Retirement Benefits

Our Association often supports bills to improve retirement benefits under PERA (Public Employees Retirement Association). All our members are covered by PERA except Denver members.

In the 1999 legislative session, CEA supported SB 90 that improves health insurance benefits for retirees and offers the opportunity for greater retirement savings through 401(k) and 403(b) matching programs in the next few years.

In 1998, the Legislature debated whether PERA, a defined benefit retirement plan, should be changed to a defined contribution plan. HB 1191 gave some PERA members (the Governor's staff and legislators) the choice of either of these plans.

Generally, the PERA Board of Trustees approves legislation and seeks sponsors, as well as support from the education community. There are numerous CEA-NEA members on the PERA Board who advocate for your interests as the board determines its legislative agenda.

Our Association opposes mandatory Social Security for public employees. We are always watchful of attempts to convert Colorado (and other non-Social Security states) to a mandatory Social Security state because this will harm PERA, one of the best public employee retirement systems in the nation.