FROM: Christina Cintron, Chief of Member Services
SUBJECT: Returning Retiree Certification: Jarrod Burns
RECOMMENDATION:
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Approve the request to extend the employment of Jarrod Burns from March 7, 2026 through April 7, 2027, in accordance with SBCERA Benefits Policy No. 032, Retirees Returning to Work.
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BACKGROUND:
The California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) establishes limitations for retirees returning to work in the same retirement system from which they receive a pension. Under SBCERA Benefits Policy No. 032, extensions beyond 18 consecutive months of re-employment must be approved by the Board of Retirement and are permitted only under conditions of Extreme Necessity and for a Limited Duration.
Jarrod Burns retired from San Bernardino County as a Sheriff’s Department Sergeant on March 25, 2023, after approximately 25.5 years of service. On April 4, 2024, the Board of Retirement granted Mr. Burns a service-connected disability retirement.
Pursuant to SBCERA Benefits Policy No. 032, Section II.A.1(b)(vi), when a retiree receiving a disability benefit seeks re-employment, the employer must certify that the position is not the same position from which the member retired and does not include duties or activities the retiree was restricted from performing at the time of disability retirement.
In compliance with Policy No. 032, Mr. Burns completed a Returning Disabled Retiree Questionnaire and submitted documentation confirming that he has been medically cleared to perform work in an office setting. Based on the duties described by the employer in both the original certification request and the current extension request, the proposed re-employment is not the same position from which he retired and does not include duties he was restricted from performing at the time of his service-connected disability retirement.
Mr. Burns’ original Returning Retiree Certification in a Safety Unit Extra Help classification was approved by staff and was effective August 24, 2024 through February 23, 2026. San Bernardino County Human Resources Department has confirmed that Mr. Burns stopped working on February 23, 2026. The present request represents the first extension beyond the initial 18-month certification period.
CURRENT REQUEST:
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department requests an extension of Mr. Burns’ Returning Retiree employment from March 7, 2026 through April 7, 2027, continuing in the classification of Safety Unit Extra Help.
EXTREME NECESSITY:
The employer reports that Mr. Burns is assigned to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) Unit at the Victorville Patrol Station, where he processes initial and renewal CCW applications for residents of the High Desert region. According to the employer, Mr. Burns processes approximately 10 to 12 initial applications per week and 15 to 20 renewal applications per week and currently serves as the primary staff member responsible for handling initial applications at that location.
The employer represents that a vacancy in the authorized CCW Background Investigator position at the Victorville Patrol Station created an immediate staffing gap and increased workload within the unit. As a result, Mr. Burns has assumed responsibility for maintaining application processing timelines at that location.
Without the Board’s approval of the requested extension, the Sheriff’s Department states that Mr. Burns’ absence would result in disruption of public business within the CCW Unit at the Victorville Patrol Station. In addition to delays in the approval of new and renewal permits; the employer indicates that the existing caseload of permit requests would be delayed until a replacement investigator is hired and fully trained. While other background investigators are capable of performing the duties assigned to Mr. Burns, doing so would require reassignment of personnel to the Victorville Patrol Station or require High Desert residents to travel to the San Bernardino office to obtain services. The employer states that either approach would disrupt the current CCW process, result in significant delays in both initial and renewal permit processing and increase workloads for background investigators at other County locations who are already managing high caseloads.
The employer further indicates that delays in processing applications and renewals would result in extended processing timelines for applicants.
In addition to application processing, the employer reports that Mr. Burns is scheduled to assist with annual CCW vendor audits in 2026 to ensure compliance and operational continuity.
Taken together, these factors demonstrate that Mr. Burns’ continued limited assignment is necessary to support timely processing of CCW applications and renewals and to avoid disruption to operations at the Victorville Patrol Station during the recruitment and onboarding of a permanent Background Investigator.
Limited Duration / Completion of Work:
The employer indicates that Mr. Burns’ Returning Retiree appointment remains temporary and is tied to the operational need to maintain CCW application and renewal processing at the Victorville Patrol Station during a vacancy in the authorized Background Investigator position. Mr. Burns serves in an Extra Help capacity supporting the Department’s CCW workload.
The Sheriff’s Department has represented that it is actively working with San Bernardino County Human Resources and has an open recruitment for a recurrent Sheriff’s Background Investigator position to fill the vacancy at the Victorville Patrol Station.
The Department indicates that Mr. Burns’ continued assignment is intended to provide interim support during the requested extension period while a permanent CCW Background Investigator is recruited, hired, and trained. His appointment remains classified as Extra Help and is not structured as a permanent appointment within the Department’s authorized staffing structure.
Because the assignment is connected to active recruitment efforts and is intended to supplement staffing capacity during the requested extension period, the employer has identified a temporary operational need consistent with the Limited Duration requirement under Policy No. 032. These factors collectively satisfy the Limited Duration standard.
RECRUITMENT EFFORTS:
The employer reports that it is actively working with San Bernardino County Human Resources to recruit for the Background Investigator classification. The Sheriff’s Department has an open recruitment for a recurrent Sheriff’s Background Investigator position.
The employer represents that recruitment efforts are ongoing in order to increase permanent staffing capacity within the background investigation function and to support continued processing of CCW applications and renewals at the Victorville Patrol Station.
LEGAL AND POLICY CONSIDERATIONS:
Pursuant to SBCERA Benefits Policy No. 032 and applicable PEPRA provisions, Board approval for re-employment beyond 18 consecutive months requires that the request satisfy both of the following conditions:
1. Extreme Necessity: The employer must demonstrate that the re-employment is essential to maintain effective operations due to genuinely unforeseen or unavoidable circumstances; and
2. Limited Duration / Completion of Work: The re-employment must relate to the completion of a specific, time-bound task or project, or meet one of the limited-duration conditions defined in Policy No. 032.
• Hard-to-Recruit Positions: Temporary placement in a classification requiring specialized skills, certifications, or qualifications that are difficult to recruit for in the labor market, supported by documented and ongoing recruitment efforts; or
• Stoppage of Public Business: Re-employment necessary to prevent interruption of essential government functions where such interruption would directly compromise public safety, security, welfare, or the effective administration of justice.
Based on the employer’s statements and the supporting documentation submitted, staff finds that the request satisfies the Extreme Necessity and Limited Duration requirements set forth in SBCERA Benefits Policy No. 032.
CONCLUSION:
Based on the justification provided and the supporting documentation submitted, staff recommends that the Board approve the Returning Retiree extension request for Jarrod Burns in accordance with SBCERA Benefits Policy No. 032 and applicable PEPRA provisions.
BUDGET IMPACT:
None.
STRATEGIC PLANNING GOAL/OBJECTIVE:
Operational Excellence & Efficiency
STAFF CONTACT:
Christina Cintron
ATTACHMENTS:
Exhibit A: Board Summary Worksheet
Exhibit B: Current Certification Form
Exhibit C: Prior Certification Request