July 1, 1944:

Board of Supervisors establishes SamCERA annuity for all full-time permanent employees.

1956:

County employees vote to be covered by Federal Old Age and Survivor’s Insurance effective July 1, 1957.

1958:

In response to a petition signed by permanent part-time employees, the Board of Retirement amends by-laws to cover part-time employees earning more than $80 per month. County Supervisors implement Safety Member provisions of the Retirement Law.

1961:

The majority of employees in the Fire Warden’s Department transfer to the Public Employees’ Retirement System when the State Division of Forestry takes over on July 1.

1967:

County Supervisors implement §31676.1 defined benefit formulaprovisions of the Retirement Law, thereby establishing what we now know as Plan 1. The Supervisors also lower Safety Member minimum retirement age from 55 down to 50 after 10 years of service.

1968:

County Supervisors increase benefits for current retirees by recalculating their benefits under §31676.1 formula and providing anannual cost-of-living increase of up to 3%, based on changes in the San Francisco area cost-of-living index, for all current and future retirees. Member contributions increased to fund the additional benefits.

1969:

County Supervisors rescind the right of employees hired after 1969 to purchase credit for their public service.

1971:

County Supervisors lower the General Member minimum retirement age to 50 after 10 years of service.

1972:

County Supervisors approve use of highest year of compensationfor use in calculating retirement benefit.

1975:

County Supervisors raise maximum annual cost-of-living increase to 5%, effective April 1, 1975.

1977:

County Supervisors pick-up 15% of Safety Member contributions.

1980:

County Supervisors rescind the 5% cost-of-living increase for all employees hired after July 6, thereby establishing what we now know as Plan 2, with no COLA.

1981:

County Supervisors grant additional cost-of-living increase based on years of County service for retirees receiving less than $500 per month and who retired before January 1, 1972.

1983:

County Supervisors offer a non-contributory Plan 3 to all General members. Current members are given the option to withdraw their contributions and switch to Plan 3. All new eligible employees are given the option of selecting Plan 2 or Plan 3.

1989:

County Supervisors provide for the payment of member contributions on a pre-tax (tax deferred) basis.

1990:

County Supervisors pick-up 50% of managerial and confidential employees’ member contributions.

1991:

Supervisors grant Safety Member status to new Probation employees in designated classes, effective March 1. Existing Probation employees in those classes are given the option to switch to Safety membership & to convert prior eligible service to Safety.

1992:

Boards of Retirement and Supervisors grant additional cost-of-living increase based on years of County service for retirees receiving less than $500 per month.

1993:

County Supervisors grant Plan 2 annual cost-of-living increase of up to 3%, based on changes in the San Francisco area cost-of-living index. County Supervisors permit Plan 3 members with five years of service to switch to Plan 2. Retirement Board and Supervisors vote to establish SamCERA as independent agency, effective March 31, 1994.

1994:

County Supervisors pick-up 100% of managerial and unrepresented attorney employees’ member contributions.

County Supervisors grant Probation Members use of highest year of compensation for use in calculating retirement benefit, subject to amending the ‘37 Act.

1996:

Governor Wilson vetoes legislation ratifying highest year of compensation for Probation Members in Plans 1 & 2. Unions reject County proposals to establish a Defined Contribution Plan as an alternative to SamCERA’s Defined Benefit Plan. County Supervisors & unions agree to Plan 4 for employees hired after July 12, 1997, with maximum 2% cost-of-living increase and 3-year final average monthly compensation.

1997:

California Supreme Court issues Ventura decision expanding definition of pay codes to be included in calculation of retirement benefits. SamCERA adds numerous forms of special and premium pay to final average compensation and begins to collect contributions on those pay codes.

1998:

Boards of Retirement & Supervisors establish tax-free Medicare Part-B Premium Reimbursement Program.

Board of Retirement changes the regulation to adopt the broadened definition of compensation earnable on a prospective basis. The Board is sued by Teamsters Union Local 856, AFL-CIO for: (1) not including certain items in compensation earnable and (2) for not applying the broadened definition to members (retirees and actives) who earned compensation prior to the issuance of the Ventura decision.

1999:

Governor Davis signs legislation ratifying highest year of compensation for Probation Members.

2001:

Board of Supervisors ratify an amendment to the Regulations of the Board of Retirement granting service credit for all County service reported as Voluntary Time Off (VTO), retroactive to the inception of the VTO program in 1977. In order to receive the credit a member must have been active County employee on March 27, 2001.

2002:

Board of Supervisors authorizes purchase of upgrade of Plan 3 service credit for members now in contributory plan. Roll overs authorized for the purchase of service credit.

2003:

Board of Supervisors authorizes implementation of 2% @ 55 benefit formula for General Members and 3% @ 55 for Safety & Probation Members. Supervisors also authorize implementation in 2005 of 2% @ 55.5 for General Members, contingent upon the enactment of General Member contribution legislation, and 3% @ 50 for Safety & Probation Members. Agreements with unions include schedule of Cost Sharing Member Contributions over and above SamCERA’s entry age member contribution rates.

The adoption of the newer formulas requires SamCERA to begin complying with the IRS Code limits on contributions for new employees and distribution limits for new retirees.

The ’37 Act was amended to preserve Service Credit for separated plan 3 members. Previously, non-vested plan 3 members with less than ten years’ of service lost the service after two years of separation.

2004:

Litigation in the suit by Teamsters Union Local 856, AFL-CIO is completed and pursuant to Court order, the Board of Retirement was correct in not including the items requested in compensation earnable. The Court does order that the broadened definition be applied to compensation earned prior to 1997 for all members, active and retirees. The Board of Retirement begins recalculating pension benefits arrears contributions in order to implement the Court of Appeal’s decision. Benefit adjustments to affected members begin in August.

2005:

California law was amended to extend the rights and duties of marriage to persons registered with California’s Secretary of State as domestic partners, effective January 1st, 2005.

Retirement formulas §31664.1 for Safety Members (3% at 50) and §31676.14 for General Members (2% @ 55 1/2) become effective.

2007:

Board of Supervisors adopt Additional Retirement Credit (ARC) effective July 1st.

California Legislature amends §31520.1 to allow Safety Alternate Trustees to sit in on closed sessions of the board.