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Home My WebLink AboutRES NO 272-07 RESOLUTION NO. " 272-07 A RESOLUTION ADOPTING AN EDUCATION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM WHEREAS, in an effort to encourage City employees to continue their education and thereby developing them for potential growth and advancement within the City; and WHEREAS, the City continues to experience recruitment and retention challenges in its efforts to maintain a trained workforce; and WHEREAS, the Charter of the City of Bakersfield, Section 12, authorizes the City Council to provide for salaries and related benefits for officers and employees of the City; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Bakersfield to adopt the following Education Reimbursement Program for all City employees and the Section 127 Educational Assistance Plan Document. GED or Related Education · 100% reimbursement for GED or related High School completion equivalent programs · 100% reimbursement for job enhancement related educational programs (not to include work related training) (Example: English, Grammar, Math, Typing classes, etc.) · Maximum annual benefit is $500 · Total lifetime maximum benefit $2,000 Underaraduate Benefit · 100% reimbursement of tuition, required fees and books (employee keeps books) equivalent to the CSUB tuition, fees and books. · This dollar amount is based on the CSUB tuition and fee structure (approximately $4,800 per year for 2007-2008) so is subject to CSUB fee structure changes. · For educational cost greater than the CSUB equivalent, employees are eligible to receive an additional 75% tuition, required fees and books for up to a total annual maximum benefit of $8,000. · There is a total lifetime maximum benefit of $32,000. Graduate Benefit · 100% reimbursement of tuition, required fees and books (employee keeps books) equivalent to the CSUB tuition, fees and books. ~M€'-9 ~ ~ >- ;;; '::: ,.... v c::, ORIGINAL · This dollar amount is based on the CSUB tuition and fee structure (approximately $4,800 per year for 2007-2008) so is subject to CSUB fee structure changes. · For educational cost greater than the CSUB equivalent, employees are eligible to receive an additional 75% tuition, required fees and books for up to a total annual maximum benefit of $10,000. · There is a total lifetime maximum benefit of $20,000. Approval Criteria · Must be Full-Time, Regular employee having successfully completed hiring probation period · Approval by Dept Head prior to enrolling in course(s) · Initiate Tuition Reimbursement Form for each course prior to enrolling in course(s) · Course and/or Program must be directly related to employee's current or future City position or determined to add value to the City of Bakersfield · Reimbursement will be for only course(s) and/or program(s), of either traditional or non-traditional course(s) including on-line class(s), which meet the following or equivalent accreditation: o Western Association of Schools and Colleges (W ASC) o Council on Higher Education (CHEA) o National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) o American Bar Association (ABA) o California Department of Education · No reimbursement for mail order, correspondence or non-accredited schools will be allowed. Reimbursement Approval Criteria · For undergraduate program, completion of approved course(s) with a grade of "C" or better is required. · For graduate program, completion of approved course(s) with a grade of "B" or better is required. · Pass/Fail or Class Auditing will not be reimbursable. · Finalize Tuition Reimbursement Form after completion of course(s) · Submission of all receipts for tuition, fees, books and grade slips. · Approval by Dept Head and submission of form to Finance for payment. ----------o()o---------- ~Mf.c> ~ "($' o . <0('\ ~ 4' , >- IT '::: b v ORIGINAl I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted by the Council of the City of Bakersfield at a regular meeting thereof held on DEe I 2 2091 , by the following vote: ~ ~ ABSTAIN: ABSENT: a.. ._1._. III . LI c.^Il:iJOh'I Sc::v-\\J~ COUNCIL MEMBER ~5-011, ue,'-t'\.,UNl"\- I \IV e.tA J nOfi\~ J ~ , COUNCIL MEMBER ~ COUNCIL MEMBER ~ COUNCIL MEMBER ~ /hr;f.CI~~RKOf the Council of the City of Bakersfield APPR()VED to form: ~~. ~4k VIRGI GENN~O CITY ATT()RNEY of the City of Bakersfield X ~M~1> o ~ >- - I- m _ T- <..:> c::, ORIGINAL City of Bakersfield Section 127 Education Assistance Plan Article I- Purpose of the Plan 1.01 The purpose of this Plan is to furnish certain educational assistance not excludable from income under Section 132 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended) ("Code") to the eligible Employees of the City of Bakersfield ("City"). It is the intention of the City that the Plan qualify as a plan providing qualified educational assistance under Code Section 127, that it be administered and participation eligibility determined consistent with the rules of the State of California and City policy, and that the educational assistance under the Plan be eligible for exclusion from Employees' income under Code Section 127. Article II- Plan Administrator 2.01 The City Manager shall be designated as the Plan Administrator for the Plan. The Plan Administrator shall have the authority to control and manage the operation and administration of the Plan, including the authority to make and enforce rules or regulations for the efficient administration of the Plan; to interpret the Plan; and to decide all questions concerning the Plan and the eligibility of any person to participate in the plan. Article III- Terms and Conditions of the Plan 3.02 "Plan" means the City of Bakersfield Sections 127 Education Assistance Plan. To the extent that educational assistance provided under the City's Administrative Rule titled "Education Reimbursement Program" qualifies under Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code, it is eligible for inclusion in this Plan. To the extent that educational assistance provided under the City's Administrative Rule titled "Education Reimbursement Program" does not qualify under Section 127 of the Internal Revenue Code, it is excluded from this Plan. The City's Administrative Rule titled "Education Reimbursement Program" determines all terms and conditions of the Plan. This Section 127 Education Assistance Plan provides no educational assistance beyond what is already provided under the City's Administrative Policy Statement titled "Education Assistance Program" except to the extent modified by this Article III. 3.02 Notwithstanding the City's Administrative Rule titled "Education Reimbursement Program" only eligible Employees of the City of Bakersfield shall be permitted to participate in the Plan. 3.03 The City Manager, as Plan Administrator, may amend or terminate this Plan at any time. 3.04 This Plan shall be effective as of January 1,2008. 3.05 This plan shall not be deemed to constitute a contract between the Employer and any Participant or to be a consideration or an inducement for the employment of ~~K~ x 'v' a ~ >- fi ~ [; v ORIGINAl any Participant or Employee or to extend to any Participant or Employee the right to education assistance provided under the Plan or to the continued operation of the Plan. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, Employees of the City of Bakersfield shall be eligible for the Plan in a manner that is not discriminatory under Section 127(b). Nothing contained in this Plan shall be deemed to give any Participant or Employee the right to be retained in the service of the Employer or to interfere with the right of the Employer to discharge any Participant or Employee at any time regardless of the effect which such discharge shall have upon him or her as a participant of this Plan. 3.06 The "program year" for the Plan shall be the calendar year. 3.07 This Plan shall be construed and enforced according to the laws of the State of California, to the extent not preempted by any federal law. S:\JA VIER\City of Bakersfield 127 Plan Doc.doc' ~Mf& x O' a ~ >- iT ~ r- v (:) ORIGINAl EDUCATION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM GED or Related Education · 100% reimbursement for GED or related High School completion equivalent programs · 100% reimbursement for job enhancement related educational programs (not to include work related training) (Example: English, Grammar, Math, Typing classes, etc.) · Maximum annual benefit is $500 · Total lifetime maximum benefit $2,000 Undereraduate Benefit · 100% reimbursement of tuition, required fees and books (employee keeps books) equivalent to the CSUB tuition, fees and books. · This dollar amount is based on the CSUB tuition and fee structure (approximately $4,800 per year for 2007-2008) so is subject to CSUB fee structure changes. · For educational cost greater than the CSUB equivalent, employees are eligible to receive an additional 75% tuition, required fees and books for up to a total annual maximum benefit of $8,000. · There is a total lifetime maximum benefit of $32,000. Graduate Benefit · 100% reimbursement of tuition, required fees and books (employee keeps books) equivalent to the CSUB tuition, fees and books. · This dollar amount is based on the CSUB tuition and fee structure (approximately $4,800 per year for 2007-2008) so is subject to CSUB fee structure changes. · For educational cost greater than the CSUB equivalent, employees are eligible to receive an additional 75% tuition, required fees and books for up to a total annual maximum benefit of $10,000. · There is a total lifetime maximum benefit of $20,000. C:\DOCUME- I \CCLAIB- I \LOCALS- I \Temp\XPgrpwise\Education Reimbursement(6).doc ~. ~MI::.y 0' ~. >- n ~ r- v (:) ORIGINAl Approval Criteria · Must be Full-Time, Regular employee having successfully completed hiring probation period · Approval by Dept Head prior to enrolling in course(s) · Initiate Tuition Reimbursement Form for each course prior to enrolling in course(s) · Course and/or Program must be directly related to employee's current or future City position or determined to add value to the City of Bakersfield · Reimbursement will be for only course(s) and/or program(s), of either traditional or non-traditional course(s) including on-line class(s), which meet the following or equivalent accreditation: o Western Association of Schools and Colleges (W ASC) o Council on Higher Education (CHEA) o National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASP AA) o American Bar Association (ABA) o California Department of Education · No reimbursement for mail order, correspondence or non-accredited schools will be allowed. Reimbursement Approval Criteria · For undergraduate program, completion of approved course(s) with a grade of "C" or better is required. · For graduate program, completion of approved course(s) with a grade of "B" or better is required. · PassIFail or Class Auditing will not be reimbursable. · Finalize Tuition Reimbursement Form after completion of course(s) · Submission of all receipts for tuition, fees, books and grade slips. · Approval by Dept Head and submission of form to Finance for payment. C:\DOCUME-l \CCLAIB-I \LOCALS-l \Temp\XPgrpwise\Education Reimbursement(6).doc ,Me: ~ '>0 a .., >- n l- r- <:; C) ORIGINAl