California police and firefighters this year are asking the legislature to boost their retirement benefits.

Their proposals reopen one of the biggest battles of former governor Jerry Brown's administration a decade ago, namely curbing pension benefits and requiring public employees to contribute more money toward their retirement.

Brown signed a law in 2012 that required police and firefighters hired after that year to work until age 57 to gain a full CalPERS pension, rather than 50.

It also changed pension formulas to make them less generous and capped.

How much money public employees could earn in retirement.

Now, police and fire unions say 57 is just too late for many of their members because of the health and safety risks they endure during their careers.

They're backing legislation that would allow firefighters and law enforcement officers to retire at 55.

Asking us to work until we're 57 years old.

Is pushing us not just to our limit, but beyond it.

And I don't want to bury I don't want to bury another friend before their time.

In the name of hypothetical cost savings.

And that's what we're talking about here.

But that's not the only change.

The bill would also allow unions to bargain for more generous pension formulas, and it would raise the cap on annual pension income by more than $100,000 to about $280,000 a year.

Many California cities, counties and school districts oppose the measure, arguing they simply can't afford it.

Separately, another bill would again CHP officers and Cal Fire firefighters and opportunity to retire with a single large lump sum check.

In addition to their CalPERS pensions, it's called a deferred retirement plan.

Both measures passed the assembly in January and are under consideration in the Senate.

For CalMatters, I'm Adam Ashton.