Use of MySamCERA is voluntary. 

When you log into our secure MySamCERA website and/or mobile app (sometimes referred to collectively in these policies as “MySamCERA”), you are acknowledging that you have read and understand the MySamCERA Security Policy, Privacy Policy, and Limitation of Liability (together, referenced herein as the “User Policies”), and that you are the member, legal representative, or beneficiary of the SamCERA account that is being accessed. Your use of the website and/or mobile app means that you have agreed to these terms. 

You cannot access the MySamCERA website or mobile app without acceptance of the User Policies.

Security Policy

SamCERA is committed to making sure that your personal information remains confidential. We have taken several steps to safeguard the integrity of our communications and computing infrastructure, including but not limited to username and password authentication, programmed session timeouts, monitoring, auditing, and Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption of your browser communications. 

SamCERA’s mobile app and self-service website are for legal and authorized use only. Unauthorized access, attempted access, or use of SamCERA’s mobile app or self-service website is a violation of Section 502 of the California Penal Code and/or applicable federal law and may be subject the unauthorized user to prosecution. 

Use of MySamCERA is voluntary. Your use of the MySamCERA website and/or mobile app means you have agreed to these terms. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use the MySamCERA website or the mobile app, and instead contact SamCERA for assistance.  Our staff is available to assist you by phone at (650) 599-1234, or toll-free at (800) 339-0761, by email at samcera@samcera.org, or you can visit our office. When you log into MySamCERA, you are acknowledging that you have read and understand our User Policies, including this Security Policy, and that you are the individual who is the member, legal representative, or beneficiary of the SamCERA member account accessed. 

Your Password 

During the “Create an Account” process for MySamCERA, we request information about you so we can authenticate you as a member, and to be sure that you are who you say you are. Then you’ll be able to create a password, so only you can see your SamCERA information. 

Your password is your personal, confidential “key” to accessing your SamCERA information online. It’s not known to any SamCERA employee or business partner. Your password and your username are both SSL encrypted as they pass over the Internet. This protects information from being intercepted by a third party. (MySamCERA requires the use of an Internet browser with the ability to support 128-bit encryption.) 

SamCERA employees will never ask for your current password in any form including over the telephone or via email. 

Signing Off 

It’s always best to log out of your account when leaving the MySamCERA website or the mobile app. For the MySamCERA website, click on your name “on the top right-hand corner, then click on the “logout” link.  On the MySamCERA mobile app, click on “More” in the navigation menu on the bottom, then click on the “logout” link on the top right-hand corner.

We recommend that you never leave your computer unattended without first signing off. As an extra security measure, if you are using the MySamCERA website and no activity is detected for 15 minutes, you will automatically be signed out of your session. If you are using the MySamCERA mobile app and no activity is detected for 5 minutes, you will automatically be signed out of your session.

Your Role in Security 

Making sure your confidential information is secure is also an important responsibility for you. You’re responsible for ensuring your personal password remains secure, so you should not reveal your password to anyone. If you believe an unauthorized person has gained access to your password, you should change it immediately. 

As part of good security practices, you should change your password regularly and never walk away from your computer or leave your mobile device unattended if you’re in the middle of a session. You should also review the MySamCERA Privacy Policy for more information. 

MySamCERA Privacy Policy

SamCERA is committed to responsible information-handling practices. When you access or use our self-service website or mobile app, you agree to the terms and conditions published here. Please note that the privacy policies or statements of any websites linked to the MySamCERA website or mobile app may differ. SamCERA is not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites. 

To stay current, we reserve the right to update all of our User Policies, including this Privacy Policy as needed, and your use will be subject to the most current policy version. You should check these policies from time to time. SamCERA has a responsibility to protect its computing resources. If we believe an attempt is being made through the Internet to break into or otherwise abuse our computer systems or business information, we will use the information in our computer logs, and other means available, to determine those responsible. As part of these legal efforts, we may share the information we gather with law enforcement agencies or other authorized entities. 

You have the responsibility to protect your computing resources. Please notify SamCERA if someone has broken in or abused your computing systems so that SamCERA can take appropriate steps to protect your account. 

Information Collected During Your Visit to the MySamCERA Website and Mobile App

General information collected when you use the MySamCERA website or mobile app may include:

• Your Internet Protocol (IP) address. The IP address is the numerical identifier assigned either to your Internet service provider or directly to your computer.
• The type of browser and operating system you use.
• The date and time you visited.
• The web pages or services you accessed.
• The website you visited prior to coming to this site.

Protection of Your Information 

We are committed to protecting your information and have implemented procedures and technology designed for this purpose, including:

• Information you transmit to us and information we send to your browser will always be done so using an appropriate encryption process.
• We use physical security and technological means to prevent unauthorized access to your information. This includes firewalls, anti-virus protection, real-time monitoring, and other techniques.

How Your Information Is Used 

In order to improve the content of the MySamCERA website and mobile app and to help us better understand how these online services are being used, SamCERA collects certain user information. This information does not identify you personally and is used for gathering website statistics. We make no attempt to link other websites with the individuals that browse our websites. SamCERA does not sell your personal information.

Your Voluntary Use of MySamCERA

Your use of the MySamCERA website and mobile app is voluntary, and if you do not wish to conduct electronic business using SamCERA’s self-service tools, our staff is available to assist you by phone at (650) 599-1234, or toll-free at (800) 339-0761, by email at samcera@samcera.org, or you can visit our office. 

If you choose to submit information through the MySamCERA website or mobile app, it will be transmitted in a secure fashion to our internal databases. It will only be used for the purpose it was provided and will not be sold to another entity. If we need to coordinate efforts with your employer(s), your information will only be used to conduct the SamCERA-related business for which it was intended. 

Saving Your “View” & Information on Cookies 

To maintain the functionality of the MySamCERA website, “session-based” cookies are used. These cookies let the site know where to return the information or business transaction results you request by creating a temporary, randomly generated identifying tag that expires when you end your browser session. 

Cookies created on your computer by using our websites do not contain personal information and do not compromise your privacy or security. 

MySamCERA uses cookies to track the information you input into the program. These cookies allow the programs to operate correctly in order to deliver the retirement estimate results. You can refuse the cookie or delete the cookie file from your computer by using any of the widely available methods. However, if you turn your cookies option off, you may not be able to access some of our online services.  

Privacy and Security for the MySamCERA Mobile App

The MySamCERA Mobile App does not store any user account data locally on your mobile device. The app does not access any data on the mobile device such as location, contacts, calendars, or personal identification. In order to upload documents to your MySamCERA account via photo, the mobile app will request access to your phone’s camera and or photo library and you must grant it access to proceed. MySamCERA will also prompt you for permission to enable Touch ID or Face ID (for iPhones) or fingerprint scan (for Android) before activating those functions to log into the app. 

The MySamCERA Mobile App connects to user data over HTTPS using 128-bit SSL encryption. 

Collection and Use of Image Information
Our app may require access to your device’s image library or camera functionality in order to provide certain features or services. The app may request permission to access and upload image information, including but not limited to photos, pictures, or other visual content.

Purpose of Image Information Upload
The primary purpose of uploading image information is to enable specific app features and functionality, such as submitting documentation to SamCERA. The uploaded image information may be processed, analyzed, or stored securely on our servers to facilitate these features and enhance the overall user experience.

User Consent and Control
By using our app, you explicitly consent to the collection, storage, and processing of image information as described in this privacy policy. You have the option to grant or deny permission for the app to access your device’s image library or camera functionality. You can modify these permissions at any time through your device’s settings

Security and Confidentiality
We employ industry-standard security measures to safeguard the image information collected, uploaded, and stored by our app. We take appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction of image information. However, please note that no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Third-Party Services
Our app may integrate with third-party services, plugins, or APIs that require access to image information for specific features or functionalities. These third-party services are governed by their own privacy policies and terms of use. We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of these third-party services to understand how they handle your image information.

Data Retention
We retain the uploaded image information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this privacy policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. We will securely delete or anonymize image information when it is no longer needed or upon your request.

Compliance with Applicable Laws and Regulations
We comply with all applicable laws and regulations regarding the collection, storage, and processing of image information. This includes compliance with privacy laws and regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), where applicable.

Limitation of Liability 

While SamCERA makes every attempt to ensure the information provided through its websites and mobile app is reliable, human or mechanical error remains a possibility. Therefore, SamCERA does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, or correct sequencing of information, and will not be held responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of the information. This applies to any websites linked to and from SamCERA websites. 

If there is a conflict between the information provided on our websites and/or the mobile app and the applicable County Employees Retirement Law and/or the California Public Employees’ Retirement Law, any decisions will be based on the law and not the information on our websites and mobile app. 

Note: The MySamCERA User Policies reflect current SamCERA business practices and are subject to change without notice.