(a) The California State University may contract with one or more vision care plans for annuitants and eligible family members if the carrier or carriers have operated successfully in the area of vision care benefits for a reasonable period, as determined by the California State University.

(b) The California State University, as the program administrator, has full administrative authority over this program and associated funds and shall require the monthly premium to be paid by the annuitant for the vision care plan. The premium to be paid by the annuitant shall be deducted from his or her monthly retirement allowance. A vision care plan or plans provided under this authority shall be funded by the annuitants’ premiums. All premiums received from annuitants shall be deposited in the California State University Annuitant Vision Care Program trust account, which is hereby created. Any income earned on the moneys in the California State University Annuitant Vision Care Program trust account shall be credited to the trust account.

(c) An annuitant may enroll in a vision care plan provided by a carrier that also provides a health benefit plan pursuant to Section 22850 if the employee or annuitant is also enrolled in the health benefit plan provided by that carrier. However, nothing in this section may be construed to require an annuitant to enroll in a vision care plan and a health benefit plan provided by the same carrier. An annuitant enrolled in this program shall only enroll in a vision plan or vision plans contracted for by the California State University.

(d) No contract for a vision care plan may be entered into unless the California State University determines it is reasonable to do so. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any premium moneys paid into this program by annuitants for the purposes of a vision care plan shall be used for the cost of providing vision care benefits to eligible, enrolled annuitants and their eligible and enrolled dependents, the payment of claims for those vision benefits, and the cost of administration of the vision care plan or plans under this vision care program, including startup costs, as determined by the California State University.

(e) If the California State University determines that it is not economically feasible to continue this program any time after its commencement, the California State University may, upon written notice to enrollees and to the contracting plan or plans, terminate this program within a reasonable time. The notice of termination to the plan or plans shall be determined by the California State University. The notice to enrollees of the termination of the program shall commence no later than three months prior to the actual date of termination of the program. The California State University shall notify the Legislature of a decision to terminate the program.

(f) Premium rates for this program shall be determined by the California State University in conjunction with the contracted plan or plans and shall be considered separate and apart from active employee premium rates.

(Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 344, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2008.)