Bill Text: CA SB835 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Chaptered

California Senate Bill 835 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Employee benefits: Legislature: employees and officers: benefits.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)

Status: (Passed) 2022-08-26 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 189, Statutes of 2022. [SB835 Detail]

Download: California-2021-SB835-Chaptered.html

Senate Bill No. 835

CHAPTER 189

An act to add Section 22849 to the Government Code, relating to employee benefits.

[ Approved by Governor August 26, 2022. Filed with Secretary of State August 26, 2022. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 835, Newman. Employee benefits: Legislature: employees and officers: benefits.

Existing law grants state employees certain health, dental, and vision benefits, and authorizes other public agencies, including the Legislature, to elect to contract for these benefits. Existing law, which is applicable to certain state employees, requires the state employer, upon the death of an employee while in state service, to continue to pay employer contributions for health, dental, and vision benefits for a period not to exceed 120 days, as specified. Existing law also requires in this context that the state employer provide certain information and notifications to surviving spouses and other eligible family members.

This bill would require the Legislature, upon the death of a legislative employee while in service, to continue to pay employer contributions for health benefits for a period not to exceed 120 days, as specified, to the extent the benefits have been elected. The bill would specify, for these purposes, that the employer is the Senate or the Assembly, as may be applicable, and would identify the entities responsible for providing certain advisements to surviving spouses and other eligible family members.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 22849 is added to the Government Code, to read:

22849.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 22846, the Legislature shall, upon the death of a legislative employee while in service, continue to pay employer contributions for health benefits for a period not to exceed 120 days beginning in the month of the employee’s death. The surviving spouse or other eligible family member shall be advised of all rights and obligations during this period regarding the continuation of health benefits as an annuitant by the Public Employees’ Retirement System.

(b) This section shall apply to employees of the Legislature to the extent that the benefits have been elected. The employer for purposes of this section is the Senate or the Assembly as is applicable to the employee at death while in legislative service. The Senate Committee on Rules or the Assembly Committee on Rules, depending on the employment status of the decedent, shall provide the advisements required by subdivision (a).