71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
LC 2817
 
                         House Bill 2871
 
Sponsored by Representative JENSON; Representative LEE
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
 
  Allows temporary state employees to be eligible for certain
benefits.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to state employee benefits; creating new provisions; and
  amending ORS 243.105 and 243.107.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1. ORS 243.105 is amended to read:
  243.105. As used in ORS 243.105 to 243.285, unless the context
requires otherwise:
  (1) 'Benefit plan' includes, but is not limited to, contracts
for insurance or other benefit based on life; supplemental
medical, supplemental dental, optical, accidental death or
disability insurance; group medical, surgical, hospital or any
other remedial care recognized by state law; and related services
and supplies. 'Benefit plan' includes comparable benefits for
employees who rely on spiritual means of healing.
  (2) 'Board' means the Public Employees' Benefit Board.
  (3) 'Carrier' means an insurance company or health care service
contractor holding a valid certificate of authority from the
Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, or
two or more companies or contractors acting together pursuant to
a joint venture, partnership or other joint means of operation,
or a board-approved guarantor of benefit plan coverage and
compensation.
  (4)(a) 'Eligible employee' means an officer or employee of a
state agency who elects to participate in one of the group
benefit plans described in ORS 243.135. The term includes state
officers and employees in the exempt, unclassified and classified
service, and state officers and employees, whether or not
retired, who:
  (A) Are receiving a service or disability retirement allowance
under the Public Employees Retirement System or are receiving a
service or disability retirement allowance or pension under any
other retirement or disability benefit plan or system offered by
the State of Oregon for its officers and employees;
  (B) Are eligible to receive a service retirement allowance
under the Public Employees Retirement System and have reached
earliest retirement age under ORS chapter 238; or
  (C) Are eligible to receive a service retirement allowance or
pension under another retirement benefit plan or system offered
by the State of Oregon and have attained earliest retirement age
under the plan or system.
  (b) 'Eligible employee' does not include individuals:
  (A) Engaged as independent contractors;
  (B) Whose periods of employment in emergency work are on an
intermittent or irregular basis;
  (C) Who are employed on less than half-time basis unless the
individuals are employed in positions classified as job-sharing
positions or unless the individuals are defined as eligible under
rules of the board;
    { - (D) Appointed under ORS 240.309; - }
    { - (E) - }   { + (D) + } Provided sheltered employment or
made-work by the state in an employment or industries program
maintained for the benefit of such individuals; or
    { - (F) - }   { + (E) + } Provided student health care
services in conjunction with their enrollment as students at the
state institutions of higher education.
  (5) 'Family member' means an eligible employee's spouse and any
unmarried child or stepchild within age limits and other
conditions imposed by the board with regard to unmarried children
or stepchildren.
  (6) 'Payroll disbursing officer' means the officer or official
authorized to disburse moneys in payment of salaries and wages of
employees of a state agency.
  (7) 'Premium' means the monthly or other periodic charge for a
benefit plan.
  (8) 'State agency' means every state officer, board,
commission, department or other activity of state government.
  SECTION 2. ORS 243.107 is amended to read:
  243.107. A person employed by a state institution of higher
education or the Oregon Health Sciences University may be
considered an eligible employee for participation in one of the
group benefit plans described in ORS 243.135 if the State Board
of Higher Education, or the Oregon Health Sciences University
Board of Directors for Oregon Health Sciences University
employees, determines that funds are available therefor and if:
  (1) Notwithstanding ORS 243.105   { - (4)(b)(F) - }
 { + (4)(b)(E) + }, the person is a student enrolled in an
institution of higher education and is employed as a graduate
teaching assistant, graduate research assistant or a fellow at
the institution and elects to participate; or
  (2) Notwithstanding ORS 243.105 (4)(b)(B) or (C), the person is
employed on a less than half-time basis in an unclassified
instructional or research support capacity and elects to
participate.
  SECTION 3.  { + The amendments to ORS 243.105 by section 1 of
this 2001 Act apply only to:
  (1) Contracts entered into on or after the effective date of
this 2001 Act; and
  (2) Employment, including ongoing employment, of a temporary
employee on or after the effective date of this 2001 Act. + }
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