The Retirement Hearing Commission shall have jurisdiction only to hear appeals as hereinafter described. Any person who has a direct financial interest who is adversely affected by a decision of the retirement system manager with respect to such person's claim for benefits, or claim for a refund pursuant to former (1989) Charter section 436, shall have the right to appeal to the Retirement Hearing Commission.
Prior to the commission acting upon any appeal filed with it, the commission shall refer said appeal to an independent hearing officer. Such hearing officer shall hear the matter and make a recommendation to the commission, which recommendation shall include proposed findings of fact and a proposed decision. The commission, after reviewing the record, the proposed findings of fact and proposed decision, and taking such additional evidence as may be necessary, may adopt, modify or reject the proposed findings of fact and proposed decision.
All hearing officers shall be provided by the Office of Administrative Hearings of the State of California, or its successor in interest; provided, however, that the commission, with the approval of the city council, may prescribe rules for selecting hearing officers other than from the Office of Administrative Hearings.
The cost of securing hearing officers shall be borne by the city.
The city council shall by ordinance prescribe procedures to be followed by the commission in matters relating to its duties. The commission, with the approval of the city council, may contract to obtain such services and advice as are necessary to carry out its duties pursuant to the Charter. (Amended June 6, 1989)