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 768
Senate Bill 416
Printed pursuant to Senate Interim Rule 213.28 by order of the
President of the Senate in conformance with presession filing
rules, indicating neither advocacy nor opposition on the part
of the President (at the request of Governor John A. Kitzhaber,
M.D., for Oregon Department of Administrative Services)
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.
Creates Public Employees' Revolving Fund and subaccounts.
Changes certain appropriations to Public Employees' Benefit
Account. Gives Public Employees' Benefit Board limited period
before reducing balance in Public Employees' Benefit Account to
prescribed limit. Requires Public Employees' Benefit Board to
apply specified criteria regarding health and dental benefit
plans. Eliminates requirement that board enter into only one- or
two-year contracts for health or dental plans.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to Public Employees' Benefit Board; creating new
provisions; and amending ORS 243.125, 243.165 and 243.185.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. { + Section 2 of this 2001 Act is added to and made
a part of ORS 243.105 to 243.285. + }
SECTION 2. { + (1) There is created the Public Employees'
Revolving Fund, separate and distinct from the General Fund. The
balances of the Public Employees' Revolving Fund are continuously
appropriated to cover expenses incurred in connection with the
administration of ORS 243.105 to 243.285 and 292.051. Assets of
the Public Employees' Revolving Fund may be retained for limited
periods of time as established by the Public Employees' Benefit
Board by rule. Among other purposes, the board may retain the
funds to control expenditures and to stabilize benefit premium
rates. The board may establish subaccounts within the Public
Employees' Revolving Fund.
(2) There is appropriated to the Public Employees' Revolving
Fund all unused employer contributions for employee benefits and
all refunds, dividends, unused premiums and other payments
attributable to any employee contribution or employer
contribution made from any carrier or contractor that has
provided employee benefits administered by the board, and all
interest earned on such moneys. + }
SECTION 3. ORS 243.165 is amended to read:
243.165. (1) There hereby is created in the General Fund an
account to be known as the Public Employees' Benefit Account, the
balances of which are continuously appropriated to cover
administrative expenses incurred in connection with the
administration of ORS 243.105 to 243.285 and 292.051.
(2) There hereby is appropriated to the Public Employees'
Benefit Account { - all refunds and dividends from any carrier
or contractor because of any agreement or contract entered into
between the carrier and the Public Employees' Benefit Board
and - } , subject to ORS 243.185, an amount not to exceed two
percent of the monthly { - state - } { + employer + } and
employee contributions for any benefit available under ORS
243.105 to 243.285 and 292.051.
SECTION 4. ORS 243.185 is amended to read:
243.185. Subject to legislative or Emergency Board approval of
budgetary authorization for operation of the Public Employees'
Benefit Board and its administration of the health benefit plans
and other duties under ORS 243.105 to 243.285 and 292.051, an
amount not to exceed two percent of the { - state - }
{ + employer + } and { - the - } employee contributions shall
be forwarded by each payroll disbursing officer to the board and
deposited by it in the State Treasury to the credit of the Public
Employees' Benefit Account to meet administrative and other costs
authorized by ORS 243.105 to 243.285 and 292.051. { - However,
no such assessment shall be required for any month in which the
balance in the account exceeds five percent of the monthly total
of state and employee contributions. - } { + The board shall
take action to ensure that the balance in the account does not
exceed five percent of the monthly total of employer and employee
contributions for more than 120 days. + }
SECTION 5. ORS 243.125 is amended to read:
243.125. (1) The Public Employees' Benefit Board shall
prescribe rules for the conduct of its business. The board shall
study all matters connected with the providing of adequate
benefit plan coverage for eligible state employees on the best
basis possible with relation both to the welfare of the employees
and to the state. The board shall design benefits, devise
specifications, analyze carrier responses to advertisements for
bids and decide on the award of contracts. Contracts shall be
signed by the chairperson on behalf of the board.
(2) In carrying out its duties under subsection (1) of this
section, the goal of the board shall be to provide a high quality
plan of health and other benefits for state employees at a cost
affordable to both the employer and the employees.
(3) Subject to ORS 183.310 to 183.550, the board may make rules
not inconsistent with ORS 243.105 to 243.285 and 292.051 to
determine the terms and conditions of eligible employee
participation and coverage.
(4) The board shall prepare specifications, invite bids and do
acts necessary to award contracts for health benefit plan and
dental benefit plan coverage of eligible employees { - for a
one- or two-year period - } { + in accordance with the criteria
set forth in ORS 243.135 (1) + }.
(5) The board may retain consultants, brokers or other advisory
personnel when necessary and, subject to the State Personnel
Relations Law, shall employ such personnel as are required to
perform the functions of the board.
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