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HomeMy WebLinkAbout96-5798 (2)RESOLUTION NO. 96 -57 98 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA ADOPTING DISABILITY RETIREMENT PROCEDURES FOR SAFETY MEMBERS. WHEREAS, Government Code Section 21025 sets forth requirements for agencies contracting with the Public Employees' Retirement System to conduct hearings regarding appeals of the agencies initial disability retirement determination in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, and WHEREAS, the City of Hermosa Beach is a contracting agency with the Public Employees Retirement System, and WHEREAS, the Public Employees Retirement System has recommended that agencies adopt a formal procedure which describes their disability determination procedure and incorporates the Administrative Procedures Act requirements. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Hermosa Beach, California does hereby adopt the attached Retirement Procedures for Safety Members (Exhibit 1) PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED THIS 26th day of March, 1996 of the City Council and MAYOR of the City of Hermosa Beach, California ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: City Attorney disres/94-001 Page 1 STATE OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH I, Naoma Valdes, Deputy City Clerk of the City Council of the City of Hermosa Beach, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 96-5798 was duly and regularly passed, approved and adopted by the City Council of the City of Hermosa Beach at a Regular Meeting of said Council at the regular place thereof on March 26, 1996. The vote was as follows: AYES: Benz, Bowler, Edgerton, Reviczky, Mayor Oakes NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None DATED: March 28, 1996 iL Deputy City Clerk DISABILITY RETIREMENT PROCEDURES ' FOR SAFETY MEMBERS 1. Introduction Under State law, it is the responsibility of the City to make determinations relating to disability retirement applications for its employees who are safety members of the Public Employees' Retirement System and relating to reinstatement of such retirees. As authorized by Government Code Section 21034, the City Council of the City has, with its Resolution No. N.S. 3283, delegated certain of its responsibilities to its City Manager. The following procedures have been established by the City pursuant to the Council's Resolution. 2. Filina of Application for Disability Retirement by Employee 1. An employee's application for disability retirement shall be submitted to the City Manager by the employee fully completing the appropriate forms supplied by the Personnel Department, and filing these, along with any appropriate attachments, with the Personnel Director of the City or other designee as appointed by the City Manager. (Attachment 1). (1) The P.E.R.S. Application for Retirement form (Attachment 2) shall be completed, the employee shall send the original to P.E.R.S. at the indicated P.E.R.S. address in Sacramento, and file a copy of the completed form with the Personnel Director. (2) In addition, the applicant must also complete the Application for Disability Retirement -Safety Officer (Attachment 3), and file it with the Personnel Director. C. Both of these forms must be fully completed and signed by the applicant and have attached any supporting documentation, in order for action to be taken by the City. 3. Filing of Application by Disability Retiree for Reinstatement Pursuant to Government Code Section 21101, an employee previously retired due to disability from service with the City may apply for reinstatement on the basis that he/she is no longer incapacitated, by submitting in writing to the Personnel Director all facts and circumstances forming the basis for the application for reinstatement. 1 4. Recommendation by Personnel Director that Employee be Retired for Disability or that Disability Retiree be Reinstated The Personnel Director may initiate a recommendation to the City Manager that he/she certify to the P.E.R.S. that an employee be retired for disability, or that a disability retiree be reinstated, by submitting to the City Manager a written report setting forth the facts and circumstances forming the basis for the Personnel Director's recommendation, with a copy to the employee or retiree. 5. Submission of Employee's Application or Personnel Director's Recommendation to the City The Personnel Director or other designees appointed by the City Manager shall within ten (10) calendar days of receipt, submit the employee's application or the Personnel Director's recommendation with all attachments, to the City Manager. 6. Acknowledgment of Apj:Acafion by City Within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt by the Personnel Director of the duly completed application with supporting documentation, a notice (Attachment 4) shall be sent by the City, to the employee and the representative designated in his/her application (if any), acknowledging receipt of the application, and transmitting to the applicant or his/her representative, a copy of these rules and procedures. 7. Investigation and Proposed Disposition A. The Personnel Director, and such other officials, employees and/or agents of the City as may be designated by the City Manager, shall have the authority and duty to investigate the facts and circumstances pertaining to the employee's or retiree's application as they, or any of them, deem appropriate. Such fact-finding may include ordering the employee or retiree to submit to medical or psychiatric examinations, securing by subpoena duces tecum or otherwise, medical and other reports, records, and documentation for review, and taking statements by deposition or otherwise of the employee, retiree, and/or other persons. B. The Personnel Director or the designated officials, employees and/or other agents shall thereafter based upon the investigation, submit a proposed disposition of the application or recommendation to the City Manager. The City Manager shall send a notice of such proposed disposition to the employee or retiree with copies to the designated representative, if any. (Attachment 5). This notice shall indicate the proposed disposition and that the City shall certify such disposition to P.E.R.S. unless an objection is filed by the applicant with the office by the applicant of the City Manager prior to the expiration of fifteen (15) calendar days from the date of service of the notice. A proof of service by mail shall be attached to the notice and shall constitute conclusive evidence of the date of service. 8. Final Disposition of Application or Recommendation in Absence of Objection( If no objection is received within the fifteen (15) calendar day period, the City Manager shall certify the proposed disposition to the P.E.R.S. (Attachment 6) 9. Informal Conference if Obiection(s) Timely Filed A. If timely objection is received, the Personnel Director or other designee as appointed by the City Manager, shall schedule a conference to occur in no less than ten (10) nor more than twenty (20) calendar days, with written notice to the employee or retiree, the designated representative, if any, and such other involved personnel or agents as he/she deems appropriate. Such notice shall be deposited in the United States mail at least ten (10) calendar days prior to such conference. The Personnel Director or other designee shall preside over the conference. (Attachment 8) B. The purpose of the conference shall be to afford the parties an opportunity to reach agreement as to final disposition of the matter, and if no such agreement is reached, to ascertain if any parties in interest request a hearing on the application or recommendation and, if so, to frame issues, enter into stipulations, and discuss dates for the commencement of the hearing. The parties will endeavor to set a hearing no later than ninety (90) calendar days (if there is no rehabilitation evaluation pending), or one hundred eighty (180) calendar days (if the employee is being evaluated for rehabilitation), from the date of the conference. Said time limitations are guidelines and are not jurisdictional requirements. Any requested appeal hearing shall be conducted by an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) of the Office of Administrative Hearing (OAH). The Personnel Director or other designee shall initiate contact with the OAH and secure appointment of an ALJ. The parties shall equally divide the costs of the ALJ. 10. Filinq and Service of Medical Reports and Documentary Evidence No later than thirty (30) calendar days before the scheduled commencement of the hearing, each party shall file with the Administratively Law Judge (ALJ), and serve on the other party, any and all medical reports and records and other documentary evidence to be relied upon in the presentation of their case. Unless good cause is shown, any document, report or record not filed and served as herein provided, shall be inadmissible at hearing, and no testimony upon which such report, document or record is based may be admitted into evidence at the hearing. Either party may serve a request for discovery upon the other party as provided for in Government Code Section 11507.6. In such case, the procedures contained in Government Code Sections 11507.6 and 11507.7 shall apply. 3 11. Hearing Continuances Scheduled hearing dates may be continued by order of the ALJ pursuant to stipulation of the parties or pursuant to written motion of one of the parties. A copy of such written motion must be served on the other party. A continuance shall be granted and all proceedings stayed if it is shown that the claimant (1) Has failed to disclose fully to the City the nature, type or character of the disability upon which the application is based; or (2) Has failed to disclose the name and address of the physician or other practitioner, or facilities by whom or at which he/she was examined, treated, or evaluated for any condition upon which a claim for disability is or may be based; (3) Has failed to participate in or complete any examination or examinations by a health practitioner selected by the City. In such case, all proceedings shall be stayed until the claimant has made full disclosure with respect to (1) and (2) above, and has cooperated in completing any medical examinations or evaluations scheduled by the City. 12. Stipulated Settlement At any time in the proceedings the parties may enter into stipulations and recommend to the City Manager a final disposition regarding the retirement, rehabilitation, and/or employment status of the employee or retiree. 13. Subpoenas A. Any subpoenas shall be issued by the ALJ. B. The parties may avail themselves of the subpoena process to ensure the availability of witnesses. 14. Conduct of Hearing A. The conduct of the hearing shall be under the direction of the ALJ. The ALJ shall prepare written findings and a decision for presentation to the City Manager. B. The proceedings at the hearing shall be recorded by a certified shorthand reporter. C. The parties shall each prepare and serve on each other, and on the ALJ, a statement of issues. The issues which may be considered at the hearing, shall be limited to the following: (1) Disability - Is the employee or retiree substantially incapacitated at the present time from the performance of the essential duties of his/her current or last job classification and if so, is such incapacity permanent or of an uncertain and extended duration? (2) If the employee is found to be disabled due to mental disorder, is he/she competent to act on his/her behalf in legally binding retirement matters? (3) Industrial Causation - If the employee is disabled, did the disability arise out of and in the course of City employment? (4) Should the employee be certified to P.E.R.S. for: (i) industrial disability retirement, or (ii) non -industrial disability retirement, or (iii) regular service retirement, or (iv) no retirement benefits? (5) What is the effective date of any retirement? (6) Has a rehabilitation program been offered to the employee, and if so, what is the status of such program? (7) Is there any third party liability related to the injury which caused the disability? D. The moving party shall proceed first, and shall have the burden of proof E. The ALJ shall conduct the hearing in accord with Government Code Sections 11500 et seq. F. The hearing shall continue from day-to-day until the proceedings are concluded or continued to a date certain within the discretion of the ALJ. G. The ALJ may hold the record open, at his/her discretion, for the submission of briefs and/or the assignment of an Independent Medical Examiner (IME). (1) Upon notification that the ALJ elects to assign an IME the parties shall mutually agree upon an IME. In the event that no agreement is reached upon an IME within seven (7) days, an IME shall be selected from a list of five (5) IME's provided by the City's Workers' Compensation Third Party Administrator by alternate striking of names until one name remains. The party who strikes the first name from the panel shall be determined by lot. (2) Any such IME will be furnished all documentary evidence presented, will examine the employee or retiree at the expense of the City, and shall report in writing to the ALJ. The ALJ will serve said report upon all parties within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt. s (3) Any party may request cross-examination by deposition of the IME within ten (10) calendar days of service of the IME report, at such party's expense, for the doctor's fee and cost of a court reporter. The court reporter shall transmit the record directly to the ALJ, with copies to be sent to a requesting party at that party's expense. 15. Costs A. Except as otherwise described herein, each party shall bear its own costs incurred by each such party, including the costs of their witnesses and representatives, and the costs of a transcript of the hearing ordered by such party, and shall share equally the mutually incurred costs of the hearing, including the charges of the court reporter. 16. Findings and Conclusions: Within thirty (30) calendar days of the closing of the record, the ALJ shall provide the parties in interest and their representatives with its written findings of fact and conclusions, and shall submit such findings and conclusions to the City Manager for further action by the City Manager within one hundred (100) calendar days of receipt of the findings. The City Manager may take any of the following actions: A. The City Manager may adopt the ALJ's findings and conclusions by directing that certification be made accordingly to the P.E.R.S. of the City's final determination of the application or recommendation based on such findings and conclusions, with copies of such certification to the parties and their representatives, if any, or B. The City Manager may, based upon his/her independent review of the record, modify and/or amend the findings and conclusions, and certify as appropriate to the P.E.R.S. a final determination based on such modified and/or amended findings and conclusions, with a copy of such certification to the parties and their representatives, if any, or C. The City Manager may direct that further evidence be taken and proceed to hear such additional evidence or remand the matter to the ALJ for the taking of such further evidence, and the issuance of a decision. If the City Manager orders a transcript of the proceedings before the ALJ, the one hundred (100) day period in which he/she must take the above actions will not commence running until receipt of the transcript, provided the transcript is ordered within one hundred (100) days of the ALSs decision. 6 17. Reconsideration Any party may move for reconsideration of the City Manager's decision within thirty. (30) days after service of such decision. 18. Appeal An aggrieved party may appeal the final determination in the manner and to the extent provided by State law. f 94-009/psdret Attachment 1 CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH SAFETY OFFICER DISABILITY RETIREMENT APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS TO EMPLOYEE Attached are copies of the forms that must be completed by you in order for you to apply for disability retirement. A complete P.E.R.S. retirement application booklet and pamphlets addressing industrial disability application procedures are available in the Personnel Department. "APPLICATION FOR DISABILITY RETIREMENT" (PERS-BEN-369D) and "SURVIVOR CONTINUANCE QUESTIONNAIRE" (PERS-BAS-54) a. Obtain a complete P.E.R.S. "Application for Disability Retirement" package from the Personnel Office. Copies of PERS-BEN-369D and PERS-BAS-54 are attached as "Attachment 2". b. After you have completed these forms, turn in a copy to the Personnel Director and mail the originals to the Public Employees' Retirement System as indicated at the top of the form. It is important that you mail these forms to P.E.R.S. as soon as possible as your retirement cannot be effective earlier than the first of the month in which it is received by P.E.R.S. 2. CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH "APPLICATION FOR DISABILITY RETIREMENT - SAFETY OFFICER" a. In addition to the above P.E.R.S. forms, you must also complete this form, and, along with a signed medical release for each physician and medical facility listed, turn it in to the Personnel Director. 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Please answer all four questions and complete the required information for each section that is answered "yes". 1. Are you currently married? ❑ Yes ❑ No Spouse's Full Name Social Security Number Birthdate Date of Marriage 2. Do you have any unmarried children under 18? ❑ Yes ❑ No Child's Full Name Social Security Number Birthdate 3. Do you have any unmarried children who were disabled prior to their 18th birthday and who have remained disabled until the present time? ❑ Yes ❑ No Child's Full Name Social Security Number Birthdate 4. Are your parents dependent upon you for at least one-half of their support? ❑ Yes ❑ No Parent's Full Name Social Security Number Birthdate I certify that the information provided in this form is correct. Signature Home Phone Number PERS-BAS-54 (Rev. 10/93) Date Business Phone Number NAME ADDRESS: 1 2 3 4 5 X Attachment 3 CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH APPLICATION FOR DISABILITY RETIREMENT - SAFETY OFFICER Social Security No Phone No. ( ) Date disabling injury or illness arose: Date last worked: Place of injury (if applicable): Date employed by City Date employed by City as safety employee: Department, Classification held: Spouse's name Current employment status with City: Working hours per week Sick leave with compensation [Approximate date leave ends]: Industrial leave with compensation [Effective date]: Resigned or terminated from City service [Effective date] Sick leave without compensation Other [Please specify]: 7. Describe the duties assigned in your latest job classification: 8. Describe the actual duties which you were assigned and which you performed at the time your disability arose. 9. Describe the nature of the injury or disease which you claim permanently incapacitated you from performing your duties 10 10. State specifically the duties which you cannot now perform because of your disability. 11. If you claim that your disability is the result of a job -related in injury, explain the circumstances surrounding the occurrence of the injury, including location, time, names and addresses of all witnesses and of the initial attending physician, and a detailed description of what happened. 12. If you claim that your disability is the result of a job -related illness or disease, explain to the best of your ability all facts as to how you contracted the illness or disease including the job -related factors, dates, times and locations. 11 13. List the names of all doctors or other individuals consulted for diagnosis or treatment relating to the subject injury or disease, together with a signed release allowing each of those doctors to provide your medical records to the City. (A copy of the release form is attached to this application form. If more release forms are needed, they may be obtained from the Personnel Director). 14. Have you ever received treatment for a similar injury or illness? Yes No If yes, please furnish dates of treatment and the name and address of any doctors, hospitals or clinics who provided treatment to you. Complete a medical release form for each of these doctors, hospitals or clinics. 12 15. List the names of all doctors or other individuals, hospitals or clinics you have consulted for diagnosis or treatment of any injury or illness during the period of five years prior to subject injury or onset of the subject disease to date. Complete a medical release for each of these doctors, hospitals or clinics. 16. List all employment: (1) during the five-year period prior to becoming employed with the City (if employed less than 10 years with the City); (2) during the period of your City employment (other than City employment); and (3) between the last day with the City and the filing of this application. Please list the name and address of any employer, including any self-employment, and the beginning and ending dates of any such employment. 13 17. Have you applied for Worker's Compensation for the subject injury? Yes No If yes state the date the application was filed 18. Do you have any preexisting injury, disease or condition which you now claim is being or has been accelerated or aggravated by the subject injury or disease? Yes No If your answer is yes, please state: (1) the nature of the injury or disease; (2) the date of the occurrence of such injury or the onset of such disease; and (3) the attending physician or physicians for such injury or disease. Complete a medical release form for each of these physicians. 14 19. Attach a copy of all relevant medical information, including doctors' reports of examinations proving the existence of your disability. The medical information may be forwarded separately, but must be received in a timely fashion and in no event later than 20 days before a scheduled formal hearing. 20. Will you accept another position with the City which you could perform? Yes No Date: Signature: 15 [Employee Name] [Employee Address] Re: Disability Retirement Application for [Employee] Dear Attachment 4 This is to acknowledge that your application for disability retirement was received by the City of Hermosa Beach on [date]. We understand that you have sent the original completed P.E.R.S. Form PERS-BEN- 369D "Application for Disability Retirement" directly to the Public Employees' Retirement System for filing. If this is not the case, please do so immediately in order to protect your interests. If you have any questions or need any help in this regard, please feel free to contact the Personnel Director. Attached is a copy of the Rules and Procedures for the processing of this application. [or] We are sending a copy of the Rules and Procedures for the processing of this application to your representative. Your application is being processed. You or your representative will be contacted soon regarding your application. In the meantime, if you have any questions regarding your application, please contact Sincerely, Personnel Director Enclosure: Disability Retirement Procedures (Safety Officer) cc: Applicant's attorney or other representative Appropriate City officials or representatives 16 [Employee Name [Employee Address] Re: Disability Retirement of [Employee] Dear Attachment 5 I have received the proposed disposition of , dated [Date], with respect to your application/the City's recommendation for disability retirement, intend to certify to the P. E. R. S. that It is my intention to implement this proposed disposition and certify it to the Public Employees' Retirement System within 15 calendar days unless I hear from you or your designated representative that you take exception to such disposition. If you do not agree with the proposed disposition, please so inform me in writing by [Date]. Please specify in what specific respects you object and the reasons for the objections. Sincerely, City Manager cc: Applicant's attorney or other representative Appropriate City officials or representatives 17 Attachment 6 Public Employees' Retirement System P.O. Box 1953 Sacramento, CA 95809 Re: Disability Retirement of [Employee] Social Security No. Pursuant to the authority delegated to me on [Date] by Resolution N.S. 3283 of the City Council of the City of Hermosa Beach (a certified copy of which is attached), and after a review of medical and other relevant evidence, I hereby make the following determination concerning the employee's/City's application for disability retirement: [Employee] is/is not substantially incapacitated for the performance of his/her essential duties in the position of [Job Title] for a permanent or extended and uncertain duration, 2. Such incapacity is/is not a result of injury or disease arising out of and in the course of his/her employment. 3. [Employee] was/will be separated form his/her employment after expiration of leave rights under Government Code Sections 21025.2 and 21025.4 effective [Date], and no dispute as to the expiration of such leave rights is pending. We are/are not offering a rehabilitation plan for [Employee]. We are/are not aware of third party liability related to the injury which caused the disability. Sincerely, City Manager cc: Applicant Applicant's Attorney or Other Representative Appropriate City Officials 18 19 Attachment 7 AUTHORIZATION FOR DISCLOSURE OF MEDICAL RECORD INFORMATION Subject's name: Last First MI The undersigned hereby authorizes and requests to provide Birthdate: (Heath Service Provider) (Identity of Third Party or Name(s) of Any Duly Authorized Representative) with access to my medical records for the purpose of review and examination and requests that you provide such copies thereof as may be requested. The foregoing is subject to the following limitations: ❑ 1. Covering records for the period to (Date) (Date) ❑ 2. Confined to the following specified information: 3. No limitations placed on dates, history of illness, or durations and therapeutic information, including any treatment for alcohol and drug abuse. (Signer to initial for authenticity of this response) ❑ 4. This authorization is also extended to the securing of any and all employment records, such as payroll, wage, commission and bonus records, personnel records and group insurance records. Expiration date of this authorization if any: Signature: If signed by personal representative, state relationship and authority to do so. Date 20 21 Attachment 8 [Employee Name] [Employee Address] Re: Disability Retirement of [Employee] Dear This is to acknowledge receipt of your objection to the proposed disposition in this matter. An informal conference shall be held on [Date] at [Location]. The parties are invited to attend and may be represented at their own expense. Sincerely, City Manager cc: Applicant's attorney or other representative Appropriate City officials or representatives OVA