ABOUT LACERA

DISABILITY PROCEDURES & SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES - 11-4-09

MEMBERSHIP
PRESENT

• James P. Harris, Chair
• Yves Chery, Vice Chair
• Sadonya Antebi
• Ed C. Morris
• Simon S. Russin, Alternate

ABSENT

ALSO ATTENDING
MEMBERS AT LARGE

• Edward Blecksmith
• Les Robbins

STAFF, ADVISORS, PARTICIPANTS

• Robb Van Der Volgen
• Janice Golden
• Gregg Rademacher
• Vincent Lim
• J. Patrick Joyce
• Steve Tallant
• Oliver Kuzma, M.D.
• Debbie Juul
• Richard Schlosser
• Shari Altmark
• Laura Gonzalez
• Maria Muro
• Darren Huey
• Jim Alvarez
• Vicki Neely
• Maisha Coulter
• Penelope Rodriguez
• Mercie Martinez
• Debbie Semnanian
• Nichelle Porter
• Kerri Wilson
• Anna Kwan
• Debra Martin
• Andy Demetroulis
• Tamara Caldwell

ATTORNEYS

• Allison Barrett
• Thomas Wicke

GUESTS

1. APPOINTMENT OF VOTING MEMBER(S) IN THE EVENT ONE OR MORE REGULAR COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE ABSENT
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF MAY 6, 2009

   A motion was made by Mr. Morris and seconded by Mr. Chery to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of October 7, 2009.

   The motion passed unanimously.

3. FOR INFORMATION
   1. Manager’s Report Debbie Juul discussed the following topics with the Committee:

      Ms. Juul included the NPR Health article on Obesity in the Committee packets per the Board’s request. The article mentions how a person’s BMI could affect the cost of their health insurance and how Safeway markets is charging their employees more for health coverage, with an incentive to receive some of the cost back if they reduce their BMl.

      Ms. Juul advised the Committee that Jeffery A. Hirsch will be a guest speaker at the next Committee meeting on December 2, 2009. Dr. Hirsch will be discussing “Syndrome X”.

      Mr. Simon Russin discussed the the Los Angeles times article regarding the Safeway program and how other groups and associations object to the program. Ms. Juul will retrieve the article and include it with the December 2, 2009 Committee packet.

   2. Report to Disability Procedures and Services Committee on Disability applications and Administrative Hearing (appeals) Caseload – Copies to Board Members

      Ms. Juul discussed the disability applications and appeals processing and trends report. She advised the Committee that there was a slight increase in disability applications received and disability applications in process. The amount of cases going before the Board has increased as well.

      Per Mr. Chery’s request, Ms. Juul provided additional information regarding the number of applicants who were represented or in pro per. For the fiscal year 2009, 79% of the safety applicants were represented and 34% of general were represented.

      Mr. J. Patrick Joyce advised the Committee that the appeal caseload has decreased from 476 cases in 2007 to 272 cases in October 2009. The decrease in caseload is due to several factors:

      • Lower number of new appeals
      • Referee recommendations
      • Dismissals and Withdrawals

      Mr. Joyce discussed the amount of cases each referee has and how some of the cases are delayed because of the referee’s caseload and how the new referees added to the LACERA panel will help move the cases along.

      As of October 2009 65% of members in appeal are represented by legal counsel.

4. ACTION ITEMS
5. MISCELLANEOUS (Discussion)
6. PUBLIC COMMENT

   Miss Antebi asked that staff keep the Committee posted with any questions that may come up regarding any cases that Dr. Khristine Eroshevich was assigned to.

7. GOOD OF THE ORDER
8. ADJOURNMENT

The Board of Retirement has adopted a policy permitting any member of the Board to attend a standing committee meeting open to the public. In the event five or more members of the Board of Retirement (including members appointed to the Committee) are in attendance, the meeting shall constitute a joint meeting of the Committee and the Board of Retirement. Members of the Board of Retirement who are not members of the Committee may attend and participate in a meeting of a Board Committee but may not vote on any matter discussed at the meeting. The only action the Committee may take at the meeting is approval of a recommendation to take further action at a subsequent meeting of the Board.

Documents distributed to members of the Committee less than 72 hours prior to the meeting will be available for public inspection at LACERA at the time they are distributed to a majority of the Committee, provided the documents are subject to public disclosure and relate to an open session of the Committee. Such documents may be viewed Monday through Friday during normal 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. business hours. LACERA is located at 300 N. Lake Avenue, Suite 820, Pasadena, California.

Persons requiring an alternative format of this agenda pursuant to Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 may request one by calling Cynthia Guider at (626)-564-6000, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, but no later than 48 hours prior to the time the meeting is to commence. Assistive Listening Devices are available upon request. American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters are available with at least three (3) business days notice before the meeting date.

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