A. Employees leaving the county service in good standing with more than one year of continuous service may, upon request, be paid the monetary value of the earned sick leave, subject to the following provisions.
B. "Good standing," as used in this section, means employees who gave the required minimum two weeks notice and who have not been discharged for cause under Part 12 of Article 3.08. It shall also mean employees who have been laid off.
C. PPEO General and Professional Units, DSA, DDAA, PPOA, Management, Confidential and Unclassified (Nonmanagement) Employees. No pay shall be given for the first 24 days of sick leave in the employee's account; the remaining time shall be paid for at a rate of 50% of the hourly pay rate of such employee at the time of their termination. No employee shall receive more than $2,000 for such unused sick leave. Part-time employees shall receive pay for the days of sick leave that is represented by the proportion of their scheduled hours to a 40 hour position. For example, a half-time employee would receive no pay for the first 12 days of sick leave in the employee's account.
D. PPEO General and Professional Units, DDAA, PPOA, Classified Management and Confidential Employees. Upon return from lay-off, an employee shall have the right to "buy back" the total hours of accrued sick leave by reimbursing the county in full for the proceeds received by the employee at the time of layoff. In addition, all hours lost under any subsection of this section shall be restored at the time of reemployment. In any event, an employee laid off with 24 days or less of accumulated sick leave shall be credited with those hours upon reemployment within two years.
E. The benefits granted hereunder shall not become a vested right of any employee, but rather are subject to amendment in the same manner as all other provisions relating to compensation.
F. The provisions of this section shall apply to all accrued sick leave whether earned before or after February 8, 1969.
G. Employees receiving compensation under this section shall not be eligible for reinstatement within 30 days after effective date of termination.
H. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, if an employee dies prior to discharge for cause and prior to layoff, 100% of the employee's accrued sick leave shall be payable to that person(s) who was dependent upon the deceased employee at the time of the illness or injury resulting in the employee's death.
I. PPEO General and Professional Units, DDAA, Unclassified (Nonmanagement) Employees.
1. Effective July 2, 2011 any employee in the PPEO General and Professional Units, DDAA, or Unclassified (Nonmanagement) group retiring from county service and eligible to receive California Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) miscellaneous plan benefits at the time of such retirement shall receive the following:
a. One month of paid CalPERS group health insurance premium reimbursement for each day (eight hours) of the employee's unused accrued sick leave up to a maximum of 1,500 hours. If the retiree's base hourly rate times eight exceeds the retiree's share of the cost of one month of retiree's health insurance premium, then the actual dollar value of the retiree's hourly rate will be applied to the premium reimbursement. This benefit does not apply to any other county sponsored plans, such as, but not limited to, the life, vision, or dental programs. The base hourly rate is defined as the hourly rate from the salary schedule plus longevity if applicable; and
b. Unused accrued sick leave in excess of 1,500 hours will be applied to CalPERS service credit only pursuant to Government Code Section
20965.
2. Effective plan year January 2023, all employees (including current retirees) in the PPEO General and Professional Units, DDAA, or Unclassified (Nonmanagement) group retiring from county service and eligible to receive California Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) Miscellaneous Plan benefits at the time of such retirement shall receive the following:
a. Reimbursement for monthly group health insurance premiums utilizing the dollar value of the employee's sick leave balance, up to a maximum of 1,500 hours, at the time of retirement. The value of the employee's sick leave is the hourly rate on the salary schedule at time of retirement, plus longevity if applicable, multiplied by their remaining sick leave balance. The monthly premium reimbursement will be deducted from the employee's retiree sick leave account until depleted. This benefit does not apply to any other county sponsored plans, such as, but not limited to, the life, vision, or dental programs.
b. Unused accrued sick leave in excess of 1,500 hours will be applied to CalPERS service credit only pursuant to Government Code Section
20965.
J. Management (classified and unclassified) and confidential employees, excluding elected officials, LEMA represented, and safety management employees, retiring from county service and receiving CalPERS miscellaneous plan benefits at the time of retirement, will receive an amount placed in the retirement health savings plan trust for the employee equal to the value of the employee's unused sick leave accrual at retirement for the purposes of reimbursement of premiums and expenses incurred for health care expenditures as allowable under the Internal Revenue Code Section
213. The value of the sick leave accrual will be determined by the number of unused sick leave hours available paid at the employee's base hourly rate on the salary schedule at the time of retirement, plus confidential pay and/or longevity pay if applicable.
1. Employees who retired on or after July 2, 2011, prior to the effective date of the retirement health savings plan trust, and who are eligible to receive reimbursement under the retirees paid health program will have the remaining account balance transferred to the retiree health savings plan trust.
2. Employees who retired on or before July 1, 2011, will receive reimbursement for the CalPERS retiree group health insurance premium based upon the value of the unused sick leave hours available paid at the employee's base hourly rate on the salary schedule at the time of retirement, plus confidential pay and/or longevity pay if applicable. This benefit does not apply to any other county sponsored plans such as, but not limited to, the life, vision, or dental programs.
K. Effective July 2, 2011, for elected officials, excluding elected safety, retiring from county service and eligible to receive California Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) miscellaneous plan benefits at the time of retirement shall receive:
1. One month of paid CalPERS group health insurance for each two months of elected service. This benefit does not apply to any other county sponsored plans, such as, but not limited to, the life, vision, or dental programs; and if applicable
2. Any employee elected or appointed to an elective office, who has a current sick leave balance in excess of 192 hours at the date they assume elective office, shall not lose their accrued sick leave hours. At the date the employee assumes elective office such hours shall be placed in inactive status, without further accrual, until such time as the employee leaves elective office and is eligible to receive retirement benefits provided below based upon the last classification held prior to assuming elective office.
a. Previously designated management employees retiring from county service and receiving CalPERS miscellaneous plan benefits at the time of retirement, will receive an amount placed in the retirement health savings plan trust for the employee equal to the value of the employee's unused sick leave on account for the purposes of reimbursement of premiums and expenses incurred for health care expenditures as allowable under the Internal Revenue Code Section
213. The value of the sick leave will be determined by the number of unused sick leave hours in the employee’s account paid at the current rate of the last classification held prior to assuming elective office. If said classification no longer exists, then compensation will be paid at the last established salary rate for that classification.
b. If the prior classification was not designated Management, reimbursement for monthly group health insurance premiums will be utilized for the dollar value of the employee's sick leave balance on account, up to a maximum of 1,500 hours. The value of the employee's sick leave is the current rate of the last classification held prior to assuming elective office, multiplied by their remaining sick leave balance. If said classification no longer exists, then compensation will be paid at the last established salary rate for that classification.
i. The monthly premium reimbursement will be deducted from the employee's retiree sick leave account until depleted. This benefit does not apply to any other county sponsored plans, such as, but not limited to, the life, vision, or dental programs.
ii. Unused accrued sick leave in the account in excess of 1,500 hours will be applied to CalPERS service credit only pursuant to Government Code Section
20965.
3. If the employee leaves elective office prior to becoming eligible to receive retirement benefits under this section, the eligible sick leave shall be paid in accordance with subsection
C of this section, and the sick leave hours shall be compensated at the current rate of the last classification held prior to assuming elective office. If said classification no longer exists, then compensation will be paid at the last established salary rate for that classification.
L. Deputy Sheriffs' Association Employees. Any employee represented by the DSA retiring from county service and eligible to receive California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) benefits at the time of such retirement may select one or more of the following options; however, the selection must be made prior to retiring from county service and once the selection is made it is irrevocable:
1. If requested by the retiree, all or part of the employee's accumulated sick leave balance on record at the end of pay period 3, July 23, 2004 at 5:00 p.m., may be used to apply toward an early retirement on a day-for-day basis (e.g., an employee retiring at 65 on December 31st, and having 10 days of accumulated sick leave may leave 10 working days before December 31st, and draw full compensation until December 31st), however, sick leave used to apply toward an early retirement, under this subsection, shall not be subject to any additional vacation or sick leave accruals. No sick leave earned beyond pay period 3, July 23, 2004 at 5:00 p.m., may be used to apply toward the early retirement benefit. However, if an employee's balance falls below the accumulated sick leave balance on record at the end of pay period 3, July 23, 2004 at 5:00 p.m., any additional hours earned after that date, up to the previous balance, may be used for the early retirement benefit.
2. All sick leave accrued prior to July 23, 2004 at 5:01 p.m. may be cashed out at the employee's option, in accordance with the following sick leave cash out provisions, and all sick leave earned beyond the balance on record of the first day of pay period 4, beginning July 23, 2004 at 5:01 p.m., will be cashed out as follows:
a. Only upon completion of 10 years of full time and continuous employment with Placer County (20,800 paid hours exclusive of overtime), employees are eligible for a 50% cash out,
b. After the initial 10-year period, employees are eligible for an additional five percent cash out for each additional year of full time and continuous employment (2,080 paid hours exclusive of overtime) with Placer County up to a maximum of 100% of the accrued balance at completion of 41,600 paid hours exclusive of overtime (20 years).
3. The employee may choose to have the cash value of their eligible sick leave hours (in accordance with the percentage provisions identified in this section) deposited into their 401(k) and/or 457(b) deferred compensation account(s); if the employees' sick leave hours balance value, plus any prior contributions, is greater than the IRS annual deferred compensation limitations, the excess over the limitations will be cashed out in accordance with this section and subject to the annual IRS limitations.
a. One hundred percent of the accumulated sick leave balance that was on record at the end of pay period 3, July 23, 2004.
M. Safety Management Employees and Elected Safety Management. Any safety management employee, excluding LEMA represented employees, retiring from county service and eligible to receive State Employee Retirement System benefits at the time of such retirement, may select from one or more of the following options; however, the selection must be made prior to retiring from county service and once the selection is made it is irrevocable:
1. If requested by the employee, all of the employee's accumulated sick leave balance on record may be used to apply towards an early retirement on a day-for-day basis (e.g., an employee retiring at 65 on December 31st, and having 10 days of accumulated sick leave may leave 10 working days before December 31st, and draw full compensation until December 31st); however, sick leave used to apply toward an early retirement, under this subsection, shall not be subject to any additional vacation or sick leave accruals. No sick leave earned beyond pay period 3, July 23, 2004 at 5:00 p.m., may be used to apply toward the early retirement benefit. However, if an employee's balance falls below the accumulated sick leave balance on record at the end of pay period 3, July 23, 2004 at 5:00 p.m., any additional hours earned after that date, up to the previous balance, may be used for the early retirement benefit; or
2. All sick leave accrued prior to July 23, 2004 at 5:01 p.m. may be cashed out at the employee's option, in accordance with the following sick leave cash out provision, and all sick leave earned beyond the balance on record of the first day of pay period 4, beginning July 23, 2004 at 5:01 p.m., will be cashed out as follows:
a. Only upon completion of 10 years of full-time and continuous employment (20,800 paid hours exclusive of overtime) with Placer County, employees are eligible for 50% cash out,
b. After the initial 10-year period, employees are eligible for an additional five percent cash out for each additional year of full-time and continuous employment (2,080 paid hours exclusive of overtime) with Placer County up to a maximum of 100% of the accrued balance at completion of 41,600 paid hours exclusive of overtime (20 years).
3. The cash value of all eligible sick leave hours may be deposited into their deferred compensation account(s) (401(k) and 457) subject to the annual IRS limitations. The sick leave value will be in accordance with the percentage provisions identified in this section. If the employee chooses the option of having the cash value of their sick leave hours deposited into their deferred compensation account(s), and if their sick leave value, plus any prior contributions, is greater than the IRS annual deferred compensation limitations, the excess over the limitations will be cashed out in accordance with this section.
N. LEMA Represented Employees. Any LEMA employee retiring from county service and eligible to receive State Employee Retirement System benefits at the time of such retirement, may select from one or more of the following options; however, the selection must be made prior to retiring from county service and once the selection is made it is irrevocable:
1. If requested by the employee, all of the employee's accumulated sick leave balance on record may be used to apply towards an early retirement on a day-for-day basis (e.g., an employee retiring at 65 on December 31st, and having 10 days of accumulated sick leave may leave 10 working days before December 31st, and draw full compensation until December 31st); however, sick leave used to apply toward an early retirement, under this subsection, shall not be subject to any additional vacation or sick leave accruals. No sick leave earned beyond pay period 3, July 23, 2004 at 5:00 p.m., may be used to apply toward the early retirement benefit. However, if an employee's balance falls below the accumulated sick leave balance on record at the end of pay period 3, July 23, 2004 at 5:00 p.m., any additional hours earned after that date, up to the previous balance, may be used for the early retirement benefit; or
2. All sick leave accrued prior to July 23, 2004 at 5:01 p.m. may be cashed out at the employee's option, in accordance with the following sick leave cash out schedule, and all sick leave earned beyond the balance on record of the first day of pay period 4, beginning July 23, 2004 at 5:01 p.m., will be cashed out as follows:
a. Ten years of full-time and continuous employment with Placer County equals a 50% cash out,
b. Each additional year of full-time and continuous employment with Placer County equals an additional five percent cash out up to a maximum of 100% of the accrued balance (20 years); or
3. The cash value of all eligible sick leave may be deposited into their deferred compensation account(s) (401(k) and 457) subject to the annual IRS limitations. The sick leave value will be based on the same cash out schedule as listed in subsection
(2) above. If the employee chooses the option of having the cash value of their sick leave hours deposited into their deferred compensation account, and their sick leave value, plus any prior contributions, is greater than the IRS annual deferred compensation limitations, the excess over the limitations will be cashed out in accordance with subsection
(2) above.
O. PPEO Correctional Officers and Correctional Sergeants. Any PPEO correctional officer or correctional sergeant retiring from county service and eligible to receive CalPERS Employee Retirement System benefits at the time of such retirement may select one or more of the following options; however, the selection must be made prior to retiring from county service and once the selection is made it is irrevocable:
1. If requested by the employee all or part of the employee's accumulated sick leave balance on record at the end of pay period 12, November 24, 2006 at 5:00 p.m., may be used to apply toward an early retirement on a day-for-day basis (e.g., an employee retiring at 65 on December 31st, and having 10 days of accumulated sick leave may leave 10 working days before December 31st, and draw full compensation until December 31st); however, sick leave used to apply toward an early retirement, under this subsection, shall not be subject to any additional vacation or sick leave accruals. No sick leave earned beyond pay period 12, November 24, 2006, at 5:00 p.m., may be used to apply toward the early retirement benefit. Effective pay period 13, November 20, 2010, if an employee's balance falls below the accumulated sick leave balance on record as of pay period 12, November 24, 2006, at 5:00 p.m., any additional hours earned after that date, up to the maximum sick leave accrual limit of 750 hours or the previous balance, whichever is less, may be used for the early retirement benefit.
2. If requested, correctional officers or correctional sergeants may either cash out their accumulated sick leave or have the cash value of sick leave deposited into their deferred compensation account(s) subject to the annual IRS limitations. The sick leave cash out provision is as follows:
a. Only upon completion of 10 years of full-time and continuous employment (20,800 paid hours exclusive of overtime) with Placer County, employees are eligible for a 50% cash out;
b. After the initial 10-year period, employees are eligible for an additional five percent cash out for each additional year of full-time and continuous employment (2,080 paid hours exclusive of overtime) with Placer County, up to a maximum of 100% of the accrued balance at completion of 41,600 paid hours exclusive of overtime (20 years). If the employee chooses the option of having the cash value of their sick leave hours (in accordance with the percentage provisions identified in this section) deposited into their 401(k) and/or 457(b) deferred compensation account(s), and if the employee's sick leave hours balance value, plus any prior contributions, is greater than the IRS annual deferred compensation limitations, the excess over the limitations will be cashed out in accordance with this section.
P. PPOA Represented Employees. Any employee represented by PPOA retiring from county service and eligible to receive California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) benefits at the time of such retirement may select one or more of the following options; however, the selection must be made prior to retiring from county service and once the selection is made it is irrevocable:
1. If requested by an eligible employee, all or part of the employee's accumulated sick leave balance on record at the end of pay period 3, July 23, 2004, at five p.m., may be used to apply toward an early retirement on a day-for-day basis. No sick leave earned beyond pay period 3, July 23, 2004, at five p.m. may be used to apply toward the early retirement benefit. Under this subsection, sick leave used to apply toward an early retirement shall not be subject to any additional vacation or sick leave accruals. Effective pay period 13, November 20, 2010, if an employee's balance falls below the accumulated sick leave balance on record at the end of pay period 3, July 23, 2004, at five p.m., any additional hours earned after that date, up to the maximum sick leave accrual limit of 750 hours or the previous balance, whichever is less, may be used for the early retirement benefit.
a. All sick leave accrued prior to July 23, 2004, at 5:01 p.m. may be cashed out at the employee's option, in accordance with the following sick leave cash out provisions, and all sick leave earned beyond the balance on record of the first day of pay period 4, beginning July 23, 2004, at 5:01 p.m., will be cashed out as follows:
b. Only upon completion of 10 years of full-time and continuous employment (20,800 paid hours exclusive of overtime) with Placer County, employees are eligible for a 50% cash out;
c. After the initial 10 year period, employees are eligible for an additional five percent cash out for each additional year of full-time and continuous employment (2,080 paid hours exclusive of overtime) with Placer County up to a maximum of 100% of the accrued balance at completion of 41,600 paid hours exclusive of overtime (20 years).
d. The employee may choose to have the cash value of their sick leave hours (in accordance with the percentage provisions identified in this section) deposited into their 401(k) and/or 457(b) deferred compensation account(s); if the employee's sick leave hours balance value, plus any prior contributions, is greater than the IRS annual deferred compensation limitations, the excess over the limitations will be cashed out in accordance with this section.
(Prior code § 14.350; Ord. 5230-B, 2003; Ord. 5309-B, 2004; Ord. 5442-B, 2007; Ord. 5443-B, 2007; Ord. 5478-B (Attach. A), 2007; Ord. 5529-B, § 1, 2008; Ord. 5531-B, 2008; Ord. 5572-B § 8, 2009; Ord. 5608-B § 2, 2010; Ord. 5627-B § 3, 2010; Ord. 5644-B § 1, 2011; Ord. 5657-B § 1, 2011; Ord. 5700-B § 13, 2013; Ord. 6068-B § 1, 2021; Ord. 6159-B § 1, 2022; Ord. 6246-B, 1/23/2024; Ord. 6303-B, 3/18/2025; Ord. 6306-B, 4/15/2025; Ord. 6334-B, 8/5/2025)