53225. (a) The Health Insurance Purchasing Alliance Program is
hereby authorized. The program shall be administered by the Board of
Directors of the Health Insurance Purchasing Alliance Program
pursuant to this article.
(b) The governing bodies of any two or more counties that maintain
a county retirement system pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with
Section 31450) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 3 may, after
notifying and consulting with all other counties that maintain county
retirement systems pursuant to that chapter, elect, by resolution,
to form or to participate in, subject to the time limitations set
forth in subdivision (c), the program and to appoint one county
officer as a member of the board of directors. In any county
maintaining a retirement system pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing
with Section 31450) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 3 in which the
county board of retirement has elected, pursuant to Section 31691,
31691.1, or 31694.1, to make contributions for health benefits
coverage of retirees and their dependents, the election shall be
exercised jointly by the board of supervisors of the county and the
county board of retirement. In any county of the first class, as
defined by Section 20820, as amended by Chapter 1204 of the Statutes
of 1971, and Section 20822, as amended by Chapter 43 of the Statutes
of 1961, the resolution shall be initiated by the county board of
retirement. The county board of supervisors shall contribute a
reasonable amount of funds to pay its share of the initial startup
costs and the administrative costs of the program.
(c) Once the board of directors has put into operation a health
insurance contract year, any county maintaining a county retirement
system pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 31450) of Part
3 of Division 4 of Title 3, city, or district that desires to
participate in the program may elect, by resolution, adopted at least
one year prior to the commencement of the next insurance contract
year, to participate in the program. Each city and district that
elects to participate may appoint one of its officers as a member of
the Advisory Committee to the board of directors. The governing body
of the participating public agency shall contribute a reasonable
amount of funds, as determined by the board of directors, to pay its
share of the initial startup costs and the administrative costs of
the program.
(d) Each county, city, or district that elects to participate in
the program shall:
(1) Furnish to the alliance such employee information as the board
of directors may determine to be necessary.
(2) Provide to its eligible employees and retirees and their
dependents only the health insurance plans offered by the alliance.
(3) Make the selected health insurance plans offered by the
alliance available to all their eligible employees and retirees and
their eligible dependents.
(4) Carry out the purposes of the program and pay its share of the
initial startup costs.
(5) Abide by the rules and regulations adopted by the board of
directors and all applicable state and federal rules and regulations.
(e) The board of directors may, within 180 days of receipt of an
application to participate, reject the application of any city or
district.
(f) A request to withdraw from the alliance shall be submitted in
writing at least one year prior to the end of the health insurance
contract year after which coverage is no longer desired.
(g) The board of directors may, after giving one year's advance
written notice, terminate a participating public agency for cause
pursuant to the rules and regulations.
53225.1. The board of directors shall:
(a) Negotiate and enter into contractual arrangements with health
care insurance providers to provide health benefits coverage for the
eligible employees and retirees of participating public agencies and
their eligible dependents.
(b) Act upon the requests of counties, cities, and districts to
participate in the program.
(c) Gather, compile, and furnish such information as may be needed
by the health care insurance providers for premium computation
purposes.
(d) Analyze federal and state laws and regulations to assure that
the health benefits coverage plans being made available and the
operations of the program comply with those statutes and regulations.
(e) Provide appropriate consumer information for use by the
participating public agencies during the annual open enrollment
periods.
(f) Monitor the utilization of the plans by the participating
public agencies for cost effectiveness and potential fraud and abuse,
and to assure that the needs of those agencies are being met.
(g) Adopt, after the expiration of a reasonable review and comment
period, such rules and regulations as may be necessary to provide
for the effective operation of the program, including defining of the
eligibility of employees and retirees and their dependents to
participate in the program.
(h) Employ such staff and consultants, either directly or by
contract, as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the program.
(i) Make copies of its proposed budget available to the board of
supervisors of all participating counties for review and comment
prior to the adoption of the budget.
(j) Establish, in conjunction with the adoption of the annual
budget, a schedule of fees and charges for the equitable distribution
of the program operating expenses among the participating public
agencies.
53225.2. The Advisory Committee shall provide the board advice and
assistance in determining the health insurance coverage needs of the
participating public agencies and in the adoption of rules and
regulations.
53225. (a) The Health Insurance Purchasing Alliance Program is
hereby authorized. The program shall be administered by the Board of
Directors of the Health Insurance Purchasing Alliance Program
pursuant to this article.
(b) The governing bodies of any two or more counties that maintain
a county retirement system pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with
Section 31450) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 3 may, after
notifying and consulting with all other counties that maintain county
retirement systems pursuant to that chapter, elect, by resolution,
to form or to participate in, subject to the time limitations set
forth in subdivision (c), the program and to appoint one county
officer as a member of the board of directors. In any county
maintaining a retirement system pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing
with Section 31450) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 3 in which the
county board of retirement has elected, pursuant to Section 31691,
31691.1, or 31694.1, to make contributions for health benefits
coverage of retirees and their dependents, the election shall be
exercised jointly by the board of supervisors of the county and the
county board of retirement. In any county of the first class, as
defined by Section 20820, as amended by Chapter 1204 of the Statutes
of 1971, and Section 20822, as amended by Chapter 43 of the Statutes
of 1961, the resolution shall be initiated by the county board of
retirement. The county board of supervisors shall contribute a
reasonable amount of funds to pay its share of the initial startup
costs and the administrative costs of the program.
(c) Once the board of directors has put into operation a health
insurance contract year, any county maintaining a county retirement
system pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 31450) of Part
3 of Division 4 of Title 3, city, or district that desires to
participate in the program may elect, by resolution, adopted at least
one year prior to the commencement of the next insurance contract
year, to participate in the program. Each city and district that
elects to participate may appoint one of its officers as a member of
the Advisory Committee to the board of directors. The governing body
of the participating public agency shall contribute a reasonable
amount of funds, as determined by the board of directors, to pay its
share of the initial startup costs and the administrative costs of
the program.
(d) Each county, city, or district that elects to participate in
the program shall:
(1) Furnish to the alliance such employee information as the board
of directors may determine to be necessary.
(2) Provide to its eligible employees and retirees and their
dependents only the health insurance plans offered by the alliance.
(3) Make the selected health insurance plans offered by the
alliance available to all their eligible employees and retirees and
their eligible dependents.
(4) Carry out the purposes of the program and pay its share of the
initial startup costs.
(5) Abide by the rules and regulations adopted by the board of
directors and all applicable state and federal rules and regulations.
(e) The board of directors may, within 180 days of receipt of an
application to participate, reject the application of any city or
district.
(f) A request to withdraw from the alliance shall be submitted in
writing at least one year prior to the end of the health insurance
contract year after which coverage is no longer desired.
(g) The board of directors may, after giving one year's advance
written notice, terminate a participating public agency for cause
pursuant to the rules and regulations.
53225.1. The board of directors shall:
(a) Negotiate and enter into contractual arrangements with health
care insurance providers to provide health benefits coverage for the
eligible employees and retirees of participating public agencies and
their eligible dependents.
(b) Act upon the requests of counties, cities, and districts to
participate in the program.
(c) Gather, compile, and furnish such information as may be needed
by the health care insurance providers for premium computation
purposes.
(d) Analyze federal and state laws and regulations to assure that
the health benefits coverage plans being made available and the
operations of the program comply with those statutes and regulations.
(e) Provide appropriate consumer information for use by the
participating public agencies during the annual open enrollment
periods.
(f) Monitor the utilization of the plans by the participating
public agencies for cost effectiveness and potential fraud and abuse,
and to assure that the needs of those agencies are being met.
(g) Adopt, after the expiration of a reasonable review and comment
period, such rules and regulations as may be necessary to provide
for the effective operation of the program, including defining of the
eligibility of employees and retirees and their dependents to
participate in the program.
(h) Employ such staff and consultants, either directly or by
contract, as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the program.
(i) Make copies of its proposed budget available to the board of
supervisors of all participating counties for review and comment
prior to the adoption of the budget.
(j) Establish, in conjunction with the adoption of the annual
budget, a schedule of fees and charges for the equitable distribution
of the program operating expenses among the participating public
agencies.
53225.2. The Advisory Committee shall provide the board advice and
assistance in determining the health insurance coverage needs of the
participating public agencies and in the adoption of rules and
regulations.
53225. (a) The Health Insurance Purchasing Alliance Program is
hereby authorized. The program shall be administered by the Board of
Directors of the Health Insurance Purchasing Alliance Program
pursuant to this article.
(b) The governing bodies of any two or more counties that maintain
a county retirement system pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with
Section 31450) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 3 may, after
notifying and consulting with all other counties that maintain county
retirement systems pursuant to that chapter, elect, by resolution,
to form or to participate in, subject to the time limitations set
forth in subdivision (c), the program and to appoint one county
officer as a member of the board of directors. In any county
maintaining a retirement system pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing
with Section 31450) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 3 in which the
county board of retirement has elected, pursuant to Section 31691,
31691.1, or 31694.1, to make contributions for health benefits
coverage of retirees and their dependents, the election shall be
exercised jointly by the board of supervisors of the county and the
county board of retirement. In any county of the first class, as
defined by Section 20820, as amended by Chapter 1204 of the Statutes
of 1971, and Section 20822, as amended by Chapter 43 of the Statutes
of 1961, the resolution shall be initiated by the county board of
retirement. The county board of supervisors shall contribute a
reasonable amount of funds to pay its share of the initial startup
costs and the administrative costs of the program.
(c) Once the board of directors has put into operation a health
insurance contract year, any county maintaining a county retirement
system pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 31450) of Part
3 of Division 4 of Title 3, city, or district that desires to
participate in the program may elect, by resolution, adopted at least
one year prior to the commencement of the next insurance contract
year, to participate in the program. Each city and district that
elects to participate may appoint one of its officers as a member of
the Advisory Committee to the board of directors. The governing body
of the participating public agency shall contribute a reasonable
amount of funds, as determined by the board of directors, to pay its
share of the initial startup costs and the administrative costs of
the program.
(d) Each county, city, or district that elects to participate in
the program shall:
(1) Furnish to the alliance such employee information as the board
of directors may determine to be necessary.
(2) Provide to its eligible employees and retirees and their
dependents only the health insurance plans offered by the alliance.
(3) Make the selected health insurance plans offered by the
alliance available to all their eligible employees and retirees and
their eligible dependents.
(4) Carry out the purposes of the program and pay its share of the
initial startup costs.
(5) Abide by the rules and regulations adopted by the board of
directors and all applicable state and federal rules and regulations.
(e) The board of directors may, within 180 days of receipt of an
application to participate, reject the application of any city or
district.
(f) A request to withdraw from the alliance shall be submitted in
writing at least one year prior to the end of the health insurance
contract year after which coverage is no longer desired.
(g) The board of directors may, after giving one year's advance
written notice, terminate a participating public agency for cause
pursuant to the rules and regulations.
53225.1. The board of directors shall:
(a) Negotiate and enter into contractual arrangements with health
care insurance providers to provide health benefits coverage for the
eligible employees and retirees of participating public agencies and
their eligible dependents.
(b) Act upon the requests of counties, cities, and districts to
participate in the program.
(c) Gather, compile, and furnish such information as may be needed
by the health care insurance providers for premium computation
purposes.
(d) Analyze federal and state laws and regulations to assure that
the health benefits coverage plans being made available and the
operations of the program comply with those statutes and regulations.
(e) Provide appropriate consumer information for use by the
participating public agencies during the annual open enrollment
periods.
(f) Monitor the utilization of the plans by the participating
public agencies for cost effectiveness and potential fraud and abuse,
and to assure that the needs of those agencies are being met.
(g) Adopt, after the expiration of a reasonable review and comment
period, such rules and regulations as may be necessary to provide
for the effective operation of the program, including defining of the
eligibility of employees and retirees and their dependents to
participate in the program.
(h) Employ such staff and consultants, either directly or by
contract, as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the program.
(i) Make copies of its proposed budget available to the board of
supervisors of all participating counties for review and comment
prior to the adoption of the budget.
(j) Establish, in conjunction with the adoption of the annual
budget, a schedule of fees and charges for the equitable distribution
of the program operating expenses among the participating public
agencies.
53225.2. The Advisory Committee shall provide the board advice and
assistance in determining the health insurance coverage needs of the
participating public agencies and in the adoption of rules and
regulations.
