Johnson v. Fresno County Employees' Retirement Assn. CA5

BACKGROUND

1. The CalWIN program and expense reimbursement policies. The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Information Network, referred to as “CalWIN,” is an online computer system and database used to administer public welfare and assistance programs throughout California. Employees from various California counties designed the CalWIN software and were required to live near the project site in Folsom. Beginning in February 2000, Fresno County employees on assignment to the CalWIN project were reimbursed for actual, authorized expenditures. This policy was “‘adopted to allow additional reimbursement to the employee as an incentive for volunteering to relocate.’” In May 2000, the County adopted the CalWIN policy under which “CalWIN workers could obtain cash advances and reimbursement on a monthly basis for meals and incidentals” and “did not need to provide proof of expenses unless it was requested.” In December 2001, the County modified its CalWIN reimbursement policy. The County “‘did away with the dollar-for-dollar reimbursement scheme and, instead, put into place a flat monthly allowance … for staff members assigned to the project on a long- term…