ARTICLE I
NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1.
This organization shall be known as the Sheriffs’ Relief Association of Los Angeles County, Inc. which exists under the provisions of and pursuant to Title 1, Division 2, Part 3, Chapter 1 of the Corporations Code of the State of California as of March 7, 1960, and doing business as a non-profit peace officers relief association under said provisions.
Section 2.
This Association is formed to bind the members thereof for their mutual protection and relief.
Section 3.
The powers of this Association shall be vested in its membership but may be exercised by the duly elected officers acting as a Board of Trustees.
Section 4.
The principal office of the Sheriffs’ Relief Association, for the transaction of business, is located in the unincorporated area of Whittier, County of Los Angeles, California.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERS
Section 1.
Membership in this Association may include specifically the Sheriff, Undersheriff, Assistant Sheriffs, Sheriff’s Deputy Trainees, and all other persons permanently employed and compensated under the Civil Service Classification of the Sheriff’s Department of Los Angeles County.
Amended by resolution, Board of Trustees, June 14, 1989, Sustaining Membership shall be established, to include Los Angeles Sheriff’s Reserves and Civilian Volunteers of the Sheriff’s Department. This membership will be subject to the following conditions:
A. Annual dues, prepaid, amount to be established by the Board of Trustee annually.
B. Sustaining members shall be limited to the following benefits:
1. Membership I.D. card
2. Star News mailed monthly to their home
3. Entertainment discounts
4. Use of medical equipment
C. They will not be voting members.
Associate Members are the spouses of active and retired members.
A. Associate membership shall cease upon the divorce, termination of membership or death of the active or retired member. Benefits accruing to dependent children shall cease upon the termination of membership or death of the active or retired member.
B. They will not be voting members.
Honorary Associate Members are the surviving spouses of deceased active or retired members.
A. Honorary Associate Members will not be required to pay dues.
B. Honorary Associate Members will be entitled to limited loan privileges up to $1,000, provided they are receiving a LACERA benefit.
C. Honorary Associate Members and their dependent children will not be covered under the Sheriffs’ Relief death benefit program.
D. They will not be voting members.
Section 2.
Retired Membership – The following members, and no others, who hereafter retire from active service with the Sheriff’s Department of Los Angeles County, and all members now retired, shall retain membership in the Association upon payment of dues as provided in Article IV to wit:
A. Members now retired and in good standing.
B. Members hereafter retired for disability due to service-connected injury or disease.
C. Members hereafter retired on service pension and members hereafter retired for non-service connected disability.
D. Those who have been active members of the Association for more than ten (10) consecutive years prior to retirement.
1. Those who have less than ten (10) consecutive years active membership in this Association, provided however, that their death
benefit be calculated at a rate of $50 per year for each year of active membership in the Association, not to exceed $2,000.
a. This specific section shall apply only to members retiring prior to March 27, 1963. Retired members are entitled to all the benefits of active membership except sick benefits and supplemental benefits.
E. Past members, who upon retirement lapse their membership, yet later elect to re-instate during an Association sanctioned “open enrollment period”, will be entitled to all member benefits, except a mortuary benefit.
NOTE: Retired members who were disqualified from S.R.A. for cause, are not eligible to be re-instated during open enrollment.
F. Retired full time employees of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, who did not join the Association prior to retirement may elect to join during an Association sanctioned “open enrollment period”, and will be entitled to all benefits, except a mortuary benefit, provided that they are receiving retirement benefits from LACERA.
Section 3.
All persons wishing to become members must apply for membership in accordance with Article III, of these By-Laws: (Rules relating to application for membership).
Section 4.
Any member may have their membership cancelled for non-payment of dues, for failure to make loan payments, for causing financial loss to the Association, or for any fair and reasonable reason.
Section 5.
Membership in this Association shall cease upon the resignation, suspension or dismissal of said member from services in the department, or by action of the Board to terminate membership for failure to maintain a good standing in the Association. Thereafter, such members shall have no claim whatsoever upon any fees, dues or contributions which may have been paid to the Association or to any benefits of the Association. If reinstated to active duty, former members may be reinstated to membership as provided for in Article III. Membership shall not be affected if the above stated suspension is for disciplinary reasons only and is for a specified number of days not to exceed thirty (30).
Section 6.
Any member who secures military leave shall be suspended from membership in this Association. “Military Leave” here means that period of absence without pay from County service for military purposes as differentiated from military training. If reinstated to active
duty in the department, the former member may be reinstated to membership in the Association, upon the approval by the Board of Trustees of their written request within one hundred eighty (180) days of their return to active duty.
Section 7.
Any member who secures a leave of absence shall stand suspended from this Association during such leave of absence. If reinstated to active duty, or eligible for retirement, the
former member may be reinstated to membership in the Association upon the approval of the Board of Trustees of their written request within one hundred eighty (180) days of
their return to active duty.
Section 8.
Any member who has been suspended for non-payment of dues for a period of time less than ninety (90) days may, upon proper application to the Association, be reinstated to membership upon payment of all delinquent and current dues. Any member who remains suspended for non-payment of dues for a period in excess of ninety (90) days shall be ineligible for reinstatement.
Section 9.
Any member suspended or dismissed from the service of Los Angeles County, shall from the date of such original suspension or dismissal, stand suspended from membership until final action by the Civil Service Commission on such suspensions or dismissal. If the action of the Civil Service Commission results in the dismissal of such member from service, thereupon their membership shall cease as of the date of such original suspension.
Section 10.
Should the suspension or dismissal of such member be disapproved by the Los Angeles County Civil Service Commission, and the member returned to full duty by the Department, then such member shall, upon return to duty and the payment of back dues, be reinstated to membership.
Section 11.
No benefits shall be paid to any member who is under suspension from the service of Los Angeles County, until such member shall have been restored to duty. Any illness or disability contracted during the period of such suspension shall not be compensable under the relief provisions of these By-Laws, however, that any member who has been returned to full duty as in Section 10 of this Article, shall, upon reinstatement as an employee and
restoration to membership and payment of back dues, be entitled to receive any benefits to which they would have been entitled had they not been suspended.
Section 12.
The Board of Trustees shall have the sole and exclusive power to suspend or revoke the membership of any member pursuant to the provisions of these By-Laws upon good cause being first shown to said Board.
Section 13.
Any member against whom charges have been preferred shall be given a copy of such charges, together with a written notice of the date, time and place of hearing before the
Board of Trustees, such hearing date to be not less than 15 days, from the date of posting in United States mail or personal service of a copy of the charges and notice of hearing, to the accused member. The member so charged shall have the right to appeal to the Board to defend themselves against such charges, not less than 5 days before the expected date of expulsion.
Failure to appear at the time and place designated by the Board for the hearing of such charges shall be deemed a waiver by such member of the right to appear and defend themselves. The member so charged shall have the right to submit, in writing to the Board, a statement relative to the charges at any time previous to the date and time set for the hearing. The hearing notice and copy of charges shall be delivered by registered mail, return receipt requested, or by personal service.
Section 14.
When a member has been granted leave of absence due to of sickness or injury, upon the written recommendation of an examining physician satisfactory to the Board of Trustees, they shall be entitled, upon payment of regular dues and loan payments, to continue their full membership herein and to all benefits of the Association during such period.
We will incorporate the leave of absence allowed by the Family Medical Leave Act in this section as it seems to fit the spirit of the section. However, sick and supplemental benefits are not available while the member is on leave.
Section 15.
Membership records shall be maintained by the General Manager listing all members in good standing.
Section 16.
Any member of the Sheriffs’ Relief Association that is laid off by the department due to budgetary restraints will be provided all benefits with the exception of sick and supplemental financial assistance.
Dues and loan payments will be placed in suspension for a period of six months. Interest on loans will continue to accrue.
Upon return to work and full compensation, the original loan payment schedule will be reinstated or modified if it creates a financial hardship. Back dues will be addressed in the same manner. If a member, at any time during this six-month grace period, acquires full time employment without the intention of returning to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs’ Department, his/her membership will be terminated (as of the hiring date). The loan liability will remain in effect.
ARTICLE III
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.
Any persons who are eligible to become members of this Association under the provisions of these By-Laws, may submit written application to the Association for such membership upon a form to be provided therefore and approved by the Board of Trustees.
This application must be filed within 365 days of the date of applicant’s permanent appointment, in order to avoid a late membership fee delineated in Section 4, 5, and 6 of this Article.
All persons applying for membership may be requested to submit a certificate of good health obtained at their own expense and certified by an accredited physician approved by the Board of Trustees except that those persons who have never been previously employed by the County of Los Angeles need not submit their certificate if their application for membership is received by the Secretary within sixty-five (65) days of their first permanent appointment.
Section 2.
All applicants for membership must agree to payroll deduction in the amount of the current dues.
Section 3.
Each applicant for membership shall be approved by the Board of Trustees. Added, Board of Trustees Meeting April 9, 1997, Initiation fees have been reinstated for personnel who do not join within the first year of employment.
Section 4.
Membership in SRA is open to all permanent employees of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department A Department employee under the age of 42 is given one year from their date of employment in which to join the Sheriffs’ Relief Association with no equity charge. For those employees, under 42 who do not join during their first year of employment, initiation fees are $35.00 for each year on the Department. For those 42 years
of age and older there is a $750 equity fee which will be waived only on the day of their Orientation.
Section 5.
A. Any employee obtaining membership prior to their 45th birthday will have mortuary benefits as follows:
Maximum as currently designated. Maximum as currently designated.
B. Any employee obtaining membership after their 45th birthday shall have reduced
Mortuary benefits as follows:
Members: $5,000 Spousal/Dependent coverage: $2,500
ARTICLE IV
DUES
Section 1.
Dues are payable not later than the 25th day of each month, and unless said dues are paid on or before the 25th day of each month, said members shall be suspended from membership.
A. The dues of each active member may be no more than one-half of one percent of top step salary of deputy sheriff generalist. The specific amount will be set by a consensus of the Board of Trustees.
1. Includes a $1.00 election for a Star News subscription.
B. Members retiring after March 27, 1963, and before July 1, 1977, shall pay dues in the amount of One ($1.00) Dollar per month.
C. Members retiring after July 1, 1977, and before July 1, 1980, shall pay dues in the amount of Three ($3.00) Dollars per month.
D. Members retiring after July 1, 1980, and before July 1, 1983, shall pay dues in the amount of Four ($4.00) Dollars per month.
E. Members retiring after July 1, 1983, and before July 1, 1986, shall pay dues in the amount of Five ($5.00) Dollars per month.
F. Members retiring after May 1, 1986, and before July 1, 1990, shall pay dues in the amount of Six ($6.00) Dollars per month.
G. Members retiring after January 1, 1990 shall pay dues in the amount of Seven ($7.00) Dollars per month.
H. Members retiring after December 31, 2004 shall pay dues in the amount of Nine ($9.00) Dollars per month.
Section 2.
Applicants for membership shall, upon acceptance, execute such written agreements as may be then required to permit collection of dues from such members by methods then in operation, or thereafter agreed upon by the Association.
ARTICLE V
MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
Section 1.
The Annual meeting of this Association shall be held in March of each year at a place designated by the President.
Section 2.
Special meetings of the membership may be called by the President or Acting President, or upon request in writing of not less than five percent of members in good standing. In each case, the Secretary shall call the meeting within thirty (30) days after receipt of the notice of such call or written request, and shall, in each case, notify the members of such Special Meeting as provided in Section 3 of this article. No business shall be transacted at any Special Meeting other than that for which such meeting was called.
Section 3.
If members are required or permitted to take action at a special meeting, written notice shall be given, not less than ten or more than ninety days, to all members by mailing to each member by regular mail or by Departmental announcement, indicating the time, place and purpose of such Special Meeting.
Section 4.
Fifteen (15) percent of the members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all Annual and Special Meetings.
Section 5.
The meetings of this Association shall be held and the business thereof transacted in the County of Los Angeles, State of California.
Section 6.
Members shall have the right to vote at all meetings either in person or by written proxy executed by such persons or his duly authorized agent and filed with the Association. No proxy shall be valid after eleven (11) months from the date of its execution, unless otherwise provided in the proxy.
ARTICLE VI
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Section 1.
The membership of the Association shall elect the Trustees at the General Election.
A. The number of trustees elected shall be twelve.
B. The Sheriffs’ Relief Association Board of Trustees represents its active and retired, sworn and non-sworn membership. Whenever Board positions are filled by election or Board appointment, it shall be in a manner that ensures each of the four categories is equitably represented.
1. In order to guarantee that the membership is equitably represented by civilian active, sworn active, retired sworn and retired civilian Board members, the calculations would be made based on the sitting Board members status as of May 31st of that election year.
C. The Retired Board Member would be eligible for three consecutive elected terms.
D. In the event of a death, resignation or removal of any officer or trustee of the Association, the Board of Trustees shall either:
1. Select and appoint a member of the Association in good standing to fill the remainder of the unexpired term,
2. Leave position vacant until the term has expired, and the vacancy is subject to a regularly scheduled SRA Election.
Section 2.
Each Trustee shall serve a term of three (3) years. The number of Trustees to be elected at the General Election shall be four. Trustees may not serve more than three consecutive
terms. In the event of insufficient petitions, Board members who would have termed out may choose to stay on.
Each Trustee shall perform the duties of his office until his successor has been duly qualified and assumes office.
Section 3.
The terms described in Article VI, Section 2, will begin after the General Election first following the adoption of this Comprehensive Amendment to the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association.
Section 4.
The Board of Trustees shall hold monthly meetings at a time and place to be designated by the President.
Section 5.
Special Meetings of the Board may be held at any time upon the call of the President, or
upon the written request of not less than four (4) members of said Board, for the transaction of any special or emergency business of the Association. Special meetings require 48 hours notice to Board Members, either personally, or by telephone, FAX, or E-Mail.
Section 6.
Seven (7) members of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Section 7.
It shall be the duty of the Board of Trustees to conduct, manage, govern, execute and administer all the affairs of the Association; to control and supervise the handling of all
of its funds and property, to cause to be kept a complete record of all meetings and acts; to hire and supervise a General Manager and all other employees of this Association and to see that their duties are properly performed, to pass upon all applications for membership in this Association, and to pass upon all matters pertaining to the affairs of this Association.
Section 8.
The Board of Trustees shall determine the salaries and other benefits to be paid or granted to the General Manager and other employees of the Association.
Section 9.
With the inception of a general ledger for the Sheriffs’ Relief Association and its entities, the Board of Trustees, at a regularly scheduled meeting on June 10, 1992, took action to modify the yearly financial review procedure. The new procedure permits a review of the financial records on a yearly basis and an audit every fifth year by a certified public accountant.
A statement as to the condition of the Association will still be provided every year at the time of the annual meeting.
The financial transactions of the Association will continue to be available for review at any time by any member of the Board, and with just cause, by any Association member.
Section 10.
Amended by Resolution, Board of Trustees Meeting March 10, 1993, no full or part time employee of the Sheriffs’ Relief Association shall hold a position on the Board of Trustees. This does not apply to employees who were board members prior to March 10, 1993.
Section 11.
Any trustee anticipating an absence to a scheduled meeting has four procedures available to cast a proxy vote regarding an agenda item:
A. By written correspondence directed to the General Manager.
B. By written correspondence in the form of a FAX.
C. By telephone communication to the General Manger.
D. By email correspondence to the General Manager
The General Manager will relay the proxy vote to the chairpersons conducting the scheduled meeting.
If the intent of the agenda item is changed during the course of the discussion, the proxy vote will not be valid. The agenda item may then be tabled until the next scheduled meeting or voted upon without the proxy.
Section 12.
Members of the Sheriffs’ Relief Association Board of Trustees who are retired are automatically deemed to be voting members of the Sheriffs’ Relief Foundation.
Association Board members who are active will not be members of the Sheriffs’ Relief Foundation due to restrictive County policy.
ARTICLE VII
OFFICERS
Section 1.
Amended, Board of Trustees Meeting, September 13, 1995 to read, the Board of Trustees of the Association shall elect from their number the following officers:
A. President;
B. Vice-President;
C. Secretary-Treasurer.
1. The election of Officers from the current board of trustees will be held annually at the first meeting of the board after the General Election
Section 2.
On an annual basis, the Board of Trustees may ask the incumbent Sheriff of Los Angeles County to be the Honorary Chairman of the Board.
Section 3.
Each Officer shall be a member of the Board of Trustees. The term of Officer and Trustees will be synonymous for purposes of definition in these By-Laws.
Section 4.
The board may declare vacant the office of a trustee who has been declared of unsound mind by a final order of court or convicted of a felony.
Section 5.
A trustee may be removed without cause if such removal is approved by the members, either at a duly held meeting of the members at which a quorum is present, or written ballot in which every member is entitled to vote. (Section 7222 (a)(2) and 5034 Corporations Code).
Section 6.
Any reduction in the number of trustees authorized in the By-Laws does not remove any trustee prior to the expiration of such trustee’s term of office.
Section 7.
Except as provided above, a trustee may not be removed from office prior to the expiration of such trustee’s term of office. (Section 7222 (d) Corporations Code)
ARTICLE VIII
POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1.
It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all Board Meetings of the Association, to sign all certificates, notices and documents as may require his/her signature; to appoint all committees and to do and perform such other duties as may be necessary, according to the By-Laws, for the welfare of the Association.
Section 2.
The Vice-President is to assist the President in executing the duties of his office, and in his absence, to generally do and perform such duties as are required of the President of the Association.
Section 3.
It shall be the duty of the Secretary-Treasurer to see that records are kept of all the
proceedings of the Board of Trustees and of all general and special meetings; to supervise the keeping and maintaining of accurate records of all matters pertaining to the business of the Association; to supervise the receipt and keeping of an accurate record of all monies of the Association; to maintain such bank accounts, safety deposit boxes and depositories as authorized by the Board of Trustees, and to perform all such other duties as may be required by these By-Laws or which may be necessary in the interest of the Association.
Section 4.
The General Manager shall be insured by the Association in an amount to be determined by the Board of Trustees.
Section 5.
Each officer and trustee shall perform the duties of his office until his successor has been duly qualified and assumes office.
Section 6.
Each officer and trustee shall serve without compensation. However, in recognition of the service rendered, an annual Honorarium may be declared, for those Board Members having served the full previous year. Honorarium may be declared by unanimous motion of the Board at the first meeting after the annual election.
Section 7.
The General Manager is a full-time employee of the Association who shall have complete supervision over the Association office and employees subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees.
ARTICLE IX
ELECTIONS
Section 1.
Candidates for trustee must meet the following criteria:
A. In the case of Trustee positions representing active membership: Candidates must be active members of the Sheriff’s Department and members in good standing of the Sheriffs’ Relief Association.
B. In the case of Trustee positions representing the professional staff membership: Candidates must be professional staff members of the
Sheriff’s Department and members in good standing of the Sheriffs’ Relief Association.
C. In the case of the Trustee positions representing the retired membership: Candidates must be retired members of the Sheriff’s Department and members in good standing of the Sheriffs’ Relief Association.
D. While serving on the Sheriffs’ Relief Association Board of Trustees, a Trustee shall not be nor become a member of the Board of Directors or hold any management position with PPOA, ALADS, A.F.L.C.I.O. #721, or any other organization concerned with labor negotiations or grievances with the Department.
Section 2.
Any twenty-five (25) members, in good standing may sign their names to a petition furnished by the Association proposing a candidate for trustee to be voted on at the next succeeding General Election.
Section 3.
All petitions shall be filed at the office of the Association not later than the close of business on August 1 of each year. Immediately after the receipt of such petitions, the General Manager shall examine the same and verify all signatures thereon and submit the same to the Board of Trustees.
Section 4.
The General Election of this Association shall be held each year between the 10th and 20th days of November, the date to be determined by the Board of Trustees at the regular monthly meeting held in August. The trustees elected each year shall take office on January 1st next following their election.
Section 5.
All active and retired members, in good standing of this Association are eligible to vote in a General Election or any Special Elections.
Section 6.
All ballots are to be returned to the business office of the Association by the date specified on the ballot. Those ballots returned by United States mail shall be postmarked not later than the date specified on the ballot. There will be a five (5) working day delay between the deadline specified on the ballot and the tally to be made by the election committee.
Section 7.
Before the date of the election, the President shall appoint from the active membership the necessary tellers to count the number of votes cast on any amendment or for any candidate. As soon as the results are known, a report thereof shall be made by the tellers to the Board of Trustees, who shall notify the membership. This notification shall constitute the official notice of the vote on any amendment or for any candidate.
Section 8.
If members approve an amendment or amendments by a majority vote, such amendment or amendments shall be effective at the closing time of polls on Election Day.
Section 9.
Should two or more candidates receive the same number of votes, they will be notified by the Board of Trustees to appear before said Board at a fixed time and place, where the Tie Breaking shall be determined by a majority vote of the Board.
Section 10.
In the event the number of qualified candidates and/or incumbents equals the number of Board positions to be filled by election and there is no contest as to the outcome of the election, the Board of Trustees may declare “No Contest” and fill the open Trustee positions by appointing the candidates and/or incumbents.
ARTICLE X
FUNDS
Section 1.
All monies received by way of dues, gifts, contributions, bequests, donations or from any other source shall be deposited in the General Fund.
Section 2.
All costs and expenses of the Association and all monetary benefits payable pursuant to the provisions of these By-Laws shall be paid from the General Fund.
ARTICLE XI
COMMITTEES
Section 1.
The President shall, from time to time, appoint such committees as are deemed necessary to assist in the operation of the Association.
ARTICLE XII
EMERGENCY RELIEF BENEFIT
Section 1.
Emergency relief benefits are a charitable gift and are to be used only for the Emergency Relief of those members of the Association who are deemed to be in dire circumstances and who clearly have an inability to repay the amounts involved. These benefits shall be disbursed only after the Board of Trustees shall have made a full investigation and
determined that the relief provided for herein is necessary, and upon such determination by a majority vote, shall authorize such disbursements.
ARTICLE XIII
SICK AND INJURY BENEFITS
Section 1.
This article approved by the Sheriffs’ Relief Board of Trustee on February 14, 2019, supersedes all earlier By-Laws prescribing “sick, disability, or supplemental” benefits.
This By-Law establishes an illness and injury benefit. This benefit is available to members only after one full year of membership and payable as follows:
A. Amended, Board of Trustees meeting, October 8, 2020, Any active member of this Association who receives below 65%, formerly 100%, of their daily salary for a period of 10 days or more during any calendar month due to an illness or injury, shall be eligible to receive a monthly benefit of $750.00. This monthly benefit will continue each month the member’s salary meets this criteria, or until the benefits received reach a lifetime maximum of $10,000.00, or the member retires. It shall be the Member’s responsibility to provide medical certification of their condition, and a supervisor/timekeeper’s verification of the qualifying loss of salary.
B. The Sheriffs’ Relief Association may review any case wherein illness or injury benefits are being received and revoke benefits if it is determined there is deceit in the application.
C. Members applying for illness or injury benefits must have used all available 100% sick, vacation, holiday, and saved time prior to receiving this financial assistance from the Sheriffs’ Relief Association.
D. In the event a recipient of this benefit receives salary reimbursement for the qualifying period from any source, Sheriffs’ Relief Association is entitled to recover from the member, all paid benefits under this program.
E. The Sheriffs’ Relief Association Board of Trustees reserves the right to modify or withhold an individual’s benefits based on unusual circumstances they believe merit such modification.
Section 2.
Any active members who, because of sickness or disability, is entitled to receive benefits as provided in the foregoing Sections, shall immediately notify the Association in writing of such sickness or disability on a claim form provided by the Association.
Members receiving percentage pay have 90 days to request benefits after returning to work at full salary. Failure to comply with this By-Laws section may result in a denial of benefits.
Section 3.
No member shall be entitled to benefits for, or on account of, any sickness or disability caused by an unlawful act, or by intemperate or immoral conduct.
Section 4.
Pregnancy: No member shall be entitled to benefits for reason of normal pregnancy. In the event unusual medical circumstances concerning the pregnancy occur prior to the seventh month of gestation and/or exceed one month following the birth, which prevents the member from working, the Sheriffs’ Relief Association will evaluate the information
and determine if sick benefits will be paid. In no event will benefits be paid for more than sixty (60) days for any pregnancy.
Section 5.
No sickness or disability benefits shall be payable if the member received benefits under a Worker’s Compensation or similar compensation fund. Any sick benefits paid by the Sheriffs’ Relief Association to a member must be refunded to the Association in the event
Worker’s Compensation ultimately accepts responsibility for the case. Specifically, each day a member received Sheriffs’ Relief Association sick benefits and Worker’s
Compensation benefits for that same day retroactive, the member must repay the amount Sheriffs’ Relief Association paid the member. The reimbursement must be made to the
Sheriffs’ Relief Association from the member’s lump-sum settlement from Worker’s Compensation or arrangements made with the Association for a non-interest bearing note to satisfy the debt. Should the member fail to repay the Association he/she is subject to
suspension and dismissal from the Association and alternate means of recovery will be instituted.
Section 6.
No active member of this Association shall receive sickness or disability benefits for any sickness contracted, or injury or disability received or incurred while engaged in any
gainful profession, trade, business, or occupation for any person, firm, corporation, or governmental entity, other than the County of Los Angeles.
In the event there is a question as to whether a sickness, injury, or disability was received or incurred while so engaged, the matter shall be submitted to the Board of Trustees, who shall fix a time for hearing thereon, and shall give to the member claiming such sickness or disability benefits at least ten (10) days notice in writing of the date, time and place of such hearing, at which time said member may appear and present evidence in his behalf in relation thereto, and the matter shall upon the conclusion of the submission of evidence, be
submitted to the Board of Trustees for decision, and its decision thereon shall be final,
binding and conclusive as to all parties.
ARTICLE XIV
SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFIT – WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
Section 1.
The Benefit: The member whose salary has been reduced due to service-connected illness or injury below 100% in the case of law enforcement personnel and 70% in clerical personnel will receive benefits at the rate of Twenty-Five (25.00) dollars per day, paid
(Article XIV, Section 1, cont’d)
monthly, until the need ceases to exist or until the maximum sum has been expended. At December 10, 2015 Board meeting the Board voted unanimously to increase the supplemental benefit maximum limit to 10,000 (Ten Thousand Dollars) effective January 1, 2016.
Any financial assistance granted under this program will create a moral and legal obligation upon the receipt to repay the Sheriffs’ Relief Association any and all funds received by them in the manner stated in the application attached. The amount of money subject to repayment by the recipient will be carried by the Sheriffs’ Relief Association on a non-interest bearing basis.
Section 2.
Qualifications: A member of the Sheriffs’ Relief Association who has suffered an illness or injury alleged to be service connected and his salary has dropped below 100% for safety members, 70% for non-sworn members; and who can provide evidence of a true need for assistance may apply.
A. The member in order to apply must be in the time period between the occurrence of the alleged illness or injury and the time they are accepted and their time restored by Worker’s Compensation or Worker’s
Compensation refuses to accept the responsibility for said illness or injury. Should the latter occur, the member may seek assistance under Article XIII,
B. Sick Benefits. The funds expended under Article XIV would be deducted from the total allowable under Article XIII.
C. A member may also qualify under Article XIV in the time period between the time they have exhausted their 4850 time, 231 time in the case of non-sworn personnel, until their case is heard by the Retirement Board. Any extension of benefits beyond the original hearing before the Retirement
Board will be totally at the discretion of the Board of Trustees of the Sheriffs’ Relief Association.
D. The Sheriffs’ Relief Association reserves the right to review any case wherein Supplemental Benefits are being received and revoke said benefits if it appears the intent of the program is being subverted.
E. Members applying for sick/supplemental benefits must have used all available sick, vacation and save time, prior to receiving financial assistance from the Sheriffs’ Relief Association.
ARTICLE XV
MORTUARY BENEFITS
Section 1.
All members of this Association shall be entitled to participate in the Mortuary Benefits of this Association. Each member shall file with the Association office a designation of beneficiary and alternate beneficiary upon a form provided by the Board of Trustees.
Section 2.
Each member shall have the right to change his or her named beneficiary and/or alternate beneficiary. To be effective, such change of named beneficiary must be filed in the
Association office, prior to death, on a form provided by the Association. No member or
beneficiary so named shall have or obtain any vested interest in the said Mortuary Benefit until the same has become due and payable upon the death of said member.
Section 3.
Upon the death of an active member or a member retired after March 27, 1963, in good standing in this Association, the Board of Trustees shall direct the payment to the designated beneficiary of the deceased member, the sum as determined by the Board of
Trustees, less any sum due and owing by such deceased member of the Association at the time of his or her death.
Section 4.
Upon the death of an associate member, or qualified dependent, wherein the concerned member is in good standing in this Association, the Board of Trustees shall direct the payment to the said member, the sum as determined by the Board of Trustees.
A. Benefits for dependent children as of Board Meeting on May 14, 2020 are as follows:
1. Newborn up to and including 21 years of age, a mortuary benefit of Four Thousand Five Hundred ($4,500) for any member who joined the association at 45 years of age or younger or
2. Three Thousand ($3,000) for a member who joined the association at 45 years of age or older
ARTICLE XVI
BENEFITS FOR FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME EMPLOYEES
Section 1.
The following benefits shall accrue to employees of the Sheriffs’ Relief Association:
A. Full time administrative employees, shall receive the same loan benefits as regular members. Loan benefits shall cease upon leaving the service of the Association.
B. Employees of Sheriffs’ Relief Association shall receive the same sick benefits as outlined for regular members, with the exception that no employee shall be entitled to receive more than Eighteen Hundred ($1,800)
Dollars during their employment. Part-time employees will not participate in sick benefits.
C. Full time employees of Sheriffs’ Relief Association shall receive the same mortuary benefits as outlined in Article XV, Sections 1, 2, and 3 only, with the following exception: Employees with ten (10) or more years of continuous service may, upon their leaving the service of the Association, elect to receive mortuary benefits for their lifetime as stated in Article XV, or a cash settlement of One Thousand ($1,000) Dollars.
1. EXCEPTION: Employees of the Sheriffs’ Relief Association who have retired from the Sheriff’s Department and were members of the Association during their active service are automatically eligible for
mortuary benefits in a sum determined by the Board of Trustees. If they do not opt for the One Thousand ($1,000) Dollars cash
settlement in lieu of the mortuary benefit, they shall receive an additional mortuary benefit in the amount determined by the Board
of Trustees, as a ten (10) year employee of the Sheriffs’ Relief Association.
D. Section C, subsection (1) will not apply to any employee hired after April 1, 1997.
E. Employees of the Sheriffs’ Relief Association shall not have voting privileges unless they are dues paying members.
Section 2.
Monetary reimbursement for accumulated sick, vacation, or overtime.
1. When leaving employment by SRA, personnel will be paid for vacation or sick time which has been accumulated.
ARTICLE XVII
INTERPRETATION AND AMENDMENTS
Section 1.
Words used in this Constitution and By-Laws in the present tense include the future as well as the present. Words used in the masculine gender shall include the feminine as well as the masculine. Words used in the singular shall include the plural and words used in the plural shall include the singular; the words “by mail” shall be understood to mean by regular United States, departmental or interdepartmental mail, or departmental announcement.
Section 2.
This Association may from time to time adopt additional By-Laws or revise or amend or repeal the By-Laws or any part thereof by an affirmative vote of the majority of votes by the Board of Trustees of a Board session, quorum present. Such amendments, additions or repeals shall become effective as of the close of the vote taken.
Section 3.
Any member may submit personally and in writing to the Board of Trustees, proposed amendments to these By-Laws, or proposed amendments to existing legislation or original
legislation pertaining to the well-being of our Association. Such proposed amendments shall be given full consideration by the Board, and the member advised of the decision made.
Section 4.
In addition to the provisions of this Article XVII Sections 2 and 3, the Board of Trustees may adopt, amend or repeal the By-Laws, subject to the following conditions:
The Board of Trustees cannot amend or repeal the By-Laws which authorize the number of Trustees of the Association.
Section 5.
This Comprehensive Amendment to the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association shall take effect when approved and adopted by the Association, and shall be in full force and effect thereafter, until changed or amended by the Association. All By-Laws and all amendments thereto heretofore adopted by the Association are hereby repealed. Each member and all persons claiming under him shall be bound by the Constitution and By-Laws and all amendments and additions or repeals thereof.
Section 6.
Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all meetings of the Association.
ARTICLE XVIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1.
Indemnity.
The corporation may indemnify any Director, Officer, agent or employee as to those liabilities and on those terms and conditions as are specified in Corporations Code Sec. 317. In any event, the corporation shall have the right to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any such persons whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such persons against the liability insured against.