BILL PAVES THE WAY FOR REINSTATEMENT OF SOME RETIRED FIREFIGHTERS

The section of the County Employees Retirement Law (CERL) which made firefighters who retired due to age ineligible for reinstatement was repealed on June 2, 2008. The repeal of that provision, which took effect with Governor Schwarzennegger's signing of Senate Bill 579, paves the way for reinstatement of firefighters who retired due to age. Firefighter reinstatement is not automatic and must be approved by the member's department.

Firefighters interested in reinstatement should contact their departments for further information. (9-10-08)

MANDATORY RETIREMENT LIFTED FOR SAFETY MEMBERS

Effective January 1, 2008, sheriff and fire Safety Members are exempt from mandatory retirement.

This is the result of a resolution adopted by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (BOS) at its December 18, 2007 meeting. The resolution implements Senate Bill (SB) 134, effective January 1, 2008, which exempts sheriff and fire safety members from mandatory retirement. This exemption is contingent upon certification by a physician employed or approved by the County that the safety member is capable of performing his or her assigned duties pursuant to standards set forth by the member's employer.

Prior to this resolution, safety members hired before April 1, 1997 were subject to mandatory retirement at age 60. (District Attorney Investigators and lifeguards in L.A. County were already exempt from mandatory retirement at age 60 by order of the Federal Court.)

REINSTATEMENT OF SHERIFFS

At the same meeting, the BOS also adopted the section of the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 (CERL) that permits a sheriff who previously retired due to the age restriction to be reinstated. (Note: This is not applicable to fire safety members at this time.) The reinstatement ("unretirement") is not automatic and must be approved by the member's department.

LACERA PROCEDURES

Sheriffs who reinstate back to active membership will have their retirement benefit suspended and will return to the plan and entry age that was in effect during their original period of employment. Membership will be effective the first day of the month following the date of reemployment.

For more information, call 1-800-786-6464 to speak with a LACERA Retirement Benefits Specialist.

OUTREACH EFFORT FOR HR PROFESSIONALS

LACERA is currently developing an Outreach workshop on this topic for HR Professionals. Interested? Call the LACERA Workshop Coordinator at 626-564-6000 ext. 3384 to schedule a visit at your location.

To view additional information about retirement Plan Safety A and B visit the Plan Book Section

7/1/09