Bernard

I. Introduction

Plaintiffs in these cases, retired firefighters or their surviving spouses, contend the City of Oakland and Union City were required to make additional payments toward their health care coverage on January 1, 2007, pursuant to an amendment to the Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act (PEMHCA; Gov. Code, § 22750 et seq.). The cities and the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), which administers the PEMHCA, maintain they properly implemented the new formula as of January 1, 2007, resulting in increased payments being made in 2008. The trial court agreed with the cities and CalPERS, denied mandamus relief and dismissed the actions. We affirm.

II. Background

The City of Oakland and Union City are contractually obligated to make health care coverage available to current and retired employees under memoranda of understanding with various unions. The cities provide for such coverage through contracts with CalPERS under the PEMHCA (Gov. Code, § 22750 et seq.). 2 Oakland contracted with CalPERS in 1989, and Union City did so in 2000.

In September 2006, the Legislature amended the PEMHCA and, specifically section 22892,…