The Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) requires that individuals who retire from a CalPERS agency wait 180 days before being reemployed by the same or another CalPERS agency, unless the individual chooses to reinstate from retirement.  PEPRA allows exceptions to this 180-day waiting period under certain specified circumstances including the appointment to a position that is certified by the public agency's governing body as being critically necessary. 

The Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health department currently has a significant need to fill Psychiatrist positions to perform critical services for the County's seriously mentally ill residents.  Human Resources opened a continuous recruitment for Psychiatrist in October 2012 and has had little success in finding qualified and interested individuals to fill Psychiatrist positions in the department.  HR is reviewing the recruitment to determine if revisions can result in a larger pool of candidates.  The department has been successful in obtaining the temporary services of a Psychiatrist who is available to assist them as HR and ADMH continue to work together on a permanent solution.  This Psychiatrist is a recent retiree from another CalPERS agency and requires board action in order to assist us in an extra-help, limited-term capacity.

Staff recommends Board of Supervisor approval of the attached Resolution in order to allow the County to hire a qualified and available Psychiatrist.