| Safety Membership and Tier Differences |
CONTRA
COSTA COUNTY
EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION |
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Safety Members are individuals employed in active law enforcement, active fire suppression, and other occupations as noted below. |
| In 2002, the 1937 act expanded safety member definitions. The following positions are some examples of jobs that are now within Safety retirement tiers: |
- Hazardous Materials Specialists and Technicians
- Airport Operations Specialists
- Probation Counselors, Officers and Supervisors
- District Attorney Investigators
- Welfare Fraud and Field Investigators
- Public Safety Officers
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| There are other job classifications under Safety retirement tiers. Jobs designated as "Safety" are mandated by statutes, and/or through adoption by the County Board of Supervisors. Your retirement tier designation depends primarily on the benefit structure adopted by your employer. |
| If there is any doubt as to whether a job category qualifies as a Safety classification, the Retirement Board makes the determination. |
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NOTE: Employment by Contra Costa County or a special district involved with law enforcement, fire suppression or other "Safety" classification does not automatically mean you belong to a Safety tier. General members also work for Safety employers. For example, clerical staff, criminalist aides, and court service officers do not have duties that fall within "active" enforcement. These employees are members of Tier 1E or Tier 3E. |
| If you are a Tier 1E or 3E member, your benefits are described in the General Member Handbook. |
| Safety Benefit Tier Differences |
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| Safety A (Enhanced: 3% at 50) |
Safety members with 10 or more years of continuing service, who retire on or after age 50, or Safety members with 20 years of service regardless of age, will receive pensions calculated with the enhanced benefit factor (3% at 50). |
| Safety C (Enhanced: 3% at 50) |
Safety Tier C is applicable only to Deputy Sheriffs with membership dates on or after 1/01/2007. Retirement eligibility is the same as for Safety Enhanced. |
| Safety Non Enhanced (2% at 50) |
As of 2008, only one agency is in this tier: Rodeo-Hercules Fire protection District. Retirement eligibility is the same as other Safety Tiers. |
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| A |
1 year highest average salary |
3% maximum/year |
3% at 50 |
| C |
3 year highest average salary |
2% maximum/year |
3% at 50 |
| Non-Enhanced |
1 year highest average salary |
3% maximum/year |
2% at 50 |
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Safety Tier C is specific to Deputy Sheriffs. All other Safety members are in Tier A. |
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In 2006, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors adopted a 1937 Act statute, 31484.9, which created flexibility in the Board's ability to alter benefit structures for different Deputy Sheriff bargaining units, unrepresented employees in similar job classifications, their supervisors and managers. |
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This statute allows the establishment of different retirement benefits for different bargaining units within the Deputy Sheriff's Association. Benefit provisions can be increased by the adoption of a resolution; however, benefits can also be decreased in the same fashion. This section of the law only applies to increases over the basic benefit, and will be consistent with any MOUs accepted by DSA bargaining units. The Board of Supervisors must also inform all DSA members about the impact of any possible benefit structure changes.
31484.9 also mandates that any benefit changes are only available prospectively (going forward from the dates of adoption). Prior retirement service credit will be calculated at the formula in effect during that serice period. Future service credit will be calculated under current provisions. Total retirement allowance will be the sum of both service credit periods.
This section of the law established a new tier, Safety Tier C, which only applies to Deputy Sheriffs with membership dates on or after January 1, 2007. Deputy Sheriffs hired prior to January 1, 2007 do not have an option to elect Tier C. |
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