OPS CONSOLIDATION
CONSOLIDATION OF THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY INTO THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
The consolidation of the Office of Public Safety (OPS) into the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) became effective June 30, 2010.
This consolidation resulted in a change of job classification and LACERA membership classification for approximately 400 members. Those affected became LACERA safety members effective the first payroll period following their change in job classification.
What This Means to Affected Members
If you experienced a change of job classification as a result of this consolidation, you either became a member of LACERA contributory Plan A or Plan B for safety members, effective with your change in job classification. The Plan you entered depends on your original LACERA membership date. If your original membership date was prior to September 1, 1977, you joined Safety Plan A. If your membership date is on or after September 1, 1977, you became a member of Safety Plan B.
Safety Plans A and B are comprehensive defined benefit retirement plans that provide a wide range of pre-retirement, retirement, and disability benefits. Visit the Plan Book Section to view the provisions of Safety Plans A and B.
Dual Status
Those affected will maintain dual status at LACERA. Dual status refers to LACERA members who have earned service credit both as a general member and a safety member.
At retirement, they will receive a combined retirement allowance based on service credit earned in each category of membership. Upon retirement, their general and safety benefit amounts will be calculated separately and added together to determine their total retirement allowance.
Converting General Service Credit to Safety Credit
Active safety members with at least five years of service as a safety member may purchase and convert up to five years of service credit earned as a general member in Plan A, B, C, D or E to safety member service credit. Certain restrictions currently apply. For additional information, call 1-800-786-6464 to speak with a LACERA Retirement Benefits Specialist.
Effective January 1, 2011, general members who became safety members as a result of the OPS/LASD consolidation may purchase and convert their general service credit to safety credit without the current restrictions.* Beginning in 2011, those affected will not be required to have at least five years of service as a safety member to purchase and convert their general OPS service credit to safety credit. Additionally, the restriction on the amount of OPS service credit (earned for duties performed as an OPS officer prior to the consolidation) that may be converted will be eliminated. (Conversion of prior time earned for other types of general service will still be limited to five years.)
*Restrictions eliminated per AB 1658, signed into law by Gov. Schwarzenegger on July 19, 2010.
7/20/11