BILL ANALYSIS AB 1658 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 5, 2010 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, RETIREMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY Alberto Torrico, Chair AB 1658 (Lieu) - As Amended: March 1, 2010 SUBJECT : County employees' retirement: service credit: safety members. SUMMARY : Allows certain members of the Los Angeles County Employees' Retirement Association (LACERA) moving into safety membership due to a specified consolidation, to convert prior general member service to safety member service if the member elects to pay the cost for the conversion, as specified. Specifically, this bill : 1)Allows former employees of the Los Angeles County Office of Public Safety who, as a result of the consolidation of that office with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, become safety members of LACERA, to elect to receive service credit as a safety member for all or part of the time the member served as a officer with the Office of Public Safety. 2)Requires a member electing to convert the service to pay the difference between the member and employer contributions paid as a general member and the member and employer contributions that would have been paid as a safety member plus regular interest. 3)Allows payment for the conversion to be made either in a lump sum or by installment payments. FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown. COMMENTS : In 2009, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to consolidate the County's Office of Public Service into the Sheriff's Department. As employees of the Office of Public Safety (which was responsible for law enforcement services for county parks and buildings), these employees were general members of LACERA. Those who are accepted into the Sheriff's Department as Deputy Sheriffs as a result of the consolidation will become safety members of LACERA for all future service. According to supporters, "AB 1658 would allow the 'new' deputies AB 1658 Page 2 to receive service credit as a safety member for duties performed as a peace officer in the Office of Public Safety prior to the merger." According to the author, "These law enforcement officers put their lives on the line everyday. They do this to keep our communities and neighborhoods safe from crime. AB 1658 provides a way for these officers, at their own cost, to have their retirement benefits reflect the risk and duties they daily perform." REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION : Support Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officer Association (Co-Sponsor) Association of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs (Co-Sponsor) Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (Co-Sponsor) Opposition None on file Analysis Prepared by : Karon Green / P.E., R. & S.S. / (916) 319-3957