005 & 008 Countywide Retired Annuitant Policy Update

On February 17, 2026, UPE met and conferred with representatives from Sacramento County and SCERS regarding updates to the County's policy regarding Retired Annuitants. Retired Annuitants are retired County employees who come back to work for the County on a part-time basis. Both State Law and SCERS rules tightly regulate the use of annuitants. State law was recently updated to allow SCERS to fine Departments $200 for failing to properly monitor and report on their use of retired annuitants. The law also updated other reporting requirements, and the County updated the policy to reflect these changes.

UPE learned during the meeting that not many UPE members are brought back as retired annuitants. Over the last three years, approximately 15 retired annuitants have been used each year. UPE requested additional information to ensure that supervisors and managers were not returning as retired annuitants, as UPE represented these classifications.



As a result of UPE's questioning, it became clear that SCERS or DPS does not well monitor the limitations and rules governing the selection of retired annuitants. For the most part, they defer to individual departments and let them decide whether they are following the rules. In particular, Departments are trusted not have come to any agreements with retired annuitants before their retirement. Most of the reporting requirements focus on the number of hours annuitants work, rather than how annuitants are selected.

UPE is requesting additional information from the County regarding retired annuitants and plans to meet with SCERS to discuss the use of annuitants further.