75-4372. Same; qualified to participate in state health care benefits program, periods; closure health insurance fund. (a) Each state officer or employee who (1) (A) is employed by an institution that is closed or abolished or otherwise ceases operations or that is scheduled for such closure, abolition or cessation of operations and has a budget reduction imposed that is associated with such closure, abolition or cessation of operations, and (B) is laid off from employment with such institution for the reason of such closure, abolition or cessation of operations or such imposition of a budget reduction, and (C) remains in such employment until the date the officer or employee is laid off; or (2) (A) who is in the classified service under the Kansas civil service act and is laid off from employment at the Topeka correctional facility due to the transfer of the reception and diagnostic unit from the Topeka correctional facility to the El Dorado correctional facility, and (B) remains in such employment until the date the officer or employee is laid off, shall continue to be qualified to participate in the state health care benefits program as provided in this section.

(b) In accordance with the following, each such state officer or employee may participate in the state health care benefits program after being laid off for the following periods:

(1) For the six-month period after the date of such person's layoff, during which period that portion of the cost of participation of such person which would have been paid by the state agency if such person was still a state officer or employee shall be paid as provided in subsection (c); and

(2) for the eighteen-month period after such six-month period, during which period the entire cost of participation of such person shall be paid by such person.

(c) There is hereby established the closure health insurance fund in the state treasury which shall be administered by the secretary of administration. In accordance with the provisions of appropriation acts, the secretary of administration shall cause to be deposited in the closure health insurance fund an amount equal to the full cost for six months of the employer contribution for full-time single member health care insurance under the state health care benefits program for each such laid off state officer and employee on the officer or employee's last day of service. Expenditures shall be made from the closure health insurance fund for the purpose of paying the employer's portion for full-time single member health insurance under the state health care benefits program for each such laid off state officer or employee until the expiration of six months or until notified by the laid off officer or employee that such officer or employee is otherwise covered by health care insurance. The secretary of administration shall establish a system to account for the state health insurance expenditures for each such laid off state officer or employee. Upon notice that the person who had been laid off is otherwise covered by health care insurance, the balance attributed to such person shall be paid to the person who had been laid off. After such six-month period, any participation by such person in the state health care benefits program shall be paid by such person.

(d) Except as otherwise provided by this section, the participation of each such state officer or employee in the state health care benefits program shall be in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 75-6501 through 75-6513, and amendments thereto, and rules and regulations and policies adopted by the Kansas state employees health care commission. Each such state officer or employee may obtain family coverage under the state health care benefits program administered by the Kansas state employees health care commission generally in the same manner as other state officers and employees and shall pay the entire cost of such family coverage.

History: L. 1996, ch. 255, § 3; L. 2000, ch. 152, § 30; May 25.