of 12 months following the last day of employment. The retired person shall not be subject to Section 21202 or subdivision (b) of Section 21220.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21229. Section 21229.

(a) A retired person may serve without reinstatement from retirement or loss or interruption of benefits provided by this system upon appointment by a school employer or by the Trustees of the California State University either during an emergency to prevent stoppage of public business or because the retired person has specialized skills needed in performing work of limited duration. These appointments shall not exceed a combined total of 960 hours for all employers each fiscal year. The compensation for the appointment shall not exceed the maximum monthly base salary paid to other employees performing comparable duties as listed on a publicly available pay schedule divided by 173.333 to equal an hourly rate. A retired person appointed pursuant to this section shall not receive any benefits, incentives, compensation in lieu of benefits, or other forms of compensation in addition to the hourly rate. A retired annuitant appointed pursuant to this section shall not work more than 960 hours each fiscal year regardless of whether he or she works for one or more employers. (b) (1) This section shall not apply to a retired person otherwise eligible to serve without reinstatement from retirement, if during the 12-month period prior to an appointment described in this section, that retired person receives unemployment insurance compensation arising out of prior employment subject to this section with the same employer. (2) A retired person who accepts an appointment after receiving unemployment insurance compensation as described in this subdivision shall terminate that employment on the last day of the current pay period and shall not be eligible for reappointment subject to this section for a period of 12 months following the last day of employment. The retired person shall not be subject to Section 21202 or subdivision (b) of Section 21220.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21230. Section 21230.

(a) A safety member who is retired for service, with at least 20 years of service in corrections or at a jail, may serve without reinstatement from service retirement or loss or interruption of benefits provided by this system upon appointment by a contracting agency described in subdivision (b) to the position of superintendent, deputy superintendent, or captain of a jail or other adult correctional facility of the contracting agency to which state inmates have been transferred pursuant to an agreement, having a term of 20 years, described in Section 2910 or 2910.5 of the Penal Code. Appointments under this section shall be reported to the board and shall be accompanied by the resolution adopted by the governing body of the contracting agency. (b) This section applies only if the appointing contracting agency is a city that does not maintain a municipal police department.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21231. Section 21231.

(a) On and after January 1, 2013, a retired person may serve without reinstatement from retirement or loss or interruption of benefits provided by this system, as an elective officer. (b) If a retired person serves without reinstatement from retirement in an elective office and part or all of his or her retirement allowance is based on service in that elective office, the portion of the allowance based on service in that elective office shall be suspended during incumbency in that elective office. The entire retirement allowance shall be paid for time on and after the person vacates the elective office in the monthly amount payable had the allowance not been suspended. The governing body of every employer other than the state shall cause immediate notice to be given to this system of the election of any retired person to an office of the employer.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21232. Section 21232.

On and after January 1, 2013, a person who has retired for disability and has not attained the mandatory age for retirement for persons in the employment in which he or she will be employed, and whom the board finds is not disabled for that employment, may be so employed by any employer without reinstatement from retirement if the position is not the position from which this person retired or a position in the same member classification. The person’s disability retirement pension shall be reduced during this employment to an amount that, when added to the compensation received, equals the maximum compensation earnable by a person holding the position that he or she held at the time of retirement. This employment shall terminate upon the person’s attainment of the mandatory retirement age for persons in that employment. A person employed under this section shall not be concurrently employed under this article.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 21233. Section 21233.

(a) A person who has retired for disability shall not be employed, pursuant to this article or Section 7522.56, by any employer without reinstatement from retirement if the position is either of the following: (1) The position from which the person retired. (2) A position that includes duties or activities that the person was previously restricted from performing at the time of their retirement. (b) If a person who has retired for disability is employed by an employer without reinstatement pursuant to this article or Section 7522.56, the employer shall provide the board, in a form and manner determined by the board, the nature of the employment and the duties and activities of the position for which the person retired for disability will be employed. (c) This section shall not apply to a person employed by an employer pursuant to Section 21232.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026