HF 3020

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/16/2010 10:54am

A bill for an act
relating to state benefits; authorizing the Metropolitan Council to participate in
state paid insurance and benefits; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections
43A.24, subdivision 2; 43A.26; 43A.30, subdivision 1; Minnesota Statutes 2009
Supplement, section 43A.27, subdivision 2.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 43A.24, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Other eligible persons.

The following persons are eligible for state paid
life insurance and hospital, medical, and dental benefits as determined in applicable
collective bargaining agreements or by the commissioner or by plans pursuant to section
43A.18, subdivision 6, or by the Board of Regents for employees of the University of
Minnesota not covered by collective bargaining agreements new text begin or by the governing body of
the Metropolitan Council established under section 473.123, subdivision 1, for employees
of the Metropolitan Council not covered by collective bargaining agreements new text end . Coverages
made available, including optional coverages, are as contained in the plan established
pursuant to section 43A.18, subdivision 2:

(a) a member of the state legislature, provided that changes in benefits resulting
in increased costs to the state shall not be effective until expiration of the term of the
members of the existing house of representatives. An eligible member of the state
legislature may decline to be enrolled for state paid coverages by filing a written waiver
with the commissioner. The waiver shall not prohibit the member from enrolling the
member or dependents for optional coverages, without cost to the state, as provided for in
section 43A.26. A member of the state legislature who returns from a leave of absence
to a position previously occupied in the civil service shall be eligible to receive the life
insurance and hospital, medical, and dental benefits to which the position is entitled;

(b) an employee of the legislature or an employee of a permanent study or interim
committee or commission or a state employee on leave of absence to work for the
legislature, during a regular or special legislative session, as determined by the Legislative
Coordinating Commission;

(c) a judge of the appellate courts or an officer or employee of these courts; a judge
of the district court, a judge of county court, or a judge of county municipal court; a
district court referee, judicial officer, court reporter, or law clerk; a district administrator;
an employee of the Office of the District Administrator that is not in the Second or
Fourth Judicial District; a court administrator or employee of the court administrator in a
judicial district under section 480.181, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), and a guardian ad
litem program employee;

(d) a salaried employee of the Public Employees Retirement Association;

(e) a full-time military or civilian officer or employee in the unclassified service of
the Department of Military Affairs whose salary is paid from state funds;

(f) a salaried employee of the Minnesota Historical Society, whether paid from state
funds or otherwise, who is not a member of the governing board;

(g) an employee of the regents of the University of Minnesota;

(h) notwithstanding section 43A.27, subdivision 3, an employee of the state of
Minnesota or the regents of the University of Minnesota who is at least 60 and not yet
65 years of age on July 1, 1982, who is otherwise eligible for employee and dependent
insurance and benefits pursuant to section 43A.18 or other law, who has at least 20
years of service and retires, earlier than required, within 60 days of March 23, 1982; or
an employee who is at least 60 and not yet 65 years of age on July 1, 1982, who has
at least 20 years of state service and retires, earlier than required, from employment at
Rochester state hospital after July 1, 1981; or an employee who is at least 55 and not
yet 65 years of age on July 1, 1982, and is covered by the Minnesota State Retirement
System correctional employee retirement plan or the State Patrol retirement fund, who
has at least 20 years of state service and retires, earlier than required, within 60 days of
March 23, 1982. For purposes of this clause, a person retires when the person terminates
active employment in state or University of Minnesota service and applies for a retirement
annuity. Eligibility shall cease when the retired employee attains the age of 65, or when
the employee chooses not to receive the annuity that the employee has applied for. The
retired employee shall be eligible for coverages to which the employee was entitled at the
time of retirement, subject to any changes in coverage through collective bargaining or
plans established pursuant to section 43A.18, for employees in positions equivalent to that
from which retired, provided that the retired employee shall not be eligible for state-paid
life insurance. Coverages shall be coordinated with relevant health insurance benefits
provided through the federally sponsored Medicare program;

(i) an employee of an agency of the state of Minnesota identified through the process
provided in this paragraph who is eligible to retire prior to age 65. The commissioner
and the exclusive representative of state employees shall enter into agreements under
section 179A.22 to identify employees whose positions are in programs that are being
permanently eliminated or reduced due to federal or state policies or practices. Failure
to reach agreement identifying these employees is not subject to impasse procedures
provided in chapter 179A. The commissioner must prepare a plan identifying eligible
employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement in accordance with the
process outlined in section 43A.18, subdivisions 2 and 3. For purposes of this paragraph,
a person retires when the person terminates active employment in state service and
applies for a retirement annuity. Eligibility ends as provided in the agreement or plan,
but must cease at the end of the month in which the retired employee chooses not to
receive an annuity, or the employee is eligible for employer-paid health insurance from
a new employer. The retired employees shall be eligible for coverages to which they
were entitled at the time of retirement, subject to any changes in coverage through
collective bargaining or plans established under section 43A.18 for employees in positions
equivalent to that from which they retired, provided that the retired employees shall not be
eligible for state-paid life insurance;

(j) employees of the state Board of Public Defense, with eligibility determined by
the state Board of Public Defense in consultation with the commissioner of management
and budget; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(k) employees of supporting organizations of Enterprise Minnesota, Inc., established
after July 1, 2003, under section 116O.05, subdivision 4, as paid for by the supporting
organization deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; and new text end

new text begin (l) an employee of the Metropolitan Council, with eligibility determined by the
Metropolitan Council in consultation with the commissioner of management and budget.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 43A.26, is amended to read:

43A.26 OPTIONAL COVERAGES.

The commissioner may make available to eligible persons and their dependents
certain optional coverages provided by carriers selected by the commissioner. Eligible
employees new text begin and other eligible persons new text end may elect to purchase optional coverages at their
own expense.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2009 Supplement, section 43A.27, subdivision 2, is
amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Elective eligibility.

The following persons, if not otherwise covered
by section 43A.24, may elect coverage for themselves or their dependents at their own
expense:

(a) a state employee, including persons on layoff from a civil service position as
provided in collective bargaining agreements or a plan established pursuant to section
43A.18;

(b) an employee of the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota, including
persons on layoff, as provided in collective bargaining agreements or by the Board of
Regents;

(c) an officer or employee of the State Agricultural Society, State Horticultural
Society, Sibley House Association, Minnesota Humanities Center, Minnesota Area
Industry Labor Management Councils, Minnesota International Center, Minnesota
Academy of Science, Science Museum of Minnesota, Minnesota Safety Council, state
Office of Disabled American Veterans, state Office of the American Legion and its
auxiliary, state Office of Veterans of Foreign Wars and its auxiliary, or state Office of the
Military Order of the Purple Heart;

(d) a civilian employee of the adjutant general who is paid from federal funds and
who is not eligible for benefits from any federal civilian employee group life insurance
or health benefits program; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(e) an officer or employee of the State Capitol Credit Union or the Highway Credit
Union deleted text begin . deleted text end new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (f) the chair and members of the Metropolitan Council and an employee of the
Metropolitan Council, including persons on layoff, as provided in collective bargaining
agreements or by the Metropolitan Council.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 43A.30, subdivision 1, is amended to read:

Subdivision 1.

Payments from agency revenues.

Each agency shall pay the
amounts due for state paid life insurance and hospital, medical and dental benefits
coverage authorized for eligible employees pursuant to this chapter.

Each agency shall pay the amounts from accounts and funds from which the agency
receives its revenues, including appropriations from the general fund and from any other
fund, now or hereafter existing for the payment of salaries and in the same proportion
as it pays therefrom the amounts of salaries. In order to enable the commissioner of
management and budget to maintain proper records covering the appropriations pursuant
to this section, the commissioner of management and budget may require certifications
in connection with payments as the commissioner of management and budget deems
necessary from the Minnesota Historical Society, the University of Minnesota, new text begin the
Metropolitan Council, new text end or any agency whose employees receive benefits pursuant to this
chapter. The accounts and funds from which agencies receive appropriations under the
terms of this section are a source of revenue for the purposes of any other law or statutory
enactment.

Sec. 5. new text begin APPLICATION.
new text end

new text begin Sections 1 to 4 apply in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey,
Scott, and Washington.
new text end

Sec. 6. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Sections 1 to 4 are effective the day following final enactment.
new text end