The Florida Senate

112.363  Retiree health insurance subsidy.--

(1)  PURPOSE OF SECTION.--The purpose of this section is to provide a monthly subsidy payment to retired members of any state-administered retirement system in order to assist such retired members in paying the costs of health insurance.

(2)  ELIGIBILITY FOR RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE SUBSIDY.--A person who is retired under a state-administered retirement system, or a beneficiary who is a spouse or financial dependent entitled to receive benefits under a state-administered retirement system, is eligible for health insurance subsidy payments provided under this section; except that pension recipients under ss. 121.40, 238.07(16)(a), and 250.22, recipients of health insurance coverage under s. 110.1232, or any other special pension or relief act shall not be eligible for such payments. Payment of the retiree health insurance subsidy shall be made only after coverage for health insurance for the retiree or beneficiary has been certified in writing to the Department of Management Services. Participation in a former employer's group health insurance program is not a requirement for eligibility under this section. However, participants in the Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program as provided in s. 121.055(6) and the State University System Optional Retirement Program as provided in s. 121.35 shall not receive the retiree health insurance subsidy provided in this section. The employer of such participant shall pay the contributions required in subsection (8) to the annuity program provided in s. 121.055(6)(d) or s. 121.35(4)(a), as applicable.

(3)  RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE SUBSIDY AMOUNT.--

(a)  Beginning January 1, 1988, each eligible retiree or a beneficiary who is a spouse or financial dependent thereof shall receive a monthly retiree health insurance subsidy payment equal to the number of years of creditable service, as defined in s. 121.021(17), completed at the time of retirement multiplied by $1; however, no retiree may receive a subsidy payment of more than $30 or less than $10.

(b)  Beginning January 1, 1989, each eligible retiree or a beneficiary who is a spouse or financial dependent shall receive a monthly retiree health insurance subsidy payment equal to the number of years of creditable service, as defined in s. 121.021(17), completed at the time of retirement multiplied by $2; however, no retiree may receive a subsidy payment of more than $60 or less than $20.

(c)  Beginning January 1, 1991, each eligible retiree or a beneficiary who is a spouse or financial dependent shall receive a monthly retiree health insurance subsidy payment equal to the number of years of creditable service, as defined in s. 121.021(17), completed at the time of retirement multiplied by $3; however, no retiree may receive a subsidy payment of more than $90 or less than $30.

(d)  Beginning January 1, 1999, each eligible retiree or, if the retiree is deceased, his or her beneficiary who is receiving a monthly benefit from such retiree's account and who is a spouse, or a person who meets the definition of joint annuitant in s. 121.021(28), shall receive a monthly retiree health insurance subsidy payment equal to the number of years of creditable service, as defined in s. 121.021(17), completed at the time of retirement multiplied by $5; however, no eligible retiree or such beneficiary may receive a subsidy payment of more than $150 or less than $50. If there are multiple beneficiaries, the total payment must not be greater than the payment to which the retiree was entitled.

(4)  PAYMENT OF RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE SUBSIDY.--Beginning January 1, 1988, any monthly retiree health insurance subsidy amount due and payable under this section shall be paid to retired members by the Department of Management Services or under the direction and control of the department.

(5)  TRUST FUND ESTABLISHED.--There is hereby established a trust fund in the state treasury to be entitled the Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy Trust Fund. Said trust fund shall be used to account for all moneys received and disbursed pursuant to this section. Should funding for the retiree health insurance subsidy program fail to provide full benefits for all participants, the benefits may be reduced or canceled at any time.

(6)  INVESTMENTS OF THE TRUST FUND.--The State Board of Administration created by the authority of the State Constitution shall invest and reinvest the funds of the trust fund in accordance with ss. 215.44-215.53. Costs incurred by the Board of Administration incurring from the provisions of this section shall be deducted from the interest earnings accruing to the trust fund.

(7)  ADMINISTRATION OF SYSTEM.--The Department of Management Services may adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary for the effective and efficient administration of this section. The cost of administration shall be appropriated from the trust fund.

(8)  CONTRIBUTIONS.--For purposes of funding the insurance subsidy provided by this section:

(a)  Beginning October 1, 1987, the employer of each member of a state-administered retirement plan shall contribute 0.24 percent of gross compensation each pay period.

(b)  Beginning January 1, 1989, the employer of each member of a state-administered retirement plan shall contribute 0.48 percent of gross compensation each pay period.

(c)  Beginning January 1, 1994, the employer of each member of a state-administered retirement plan shall contribute 0.56 percent of gross compensation each pay period.

(d)  Beginning January 1, 1995, the employer of each member of a state-administered retirement plan shall contribute 0.66 percent of gross compensation each pay period.

(e)  Beginning July 1, 1998, the employer of each member of a state-administered retirement plan shall contribute 0.94 percent of gross compensation each pay period.

Such contributions shall be submitted to the Department of Management Services and deposited in the Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy Trust Fund.

(9)  BENEFITS.--Subsidy payments shall be payable under the retiree health insurance subsidy program only to participants in the program or their beneficiaries, beginning with the month the division receives certification of coverage for health insurance for the eligible retiree or beneficiary. If the division receives such certification at any time during the 6 months after retirement benefits commence, the retiree health insurance subsidy shall be paid retroactive to the effective retirement date. If, however, the division receives such certification 7 or more months after commencement of benefits, the retroactive retiree health insurance subsidy payment will cover a maximum of 6 months. Such subsidy payments shall not be subject to assignment, execution, or attachment or to any legal process whatsoever.

History.--s. 4, ch. 87-373; s. 3, ch. 88-382; s. 2, ch. 90-274; s. 47, ch. 92-279; s. 55, ch. 92-326; s. 2, ch. 93-193; s. 2, ch. 94-259; s. 1, ch. 98-413; s. 20, ch. 99-255.