(a) Notwithstanding Section 22871, subdivision (b) of Section 22871.5, or any other provision of this article, the employer contribution with respect to employees in State Bargaining Units 5 and 8 shall be as described in subdivision (b).

(b) (1) From January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2005, inclusive, the employer contribution for each employee shall be an amount equal to 80 percent of the weighted average of the basic health benefit plan premiums for an active state civil service employee enrolled for self alone, during the benefit year to which the formula is applied, for the four basic health benefit plans that had the largest active state civil service enrollment, excluding family members, during the previous benefit year. For each employee with enrolled family members, the employer shall contribute an additional 80 percent of the weighted average of the additional premiums required for enrollment of those family members, during the benefit year to which the formula is applied, in the four basic health benefit plans that had the largest active state civil service enrollment, excluding family members, during the previous benefit year.

(2) Beginning January 1, 2006, the employer contribution for each employee shall be an amount equal to 85 percent of the weighted average of the basic health benefit plan premiums for an active state civil service employee enrolled for self alone, during the benefit year to which the formula is applied, for the four basic health benefit plans that had the largest active state civil service enrollment, excluding family members, during the previous benefit year. For each employee with enrolled family members, the employer shall contribute an additional 80 percent of the weighted average of the additional premiums required for enrollment of those family members, during the benefit year to which the formula is applied, in the four basic health benefit plans that had the largest active state civil service enrollment, excluding family members, during the previous benefit year.

(c) The employer contribution provided under this section is not applicable unless and until the effective date of the employee’s enrollment in an approved health benefit plan.

(d) If the provisions of this section are in conflict with the provisions of a memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Section 3517.5 or Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 3560) of Division 4 of Title 1, the memorandum of understanding shall be controlling without further legislative action, except that if those provisions require the expenditure of funds, the provisions may not become effective unless approved by the Legislature.

(Added by Stats. 2004, Ch. 69, Sec. 22. Effective June 24, 2004.)