Note: In accordance with subdivision (c) of Education Code Section 22200.5, the proposed regulations are not subject to Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, which exempts their adoption from following the procedures established in the Administrative Procedure Act.

CalSTRS and the Teachers’ Retirement Board propose to adopt amended regulations in Sections 24000, 24001, 24002, 24003, 24004, 24005, 24006, 24007, 24008 and 24009 in Chapter 1, Division 3, Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations and a new regulation in the form of Section 24003.5 in Chapter 1, Division 3, Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, after considering all comments, objections and recommendations.

The California Education Code requires the board to conduct the election of three of its members from among persons who are either active members of the Defined Benefit Program or active participants in the Cash Balance Benefit Program, as specified, pursuant to regulations adopted by the board.  

The proposed updates to Board Elections regulations address concerns raised by candidates during the most recent nomination period for the 2023 board elections and incorporate a recommendation by the election coordinator to update existing regulations to align with gender neutral terms. The regulations that govern board elections are updated to:

• Collect less confidential and sensitive personal information while still receiving enough detail to verify a petitioner’s eligibility.
• Allow for electronic signatures for petition forms, if CalSTRS determines that this may be administered in a reasonable and cost-effective method.
• Allow for the electronic submission of nomination packets.
• Use gender neutral terms.
• Reorganize the existing regulatory sections for ease of readability and subject matter relevance and make minor grammatical updates.

The proposed updates to regulations will be presented to the board on September 4, 2025, at which time members of the public may provide comment, as specified here.