CA AB1649

Requires public employees convicted of violent felonies, serious felonies, or sex offenses arising from their official duties to forfeit retirement benefits for service performed on and after the earliest date the felony was committed.

Mandates return of employee contributions made on or after the forfeiture date without interest upon a distribution event (separation, death, or retirement), unless a court orders otherwise or the pension administrator determines differently.

Requires public employers and convicted employees to notify the relevant public retirement system within 60 days of conviction; failure to notify does not prevent forfeiture.

Allows restoration of forfeited benefits if the conviction is reversed and made final, provided the employee redeposits returned contributions with the system.

Applies to all public employers and retirement system members regardless of hire date, and defines qualifying felonies as those under Penal Code Sections 667.5 (violent), 1192.7 (serious), or 290 (sex offender registration requirements), or equivalent federal offenses.