DATE: March 28, 2017
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Margaret Mims, Sheriff-Coroner
SUBJECT: Resolution to Fill Communications Dispatcher Position with Extra-Help-Retiree-
California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act Exception
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Adopt resolution to fill a Sheriff-Coroner’s Communications Dispatcher position with Extra-Help retiree, Tina Ortiz, part time, effective March 28, 2017, finding, pursuant to Government Code section 7522.56 (f) (1), that a 180 day separation period for retired employees returning to employment as Extra-Help is not applicable based on your Board’s certification that the nature of employment and appointment is necessary to fill a critically-needed positon before the 180 day separation period.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will adopt a resolution consistent with exceptions identified in the provisions of Government Code section 7522.56 (f) (1) that, except certain critically needed positions, retirees are subject to a 180 day separation (“sit-out”) period following the date of retirement for employees who are re-employed by a public agency within the same retirement system. The recommended action meets the requirements of the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act (PEPRA), which went into effect January 1, 2013.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board could choose to not approve the recommended action, which would result in the full time Communications Dispatchers working further overtime to staff the shifts that would be covered by this extra-help employee.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no additional Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Sufficient appropriations and revenues for the appointment are included in the FY 2016-17 Sheriff-Coroner Org 3111 Adopted Budget. Appropriations for FY 2017-18, if required, will be included in the department’s requested budget.
DISCUSSION:
On September 12, 2012, the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act, which is known as “PEPRA” (Assembly Bill 340), was signed into law effective January 1, 2013. Additionally, Assembly Bill 197, which amends a portion of the 1937 Act, was signed into law the same date to become effective January 1, 2013. The PEPRA legislation includes provisions in Government Code section 7522.56 requiring a 180 day separation (“sit-out”) period following the date of retirement for retirees who are re-employed by a public agency within the same retirement system as an employee or through a contract unless:
• The employee is a “public safety officer,” or
• The employer certifies the nature of the employment and that appointment is necessary to fill a critically-needed position before the 180 days has passed.
For the second exception above, legislation stipulates that your Board, as the employer’s governing body, must approve by resolution the appointment in a public meeting and not on the consent calendar.
The Sheriff-Coroner’s Communications Dispatchers are critical to the timely deployment, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, of the Sheriff-Coroner’s Deputies and Police Officers for the allied agencies that contract with the Sheriff for dispatching services. The Sheriff-Coroner’s Office currently has ten Communications Dispatcher position vacancies, whose shifts are covered on overtime by the full time Dispatch staff. To keep from adding more overtime shifts, it is important that Ms. Ruiz be able to work part-time as an extra-help retiree. In this part-time, extra-help capacity, Ms. Ruiz will not work more than 960 hours during the year as set forth in PEPRA. The Sheriff-Coroner will still be subject to and will comply with all other Extra-Help rules and requirements. In addition, the Sheriff-Coroner’s Office will continue to work with the Human Resources Department to fill the Communications Dispatcher vacancies.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Resolution
CAO ANALYST:
Jeannie Z. Figueroa