Contra Costa County Employees' Retirement Association (CCCERA) is a retirement association for Contra Costa County, California's public employees. It provides defined benefit plans to the county and other local agencies. The association is a system that provides retirement benefits to employees of Contra Costa County and 16 participating public employers located within the county. Member organizations As of December 31, 2007, the participating agencies/districts include: Bethel Island Municipal Improvement District Byron, Brentwood, Knightsen Union Cemetery District Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Contra Costa County Employees’ Retirement Association Contra Costa Housing Authority Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District First 5 – Children & Families Commission In-Home Supportive Services Authority Local Agency Formation Commission Rodeo Sanitary District Superior Court of Contra Costa County Contra Costa Fire Protection District East Contra Costa Fire Protection District Moraga-Orinda Fire Protection District Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District Structure The retirement benefit structure of CCCERA is based upon the County Employees Retirement Law (CERL) of 1937, commonly referred to as the “37 Act.” On March 6, 1944, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt an ordinance giving county voters the opportunity to accept or reject the CERL as the framework for retirement benefits for county employees. The measure was passed by the voters. CCCERA began functioning on July 1, 1945. As of 2008, 20 of California's 58 counties have retirement systems that follow the stipulations of the ’37 Act. The service retirement, disability, death and survivor benefits provided by CCCERA are administered by a 12 member Board of Retirement. The Board adopts regulations, procedures, policies and resolutions as permitted by and amended in the CERL. The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors may also adopt resolutions which affect member benefits, as permitted by the County Employees' Retirement Law of 1937. The Retirement Board is responsible for general management of CCCERA while a Chief Executive Officer oversees the operations of the Association. A Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) outlines financial, investment, actuarial and statistical information about the Association in detail. The CAFR also includes an Independent Auditor’s Report focusing on CCCERA’s financial statements. As of December 31, 2012, CCCERA’s net assets were approximately 6.5 billion dollars. By comparison, as of December 31, 1945, the Association’s total assets stood at just under $45,600. At the close of 1946, the Association numbered approximately 550 members. CCCERA’s 2013 membership was approximately 20,000.