Common use of EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PROGRAM Clause in Contracts

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PROGRAM. 19.1 Defined contribution retirement programs (i.e., 401a and 457 deferred compensation plans) and a defined benefit retirement program (i.e., PERS) have been established by the Agency for all employees. Agency shall make no contributions to any retirement plan other than the PERS plan. The employee’s share of the PERS contract payment shall be the percentage (8% as of January 1, 2017)of each employee’s reportable compensation as defined in the Public Employee Retirement Law (Government Code §20636) with Agency responsible for the balance as calculated by PERS. In addition to their PERS payment, each employee may make additional contributions to available deferred compensation plans. (a) The Agency shall continue to provide and maintain the State of California Public Employees Retirement System Health Benefit Plans. The Agency will contribute to the health benefit plan premium for each employee and their eligible dependents an amount equal to the average of the premiums of all the PERS plans available - excluding the plan with the lowest premium and the plan with the highest premium - in any given year. (b) The Agency will contribute 100% of the health insurance premium for retirees, as defined in Section 19.2(c), below, up to the maximum contribution for active employees and dependents. (c) To qualify as a retiree from the Agency for coverage in the PERS Health Plan, the employee has to meet the following criteria: 1. Terminate his/her employment with the Agency with a minimum age of 55 years. 2. Notify the Agency within 120 days prior to their retirement date if they desire to be covered by the PERS Health Plan after retiring. 3. Have 10 years of employment with the Agency to be eligible to participate in the PERS Health Plan. (d) Employees retiring for health reasons, and are eligible for social security benefits, are exempt from the requirements of section 19.2 (c) 1 through 3. (e) Employees presently covered by the Agency’s health insurance plan under COBRA are eligible to participate in the PERS Health Plan as retirees. 19.3 Where it is assured by the attending physician that the duration of an illness or disability will require the employee's absence from work in excess of ninety (90) calendar days, the Agency will at its expense pay the employees required medical insurance premiums (including his/her dependent's coverage) for the two (2) month period following the last deducted payment made by the employee. In addition, for each completed five (5) years of service, the Agency will pay an additional one (1) month's premium. 19.4 The Agency will pay prescribed costs of dental coverage by the present policy under present policy and premium. 19.5 Vision Care will be provided to the employees at no cost to the employees. 19.6 The Agency shall provide to each regular employee a life insurance policy of $30,000, together with life insurance coverage for each employee’s spouse and dependents in the amount of $3,000 per person. 19.7 The Agency shall not, by reason of the execution of this Memorandum of Understanding, abrogate or reduce the scope of any present plan or rule beneficial to its employees, such as, but not limited to, the retirement plan, group health, life insurance, vision and dental program, or reduce the wage rate of any employee covered hereby (unless demoted), or change the conditions of employment to such employee's disadvantage. The intent of this provision is not to restrict management rights as provided for in 22.1, but is intended to provide for certain past practices which are of value, have been previously considered by the Union during the Meet and Confer Meetings but were not included in the Memorandum of Understanding. 19.8 To promote the physical fitness of employees and to reduce the risk of illness and injury, it is the desire of both parties hereto to pursue a physical fitness program. Regular employees who participate in a verifiable exercise regimen at a physical-fitness facility within Butte County will be reimbursed for their individual monthly membership expense up to a maximum of $60 per month. A verifiable exercise regimen at a physical fitness facility can include yoga, massage therapy, swimming, etc.

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PROGRAM. 19.1 Defined contribution retirement programs (i.e., 401a and 457 deferred compensation plans) and a defined benefit retirement program (i.e., PERS) have been established by the Agency for all employees. Agency shall make no contributions contribution to any retirement plan other than the PERS planPlan. The employee’s share of the PERS contract payment shall be the percentage (8% as of January 1, 2017)of 2017) of each employee’s reportable compensation as defined in the Public Employee Retirement Law (Government Code §20636) with Agency responsible for the balance as calculated by PERS. In addition to their PERS payment, each employee may make additional contributions to available deferred compensation plans. (a) The Agency shall continue to will provide and maintain the State of California Public Employees Retirement System Health Benefit Plans. The Agency will contribute to the health benefit plan premium for each employee and their eligible dependents an amount equal to the average of the premiums of all the PERS plans available and applicable (i.e., may be different for individual employees when PERS differentiates premiums on a zip-code basis) for a family of three or more - excluding the plan with the lowest premium and the plan with the highest premium - in any given year. (b) The Agency will contribute 100% of the health insurance premium for retirees, retirees (as defined in Section 19.2(c19.2 (c), below) and their dependents as required by the dental and vision insurance providers and the State of California PERS Health Plan, up to the maximum contribution for active employees and dependents. Dependents of retirees will contribute to receive the coverage even after the death of the retiree. (c) The Agency will contribute for dependents of employees who died while actively employed by the Agency and were 55 years of age or older at the time of their death, as required by the dental and vision insurance providers and the State of California PERS Health Plan, up to the maximum contribution for active employees and dependents. (cd) To qualify as a retiree from the Agency for coverage in the PERS Health Plan, the employee has to meet the following criteria: 1. Terminate his/her employment with the Agency with a minimum age of 55 years.. [Amended 1998, 2000] 2. Notify the Agency within 120 days prior to their retirement date if they desire to be covered by the PERS Health Plan after retiring. 3. Have 10 years of employment with the Agency to be eligible to participate in the PERS Health Plan. (de) Employees retiring for health reasons, and are eligible for social security benefits, are exempt from the requirements of section 19.2 (c) 1 through 3. (ef) Employees presently covered by the Agency’s health insurance plan under COBRA are eligible to participate in the PERS Health Plan as retirees. 19.3 Where it is assured by the attending physician that the duration of an illness or disability will require the employee's absence from work in excess of ninety (90) calendar days, the Agency will at its expense pay the employees required medical insurance premiums (including his/her dependent's coverage) for the two (2) month period following the last deducted payment made by the employee. In addition, for each completed five (5) years of service, the Agency will pay an additional one (1) month's premium. 19.4 The Agency will pay prescribed costs of dental coverage by the present policy under present policy and premium. 19.5 Vision Care will be provided to the employees at no cost to the employees. 19.6 The Agency shall provide to each regular employee a life insurance policy of $30,000, together with life insurance coverage for each employee’s spouse and dependents in the amount of $3,000 per person. 19.7 The Agency shall not, by reason of the execution of this Memorandum of Understanding, abrogate or reduce the scope of any present plan or rule beneficial to its employees, such as, but not limited to, the retirement plan, group health, life insurance, vision and dental program, or reduce the wage rate of any employee covered hereby (unless demoted), or change the conditions of employment to such employee's disadvantage. The intent of this provision is not to restrict management rights as provided for in 22.1, but is intended to provide for certain past practices which are of value, have been previously considered by the Union during the Meet and Confer Meetings but were not included in the Memorandum of Understanding. 19.8 To promote the physical fitness of employees and to reduce the risk of illness and injury, it is the desire of both parties hereto to pursue a physical fitness program. Regular employees who participate in a verifiable exercise regimen at a physical-fitness facility within Butte County will be reimbursed for their individual monthly membership expense up to a maximum of $60 40 per month. A verifiable exercise regimen at a physical fitness facility can include yoga, massage therapy, swimming, etc.

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PROGRAM. 19.1 Defined contribution retirement programs (i.e., 401a and 457 deferred compensation plans) and a defined benefit retirement program (i.e., PERS) have been established by the Agency for all employees. Agency shall make no contributions contribution to any retirement plan other than the PERS planPlan. The employee’s share of the PERS contract payment shall be the percentage (8% as of January 1, 2017)of 2017) of each employee’s reportable compensation as defined in the Public Employee Retirement Law (Government Code §20636) with Agency responsible for the balance as calculated by PERS. In addition to their PERS payment, each employee may make additional contributions to available deferred compensation plans. (a) The Agency shall continue to will provide and maintain the State of California Public Employees Retirement System Health Benefit Plans. The Agency will contribute to the health benefit plan premium for each employee and their eligible dependents an amount equal to the average of the premiums of all the PERS plans available and applicable (i.e., may be different for individual employees when PERS differentiates premiums on a zip-code basis) for a family of three or more - excluding the plan with the lowest premium and the plan with the highest premium - in any given year. (b) The Agency will contribute 100% of the health insurance premium for retirees, retirees (as defined in Section 19.2(c19.2 (c), below) and their dependents as required by the dental and vision insurance providers and the State of California PERS Health Plan, up to the maximum contribution for active employees and dependents. Dependents of retirees will contribute to receive the coverage even after the death of the retiree. (c) The Agency will contribute for dependents of employees who died while actively employed by the Agency and were 55 years of age or older at the time of their death, as required by the dental and vision insurance providers and the State of California PERS Health Plan, up to the maximum contribution for active employees and dependents. (cd) To qualify as a retiree from the Agency for coverage in the PERS Health Plan, the employee has to meet the following criteria: 1. Terminate his/her employment with the Agency with a minimum age of 55 years.. [Amended 1998, 2000] 2. Notify the Agency within 120 days prior to their retirement date if they desire to be covered by the PERS Health Plan after retiring. 3. Have 10 years of employment with the Agency to be eligible to participate in the PERS Health Plan. (de) Employees retiring for health reasons, and are eligible for social security benefits, are exempt from the requirements of section 19.2 (c) 1 through 3. (ef) Employees presently covered by the Agency’s health insurance plan under COBRA are eligible to participate in the PERS Health Plan as retirees. 19.3 Where it is assured by the attending physician that the duration of an illness or disability will require the employee's absence from work in excess of ninety (90) calendar days, the Agency will at its expense pay the employees required medical insurance premiums (including his/her dependent's coverage) for the two (2) month period following the last deducted payment made by the employee. In addition, for each completed five (5) years of service, the Agency will pay an additional one (1) month's premium. 19.4 The Agency will pay prescribed costs of dental coverage by the present policy under present policy and premium. 19.5 Vision Care will be provided to the employees at no cost to the employees. 19.6 The Agency shall provide to each regular employee a life insurance policy of $30,000, together with life insurance coverage for each employee’s spouse and dependents in the amount of $3,000 per person. 19.7 The Agency shall not, by reason of the execution of this Memorandum of Understanding, abrogate or reduce the scope of any present plan or rule beneficial to its employees, such as, but not limited to, the retirement plan, group health, life insurance, vision and dental program, or reduce the wage rate of any employee covered hereby (unless demoted), or change the conditions of employment to such employee's disadvantage. The intent of this provision is not to restrict management rights as provided for in 22.1, but is intended to provide for certain past practices which are of value, have been previously considered by the Union during the Meet and Confer Meetings but were not included in the Memorandum of Understanding. 19.8 To promote the physical fitness of employees and to reduce the risk of illness and injury, it is the desire of both parties hereto to pursue a physical fitness program. Regular employees who participate in a verifiable exercise regimen at a physical-fitness facility within Butte County will be reimbursed for their individual monthly membership expense up to a maximum of $60 per month. A verifiable exercise regimen at a physical fitness facility can include yoga, massage therapy, swimming, etc.