Hearing Officer
Job Details
- Description
Description
The Ventura County Employees’ Retirement Association (“VCERA”) is soliciting proposals from qualified attorneys to serve on its panel of Hearing Officers who preside over administrative Disability Retirement hearings administered under the County Employees’ Retirement Law of 1937 (CERL) and VCERA’s disability retirement hearing procedures (i.e. Disability Hearing Procedures (“DHPs”), Disability Retirement Process, Disability Retirement Hearing Rules, and Ex Parte Communication Policy – all located on VCERA’s website at https://vcera.gov/members/active-members/disability-retirement). VCERA seeks to establish a panel of experienced and impartial adjudicators to conduct evidentiary hearings, evaluate administrative records, and issue written proposed findings of fact, conclusions of law, and recommended decisions to the VCERA Board of Retirement.
VCERA administers a defined benefit plan covering county and district employees. Disability Retirement applications are governed by the CERL and require independent adjudication when factual disputes arise. VCERA periodically contracts with Hearing Officers and intends to refresh and expand its panel in alignment with best practices and compliance with the CERL. Further discussion regarding disability retirement law can be found at www.lacera.com/about_lacera/pdf/DisabilityRetirementLaw.pdf.
Service on the panel may also occasionally involve assignments to make findings and recommendations regarding benefit entitlement determinations other than disability retirement matters.
Compensation
Compensation to Contractor for the above services shall be at the following rates:
(a) If the written report is rendered within ninety (90) days after the case has been submitted, or within any time extension granted by the Board pursuant to paragraph 3 above, Contractor shall be entitled to Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($250.00) per hour;
(b) Contractor shall be entitled to elect to be compensated for necessary and reasonable travel time to and from Ventura County pursuant to the rate set forth above, or to be reimbursed for mileage (at the IRS business standard mileage rate) and hotel (or other lodging) at a reasonable rate. Overnight stays will be reimbursed if deemed reasonable based on the Contractor’s travel time to Ventura County. Reimbursements will be made only upon submission of receipts by the Contractor. Contractor will be reimbursed for hotel and mileage or compensated for travel time, but not both;
(c) Contractor shall be compensated for meals at a daily per diem rate of $74 only if it is necessary for the Contractor to stay overnight;
(d) If the written report is not rendered within ninety (90) days from the date the case has been submitted, or within any time extension granted by the Board pursuant to paragraph 3 above, the Board may transfer the case to another referee, in which event the original referee shall not receive any fee for services performed in connection with said case;
(e) If a hearing scheduled before the Contractor is continued or cancelled less than fourteen (14) calendar days before the date agreed upon by all parties, or set by the Board, the Board shall pay to the Contractor the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), which includes all costs associated with the hearing, including, but not limited to, travel time, mileage reimbursement and other associated hearing costs.
For complete details, please visit VCERA's website at, https://content.vcera.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2026-VCERA-RFP-for-New-Disability-Retirement-Hearing-Officers.pdf to view the full RFP.
- Job ID
- 391
- Job Title
- Hearing Officer
- Application Deadline
- 07/10/2026
- Salary Range
- no minimum salary specified - no maximum salary specified
- Job Location
- Ventura, CA
- Website
Contact Information
- Name
- Katrina Pena
- RFP@vcera.gov
- Best Method of Contact