TranslateMembership
All permanent employees working at least 50% of a full-time position for a SCERA-covered employer participate in a SCERA Plan. Participating employers include:
- Sonoma County
- Sonoma Valley Fire District
- Superior Court of California - County of Sonoma
All other employees working in temporary, seasonal, less than half-time, or in provisional positions are not eligible to participate in a SCERA Plan. Additionally, independent contractors are not eligible to participate.
Participation begins on the first day of eligible employment. If you transfer from an ineligible to an eligible position, you will begin participating on the first day in an eligible position.
SCERA's Plans: Plan A & Plan B
With the enactment of the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013, SCERA complied with the law by establishing Plan B. Members who entered the retirement system before January 1, 2013 are in Plan A. Most members who entered the retirement system after that date are in Plan B. The exception is for members who are eligible for reciprocity with another qualified California retirement system. If the membership date in the reciprocal system is prior to January 1, 2013, those members will be in Plan A. The differences between Plan A and Plan B are noted throughout this website.
Click link for more information about SCERA's implementation of the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA).
Mandatory participation and contributions
Participation and member contributions are mandatory for all eligible employees except in the following two cases where participation is optional:
- Eligible elected officials;
- Newly hired employees age 60 or over.
Optional membership can be waived or elected only after meeting with SCERA staff.
If you meet one of the qualifications for optional membership, you will be contacted by SCERA for an appointment to discuss your membership.
Reciprocity and Plan Membership Information
Click link to download information about reciprocity and plan membership.