FROM: Colin Bishop, Chief of Member Services
SUBJECT: Returning Retiree Certification: Charles Abney
RECOMMENDATION:
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Approve the request to extend re-employment of Charles Abney as fixed-wing aircraft pilot for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, from September 1, 2020 to October 31, 2021, because an extreme necessity exists to continue the retiree's employment beyond the 18-month limit, and thus the standards of SBCERA Board Benefits Policy No. 032: "Retirees Returning to Work," have been met.
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BACKGROUND:
Mr. Abney retired on June 30, 2005 as a Helicopter Pilot from the County of San Bernardino Sheriff's Department and has been re-employed since July 16, 2011 in the Sheriff's Aviation Unit. His initial reemployment was prior to the implementation of the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA), when additional restrictions were placed on retirees returning to work. In January 2015, SBCERA's Board approved version 1.0 of Administration Policy No. 015, "Retirees Returning to Work," which outlined a process whereby employers would report and certify the eligibility of retired SBCERA members prior to reemployment. At the time, the policy permitted reemployment for a "limited duration" of time if the duration of employment was less than two years. For extensions beyond that two-year cutoff, Board approval was not required, and instead, staff would review and process the extension.
Accordingly, in February 2016, the Sheriff's Department filed for and was granted an extension by SBCERA staff for Mr. Abney to continue working through August 31, 2019. In August 2019, the Sheriff's Department filed for another extension, and the SBCERA Board granted Mr. Abney this extension to continue working through August 31, 2020.
The employer contends that Mr. Abney's skill and experience with aircraft is critical to the Sheriff's Department and the public's safety. The Sheriff's Department utilizes fixed-wing aircraft t...
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