Los Angeles County Municipal Code Ch. 5.52 Tuition Reimbursement Program

As used in this chapter, "Los Angeles County tuition reimbursement program" refers to policies, procedures and conditions governing the reimbursement of employees by the county for all or part of the tuition which they paid for successfully completed courses related to their work.

(Ord. 7796 § 5 (part), 1960: Ord. 4099 Art. 32 § 601, 1942.)

The objectives of the Los Angeles County tuition reimbursement program are:

A.

To provide county management with additional tools to increase scientific, technical, professional and management skills of its employees in order to meet both present and future needs of the county service;

B.

To equip county employees with knowledge and skills needed on their present jobs and to prepare them for positions which are appropriate training objectives in relation to the county's needs and their own abilities;

C.

To implement a county-wide program for career development which will attract and retain in county service persons of superior ability and potential for advancement.

(Ord. 7796 § 5 (part), 1960: Ord. 4099 Art. 32 § 602, 1942.)

Each department head may appoint a departmental training advisory committee to assist in the planning and administration of the tuition reimbursement program.

(Ord. 88-0057 § 1, 1988: Ord. 7796 § 5 (part), 1960: Ord. 4099 Art. 32 § 607, 1942.)

The department head shall set training standards and administer the departmental tuition reimbursement program. Elements of the program involving budgetary aspects may be subject to the approval of the chief administrative officer.

(Ord. 88-0057 § 2, 1988: Ord. 9246 § 16 (part), 1967: Ord. 7796 § 5 (part), 1960: Ord. 4099 Art. 32 § 603, 1942.)

A.

Only that training may be included which has been identified by departmental management as being directly related to its present or future operations.

B.

Training may not be included which can be given more effectively and economically as in-service training.

C.

The training shall be for the purpose of improving the employee's value to the county, and shall directly relate to effective performance of the work of the department.

D.

Training shall be limited to that number of employees who must be trained to meet departmental needs and that number for which budgetary funds can be allocated.

(Ord. 9037 § 1 (part), 1966: Ord. 7796 § 5 (part), 1960: Ord. 4099 Art. 32 § 608, 1942.)

A.

The school or college must be accredited and the course must meet the academic requirements of the department's training plan, as well as the employee's training objectives.

B.

Where equivalent courses are offered at more than one school, consideration may be given to the quality of instruction as well as to the cost of tuition.

C.

Courses costing $5.00 or less per employee per course will not be eligible for reimbursement.

(Ord. 9037 § 1 (part), 1966: Ord. 7796 § 5 (part), 1960: Ord. 4099 Art. 32 § 609, 1942.)

A.

An employee of the county, or of a public entity, who has been appointed to a permanent position, is eligible, within the limitation of his department's program.

B.

Notwithstanding paragraph A of this section, employees holding the position of Library Aid, Library Page, or Student Professional Worker who are employed by the County Public Library on a part-time basis are eligible within the limitations established by the Public Library's program.

(Ord. 2008-0009 § 1, 2008: Ord. 8554 § 1 (part), 1964: Ord. 7796 § 5 (part), 1960: Ord. 4099 Art. 32 § 610, 1942.)

The employee, if a veteran, is not eligible until he has exhausted his eligibility for tuition reimbursement from the federal government and from the state of California.

(Ord. 7796 § 5 (part), 1960: Ord. 4099 Art. 32 § 611, 1942.)

The employee is not eligible unless:

A.

He is rated as competent or better in his present position or, in the case of part-time employees of the County Public Library, is reviewed and approved for participation in that department's program in accordance with the standards established by that department; and

B.

He meets competitive selection requirements in instances where the training can be made available only to a limited number of employees.

(Ord. 2008-0009 § 2, 2008: Ord. 7796 § 5 (part), 1960: Ord. 4099 Art. 32 § 612, 1942.)

The employee is eligible only for training which is compatible with his previous education.

(Ord. 9037 § 1 (part), 1966: Ord. 7796 § 5 (part), 1960: Ord. 4099 Art. 32 § 613, 1942.)

An employee is eligible for reimbursement for a maximum of two courses which together total no more than eight units of credit, per semester or quarter. This limitation shall not apply to Department of Mental Health employees taking coursework in the field of mental health on condition that the employees meet written eligibility criteria established by the department head and incorporated into the plans required pursuant to section 5.52.130 of this chapter.

(Ord. 2016-0020 § 1, 2016: Ord. 1001 § 1, 1970: Ord. 7796 § 5 (part), 1960: Ord. 4099 Art. 32 § 614, 1942.)

The employee shall take the training on his own time unless the interest of the county as determined by the department head requires otherwise in accordance with the training policy of the department.

(Ord. 88-0057 § 3, 1988: Ord. 9246 § 16 (part), 1967: Ord. 7796 § 5 (part), 1960: Ord. 4099 Art. 32 § 615, 1942.)

A department head who wishes to participate shall prepare plans which may contain:

A.

A statement of the department's policy concerning training;

B.

An outline of the department's training program, including present and proposed training;

C.

A justification of the proposed tuition reimbursement program in terms of the department's present needs or projected future needs, or both;

D.

Classes of positions in which employees will be eligible to participate;

E.

Proposed method of selection to be used when the training can be made available to only a limited number of employees;

F.

Proposed departmental procedure for administering the department's tuition reimbursement program;

G.

A definition of any proposed special conditions or limitations relative to classifications, participants, schools and similar matters;

H.

A plan for the first year of the department's tuition reimbursement program, including an estimate of employee participation and an estimate of the requirements for financing. After the plan has been established it shall remain in effect until the department head proposes major changes.

(Ord. 88-0057 § 4, 1988: Ord. 7796 § 5 (part), 1960: Ord. 4099 Art. 32 § 604, 1942.)

The employee shall initiate a request to his department head in sufficient time to receive the necessary approvals by the department head before the commencement of the course.

(Ord. 88-0057 § 6, 1988: Ord. 9246 § 16 (part), 1967: Ord. 7796 § 5 (part), 1960: Ord. 4099 Art. 32 § 616, 1942.)

A.

The necessary funds shall be allocated on the basis of departmental plans which have been approved by the department head.

B.

The department head shall approve claims for payment upon determination that the approved training has been satisfactorily completed in accordance with the conditions of the tuition reimbursement program.

(Ord. 88-0057 § 8, 1988: Ord. 82-0264 § 1 (part), 1982; Ord. 9246 § 16 (part), 1967: Ord. 7796 § 5 (part), 1960: Ord. 4099 Art. 32 § 617, 1942.)

A.

Upon completion of the approved course, the county or public entity shall reimburse the employee for tuition or class fees paid by him, including laboratory fees for the course if:

He files a claim as required by law, which claim shall include a receipt proving the payment of the fees by him and a certification by his department head that he completed the course for credit, with a passing grade of not less than "C";

He is still in the service of the county or of a public entity.

B.

Additionally, if specifically authorized by the board, such reimbursement shall also be made for the cost of required textbooks actually paid for by the employee.

C.

Except as provided for above, reimbursement will not be made for books, supplies or other incidental costs. Reimbursement will not be made for student activity fees and other special student assessments except at state schools where such charges are mandatory and no other tuition is charged. As a condition of reimbursement and as part of his reimbursement application, an employee must enter into a written agreement with the county that, if the employee terminates his employment with the county or public entity within one year of the date of the completion of the course for which he has been reimbursed, he shall return a pro rata portion of such reimbursement to the County or public entity by which he was employed; such portion shall be returned to the County or other public entity through a deduction from the employee's last salary warrant and/or may be collected in accordance with County collection procedures, in either case as and to the extent permitted by applicable state and federal laws. For example, if the employee has been reimbursed for a course in the amount of $600, and the employee terminates his employment at the end of the ninth month following the date of completion of the course, then, under this subsection C., the employee must return $150, which amount represents the remaining three-month pro rata portion. In accordance with this subsection C., the $150 may be deducted from his final salary warrant and/or in accordance with county collection procedures (as and to the extent permitted by applicable law).

(Ord. 2018-0031 § 10, 2018; Ord. 10094 § 2, 1970: Ord. 9037 § 1 (part), 1966: Ord. 8554 § 1 (part), 1964: Ord. 7796 § 5 (part), 1960: Ord. 4099 Art. 32 § 618, 1942.)

A.

Each department head shall prepare and submit an annual report to the chief administrative officer, which gives information covering participation of employees in this specialized training, the cost of the tuition and other fees paid, plus other pertinent information as may be required from time to time.

B.

The chief administrative officer shall review the departments' annual reports, shall summarize them, and make an evaluation of the over-all program for the year being reported.

(Ord. 88-0057 § 9, 1988: Ord. 9246 § 16 (part), 1967: Ord. 7796 § 5 (part), 1960: Ord. 4099 Art. 32 § 619, 1942.)