SACRAMENTO – A new law that took effect on Jan. 1 gives National Guard members a new retirement option.

The was enacted through Senate Bill 14, authored by Senator Gloria Negrete-McLeod, vice chair of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.

North Coast Senator Patricia Wiggins (D-Santa Rosa), likewise a member of the Committee on Veterans Affairs, was a strong supporter of the bill, which her office reported which gives part-time members of the California National Guard the option of joining the CalPERS retirement plan as a “National Guard member.”

These voluntary members generally receive the same basic benefits as state “miscellaneous” members of CalPERS, including retirement, disability and death benefits.

California National Guard members would receive service credit for their actual compensated service, usually paid on a per-day basis such as their one weekend per month of training, their annual two-week training period, and for any state and federal active duty.

The new law requires National Guard members electing to participate in CalPERS to pay both the employer and the employee contributions for this service, so there is no cost to the taxpayers.

“Members of the California National Guard have been called to serve in Afghanistan and Iraq, often for extended tours of duty as well as at great sacrifice to themselves and their families,” Wiggins said. “This is one more way for us to recognize and thank them for what they have done on behalf of our entire nation.”

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