CalPERS panel targets pension fraud

Sac Bee ^ | 12/15/04 | John Hill

[NormsRevenge]

Lying to get a state medical pension would become a crime, and even past retirement age, disabled workers could be forced to undergo follow-up medical exams under legislation endorsed Tuesday by a committee of the California Public Employees' Retirement System.

If the full 13-member CalPERS board approves the proposal today, as expected, the retirement system would sponsor a bill to revise the disability pension law for state workers and employees of local governments who are part of the system.

The proposal comes in response to stories in The Bee raising questions about the use of medical pensions, especially among the top brass of the California Highway Patrol, and would put in place changes suggested by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's California Performance Review.

--SNIP--

State law allows workers whose injuries prevent them from working to collect special disability pensions. Public safety workers injured on the job get even more - half of their income, tax-free, for life.

Those who become disabled when they're already at retirement age can get their full pension, but with half of it shielded from taxes - resulting in net payments close to or more than they got while working.

In September, The Bee published an investigation of high-ranking CHP officers who made injury claims as they neared the end of long careers, a phenomenon known within the department as "Chief's Disease."

[Publius6961]

Lying to get a state medical pension would become a crime, and

Holy checkbook Batman!

You mean it isn't now? !! ??

[Publius6961]

BUMP