AB 2417 Expands Retirement Information and Access to Social Security for Part-Time Educators
SACRAMENTO, CA – Democratic Caucus Chair and Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur's (D-Hollywood) bill AB 2417, legislation to strengthen retirement security and improve retirement planning information for part-time community college faculty, has advanced out of the California State Assembly with bipartisan support and no "no" votes and now moves to the Senate. Sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) – A Union of Educators & Classified Professionals, AFL-CIO, this bill ensures that part-time community college faculty are offered Social Security as a retirement benefit option and requires the Chancellor's Office, in partnership with CalSTRS, to develop clear informational materials explaining the most common retirement plan options available to educators.
"Part-time faculty play an essential role in our community colleges, and they deserve the information and tools necessary to make informed decisions about their financial future," said Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur. "AB 2417 helps ensure educators understand all of their retirement options — including Social Security — so they can choose the path that best supports their long-term retirement security. This bill is about transparency, informed choice, and helping educators retire with dignity and security."
Many part-time community college faculty are professionals entering education after careers in other industries where they contributed to Social Security throughout their working lives. However, retirement plan options available through community college districts are often complex, and Social Security may not be presented as clearly as other retirement systems.
For some educators, particularly those teaching part-time later in life or transitioning careers, selecting a pension system they may never fully vest into can result in reduced long-term retirement security.
The bill comes following the enactment of the federal Social Security Fairness Act in 2025, which repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) — policies that had historically reduced Social Security benefits for many educators and public employees.
AB 2417 addresses these challenges by:
- Requiring community college districts to offer Social Security as a retirement option for all part-time faculty; and
- Requiring CalSTRS and CalPERS to develop informational materials for new part-time faculty explaining the most common retirement plan options available to them.
"AB 2417 will make sure part-time community college faculty are able to make the most informed decision for their retirement security, by either utilizing options from CalSTRS or adding more to the social security credits that they have been earning for their entire life," said Jeff Freitas, President, California Federation of Teachers (CFT). "This bill goes a long way to ensuring retirement security for all of our part time faculty members."
The bill comes following the enactment of the federal Social Security Fairness Act in 2025, which repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) — policies that had historically reduced Social Security benefits for many educators and public employees.
Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur serves as the Democratic Caucus Chair for the California State Assembly and represents the 51st Assembly District, which includes Universal City, Hollywood, Hancock Park, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Westwood, West Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and other portions of Los Angeles.
CONTACT: Vienna Montague, (916) 319-2051, Vienna.Montague@asm.ca.gov