CSU-ERFA successfully convinced
the CSU Board of Trustees to adopt the resolution (RFSR
06-89-03) which
established that "the .... emeritus faculty shall be deemed to
be continuing members of the academic community" and shall have
privileges "on the same basis as they are enjoyed by the general
faculty." CSU-ERFA works with its campus affiliates
to ensure that the intent of the Trustees' resolution is fully
implemented.
CSU-ERFA has been very active in
protecting employees' retirement funds. In 1992 the
Governor attempted to balance the state budget by using close to
$2 billion from the supplemental part of the pension fund.
The diversion of these funds to general budget purposes would
have eliminated cost-of-living adjustments to retirees'
pensions. Working with other
California public employee organizations, we secured the passage
of Proposition 162, The California Pension Protection Act of 1992,
that provides protection against the use of pension funds for
general budget purposes.
Our Legislative Affairs
Committee protects the interests of all CSU retirees by
analyzing and tracking legislation in both the California State
Legislature and the United States Congress that would affect
retiree pension or health benefits. The Committee
similarly analyzes propositions submitted to the voters as well
as changes in rules and regulations of administrative bodies
that would impact the interests of CSU retirees. CSU-ERFA
representatives participate in legislative and public agency
hearings to present and defend the interests of CSU retirees;
and, when appropriate, we take positions on propositions
submitted to the voters.
CSU-ERFA was instrumental in
working with the Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) to
establish the CalPERS Long-Term Care Insurance Program.
Several features of the program including its flexibility,
consumer protection standards, and the California Partnership
option were influenced by our work.
The Association actively advocates reforms to improve the
program, and we provide individual assistance to members who
have been turned down for coverage or have
other problems with the program.
Key CSU-ERFA staff members
and volunteers have extensive experience working with the
various CalPERS health benefits plans. We use this
knowledge to assist individual members who encounter problems
with their health insurance plans or with their medical and
health facilities.
CSU-ERFA successfully
supported federal and state legislation that eliminated the
source tax for retirees who live in a different state than that
which provides their pension income. Because of these
laws, the pension income of CSU retirees who live outside
California is subject only to the state income tax of their
state of residence.
CSU-ERFA provided assistance
and effective representation for retirees in the Faculty Early
Retirement Program (FERP) who were threatened with layoffs
during past periods of budget exigency.
The Association also is committed to
serving members who need
guidance and support in dealing with or responding to
administrative decisions relating to pension, health or early
retirement program issues that affect them adversely.
CSU-ERFA keeps its members
informed about impending changes in health plan benefits.
The Association is especially active in working with CalPERS to
control the costs of medical plans and pharmaceuticals.
The Association provides
assistance and support to individual CSU campus retiree
organizations. We encourage campus retiree organizations
to affiliate with CSU-ERFA, and we provide financial support to
these affiliated campus organizations by returning to them a
portion of the CSU-ERFA dues paid by retirees from their
campuses. In addition, each affiliated campus is
represented on the CSU-ERFA State Council, which is our primary
governing body. Currently 17 campus organizations are
affiliated with CSU-ERFA.
CSU-ERFA has implemented a
Grant
Awards Program to provide support for members' research on
matters of importance to CSU retirees, and to support the
scholarly and creative endeavors of our members. Grants are awarded each year.
CSU-ERFA representatives
discovered through extensive research that the legislation that
prevented CSU faculty members who retired in 1992 and took the
"Golden Handshake" from working in any compensated capacity with
agencies governed by the CSU Board of Trustees is no longer in
effect. Because of CSU-ERFA's efforts, CSU and CalPERS now
acknowledge that 1992 retirees can work for compensation with
CSU agencies.
The Association has
developed a
Survivor's
Guide that identifies details that should be considered in
advance of death and matters of concern when death occurs.
A copy of the Survivor's Guide is provided without charge to
each new member, and additional copies are available to members
for a nominal fee. Members have described the Guide as an
essential and invaluable document.
CSU-ERFA's efforts
culminated in voting membership for a retired faculty members on
the CSU Academic Senate. CSU-ERFA appoints the retired
faculty member who serves on the CSU Academic Senate.
CSU-ERFA supports legislation
designed to prevent the physical, mental and financial abuse of
elders. Our support has assisted in the passage of several
important elder abuse prevention laws.
The Association supports and
works on behalf of consumer protection legislation deemed to be
in the best interests of our members and other CSU retirees.
We are especially active in advocating reforms that would
improve the CalPERS Long-Term Care Program, and other
health-care benefits for retirees.
Through our newsletter
The Reporter, which is published
quarterly, we keep our members informed about important pending
legislation, governmental agency actions, and CSU Chancellor's
Office and Board of Trustees actions that could affect the
benefits, rights, and privileges of CSU retirees. Our
website provides members and the
general public with current information about issues of
importance to us.
The CSU-ERFA Retirement
Planning Program, which is available without charge to all
active CSU faculty members, provides a confidential analysis of
retirement benefits that is specifically tailored to the needs
of faculty members. The program, which provides
information for essentially all CalPERS retirement options, also
includes an estimate of Social Security benefits, and FERP
income for a range of ages that bracket the target retirement
date selected by the faculty member. In comparison to the
CalPERS online benefits calculator, the CSU-ERFA program allows
for easy side-by side comparison of all retirement options for a
range of potential retirement ages. See our
Retirement Planning page for more
details.
Currently, we are working to
improve the dental benefits for CSU retirees to the highest
level of benefits received by active CSU employees.
