Santa Maria Municipal Code Ch. 2-10 Group Insurance Plans

There are established by the City group insurance plans to provide health, disability and death benefits for City employees pursuant to the laws of the State relating thereto.

(Prior Code § 2-71)

(a) The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all management, fire and sworn police personnel with the first day of their employment as such.

(b) Members of the City Council are and shall be eligible for the plans under the provisions of this chapter.

(c) The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all permanent, full-time employees not otherwise provided for in this section upon completion of their six months' probationary status.

(Prior Code § 2-72)

Participation in the group insurance plans provided for in this chapter is mandatory. It is the finding and determination of the Council that mandatory participation benefits all employees through better rates and better insurance provisions for all. The City Manager may waive this requirement for any employee if he finds it is in the best interest of the City to do so.

(Prior Code § 2-73)

The City may, upon the adoption of the provisions codified in this chapter, enter into a contract or contracts with an insurance carrier or carriers licensed and permitted under the laws of the State to write and enter into the type of contracts contemplated in this chapter, which contracts shall provide for the provision of health benefits, salary continuation in the event of disability, and life insurance on all of the participating employees and officers as a group.

(Prior Code § 2-74)

Upon entering into a contract with any insurance carrier, the City shall pay to such insurance carrier a percentage to be set by resolution of the Council from time to time of all premiums payable on accounts of all officers and employees participating in the plan, and the participating officers and employees shall pay such premium percentages as set by resolution by authorizing the deduction of such from their compensation. In the event that the contract with the insurance carrier, entered into pursuant to this section, provides for coverage of dependents of the employee, such provisions may be included; provided, however, that the percentage of that premium for such additional coverage to be paid by the City is approved by resolution. Participation in such additional coverage for dependents by each employee shall be voluntary on the part of the employee.

(Prior Code § 2-75)

The City shall not be obligated or empowered to make any payment of premium on behalf of any officer or employee who has retired or otherwise been terminated from his employment with the City; provided, however, that this limitation shall not apply to a provision for such payment which is set forth in and provided for in a memorandum of understanding approved by the Council; provided further, that the insurance contract shall provide that retiring and terminating employees and officers may convert their group life or health insurance policies upon retirement or termination.

(Prior Code § 2-76)

The group insurance contracts may contain such benefits as established by the Council from time to time. The Council may from time to time in its discretion approve changes in the group insurance contracts and may change carriers and enter into new group insurance contracts for the purpose of improving the benefits provided thereunder or reducing the rates provided for in such contracts for premium payments, so long as the minimum requirements of this chapter are met by such contract.

(Prior Code § 2-77)