The initiative’s proponents are as follows:

• Chuck Reed – former San Jose Mayor
• Carl DeMaio – former San Diego council member
• Stephanie Gomes – former Vallejo Mayor
• Bill Kampe – Pacific Grove Mayor
• Pat Morris – former San Bernardino Mayor
• Tom Tait – Anaheim Mayor

“Government Pension Cap Act of 2016″ (Initiative #15-0077)

• Limits government employers from making retirement benefit contributions of more than 13% of base compensation for new public safety employees, and not more than 11% for new general employees. All other costs, including unfunded liability costs, are the responsibility of the new employee, unless voters establish a new limit. New employees are considered those hired on or after 1/1/2019.
• Limits government employers from paying more than 1/2 of the total cost of retirement benefits for new employees, unless voters approve a higher proportion.
• The Act shall not alter any current labor agreement in effect, but shall apply to future labor agreements, renewals or extensions entered into after the effective date of the Act.
• Government employers may continue to offer defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution plans, or a combination of both plans, but the plans are subject to the limitations of the Act.
• Disability and death benefits are not subject to the limitations outlined in the Act.

• Limits government employers that sponsor defined benefit pension plans from providing benefit enhancements, unless approved by voters.
• New government employees (hired on or after 1/1/2019) may be enrolled in defined benefit pension plans only if approved by voters.
• Limits government employers from paying more than 1/2 of the total cost of retirement benefits for new employees, unless voters approve a higher proportion.
• Limits placement of financial conditions upon government employers closing defined benefit plans to new employees.
• The Act shall not alter any current labor agreement in effect, but shall apply to future labor agreements, renewals or extensions entered into after the effective date of the Act.
• The Act does not modify or limit any disability or death benefits, or require voter approval for these benefits.

“Voter Empowerment Act of 2016″(Initiative #15-0033 – Public Employees. Pension and Retiree Healthcare Benefits.  Initiative Constitutional Amendment”

• Eliminates constitutional protections for vested pension and retiree healthcare benefits for current public employees, including those working in K-12 schools, higher education, hospitals, and police and fire protection, for future work performed.
• Adds initiative/referendum powers to Constitution, for determining public employee compensation and retirement benefits.
• Bars government employers from enrolling new employees (hired after 1/1/2019) in defined benefit plans, paying more than 1/2 of the cost of new employees’ retirement benefits, or enhancing retirement benefits, unless first approved by voters.
• This initiative will remain active unless the proponents request that it be withdrawn 

“PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. PENSION AND RETIREE HEALTHCARE BENEFITS. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.“

• Filed 6/4/2015 with the California Attorney General
• 8/11/2015 – Above formal title and summary were released by Attorney General
• The Proponents must collect 585,407 signatures from registered voters to qualify the initiative for the November 2016 election.
• The proponents estimate that a signature-gathering campaign will cost $2.5 million to $3.5 million.

“PUBLIC EMPLOYEES. PENSION AND RETIREE HEALTHCARE BENEFITS. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.”

AKA “GOVERNMENT PENSION CAP ACT OF 2016” and “VOTER EMPOWERMENT ACT OF 2016”

• October 5, 2015 – Revised Initiative #15-0076, Voter Empowerment Act of 2016, and Initiative #15-0077, Government Pension Cap Act of 2016 filed.
• A 30-day public comment period is open through 11/4/2015 at the California Attorney General’s website: http://oag/ca.gov/initiatives/active-measures.
• The State Department of Finance and State Legislative Analyst’s Office have 50 calendar days from the initiative filing date to prepare a fiscal impact analysis before the Attorney General issues an official title and summary.
• October 16, 2015 – The proponents filed amendments to #15-0076, Voter Empowerment Act of 2016, and Initiative #15-0077, Government Pension Cap Act of 2016, defining a “new employee.” A new employee is one who becomes a member of any state or local public retirement system on or after 1/1/2019, and:

1. Who was not a member of any other state or local public retirement system in California prior to that date.
2. Who was a member of another public retirement system prior to that date, but who was not subject to reciprocity under Calif. Gov. Code Sec. 7522.02© as of 9/1/2015.
3. Who was an active member in a state or local retirement system in California and who, after a break in service of more than six months, returns to active membership in the same system with a new employer.

• December 9, 2015 – The California Attorney General released a formal title and summaries to the Government Pension Cap Act of 2016 and Voter Empowerment Act of 2016.

Fiscal Impact Estimate Report by State Legislative Analyst’s Office for Initiative #15-0077

Fiscal Impact Estimate Report by State Legislative Analyst’s Office for Initiative #15-0076

Fiscal Impact Estimate Report by State Legislative Analyst’s Office for Initiative #15-0033