Existing law authorizes the Department of Personnel Administration to enter into contracts for the provision of legally authorized employee benefits not requiring voluntary participation or payroll deductions. Existing law further authorizes the department to self-fund or self-insure any benefit program under its administration and to contract with a 3rd-party administrator to administer the program, as specified.

This bill would require the Department of Personnel Administration, when entering into any contract for vision care for state employees, to extend that coverage to a parent or sibling of an employee, if specified conditions are met.

The Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act authorizes the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System to contract with carriers for health benefit plans and major medical plans for employees and annuitants, as defined, funded by employer and employee contributions. The State Employees’ Dental Care Act is administered by the state, through the Department of Personnel Administration, the Trustees of the California State University, and the Regents of the University of California, and is authorized to enter into contracts, upon negotiations with employee organizations, with carriers for dental care plans for employees, annuitants, and eligible family members. This provision is applicable to the Regents of the University of California only if the regents, by resolution, make it applicable.

Under those acts, employer and employee premiums are paid into the Public Employees’ Health Care Fund and the State Employees’ Dental Care Fund, which are continuously appropriated funds.

This bill would require the extension of health care and dental benefits under those acts to a parent or sibling of an employee, if specified conditions are met. By increasing employer and employee contributions under those provisions, the bill would make an appropriation.