[HISTORY: Adopted by the County Council of Sussex County 6-28-2005
by Ord. No. 1783. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as the "Sussex County Other Post-Employment
Benefit Plan," sometimes hereafter referred to as the "OPEB plan."
The purpose of this chapter is to authorize the creation of a post-employment benefit plan for retired County employees consisting of benefits other than pension benefits that may be provided under Chapter 26, known as the "Sussex County Employee Pension Plan Act."
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
A former employee who is receiving or has been approved for the receipt
of pension benefits under the County Pension Plan. The following persons shall
be considered "covered former employees" notwithstanding other provisions
of this chapter:
Other post-employment benefits may include group hospital coverage and/or
vision benefits and dental benefits approximately equivalent to the benefits
provided to current County employees and pensioners. The guidelines that apply
to cost-sharing for current and retired County employees also apply to cost-sharing
for pensioners who are receiving County post-employment benefits under this
chapter.
The Personnel Director shall receive all applications for benefits received
under this chapter and shall:
A.
Review each application for other post-employment benefits
and render an opinion thereon to the County Finance Director as to whether
the applicant is qualified for the benefits filed for in the application.
B.
From time to time make such recommendations to the County
government regarding proposed changes in the other post-employment benefit
plan and the administration of provisions of the plans.
B.
The Commission shall adjudicate any such controversy
at a time and place to be fixed by the Commission after due notice, in writing,
has been given to all interested parties at least 10 days prior to the day
of hearing. The Commission may administer oaths and do such acts and make
such rules in the premises as the Commission deems necessary and carry them
into effect. The written concurring decision of any two members of the Commission
shall be final.
C.
The members of the Commission shall serve without compensation,
but the government of Sussex County shall provide for the payment of the administration
of the Commission.
A.
As to any former employee who began employment with the
County prior to July 1, 2001, and receives a pension immediately upon leaving
County employment, the County is authorized to pay up to 100% of the other
post-employment benefits authorized by this chapter.
B.
Any employee who begins employment with the County after
June 30, 2001, and subsequently completes such years of employment as are
necessary to qualify for the receipt of benefits under the County pension
plan, shall be entitled to apply for the following other post-employment benefits
when he or she applies for a County pension:
(1)
Retired County employees, with less than 15 years of
employment and who are receiving benefits under the County Pension Plan, are
eligible to apply for benefits under this plan and if such application is
approved, the former employee would be responsible for paying 100% of the
cost of the benefits authorized by this chapter.
(2)
Retired County employees with 15 to 25 years of employment
and who are receiving benefits under the County Pension Plan, are eligible
to apply for benefits under this plan and, if such application is approved,
the County is authorized to pay 50% of the former employee's benefit
costs authorized by this chapter.
(3)
Retired County employees with 25, or greater, years of
employment and who are receiving benefits under the County Pension Plan, are
eligible to apply for benefits under this plan and, if such application is
approved, the County is authorized to pay 100% of the former employee's
benefits authorized by this chapter.
C.
Any former employee, who was employed by the County on July 1, 2001, would be eligible under Subsection A or B to receive the benefits authorized by this chapter when he or she receives a County pension. The former employee shall be entitled to determine whether to apply for benefits under Subsection A or B.
D.
County employees, or former employees, requesting benefits
under the County Pension Plan, are only eligible to apply for other post-employment
benefits when they apply for County pension benefits.
E.
When a former County employee receives a pension and subsequently dies, if the pensioner had his or her spouse listed as a dependent covered by the County group health insurance plan, the County will, following the death of the pensioner, grant the surviving spouse the same benefits the pensioner received during his or her lifetime, except for group life insurance coverage. If the pensioner was also receiving other post-employment benefits authorized by this chapter, and his or her spouse is an eligible survivor as defined in the County Pension Plan under Chapter 26, the surviving spouse shall also be eligible to apply for the other post-employment benefits authorized by this chapter.
F.
The spouse of a deceased employee or pensioner is eligible
to apply for benefits under this chapter at the time of the employee's
or pensioner's death if the spouse was eligible for survivor's benefits
under the County pension plan.
G.
The spouse of a pensioner who is receiving group hospital
coverage from the County is eligible for coverage if the spouse does not have
or loses other coverage.
A.
The County Finance Director is authorized to use and
allocate the monies previously appropriated and being invested for the sole
purpose of funding the benefits provided under this chapter and monies hereafter
appropriated by Council to pay benefits under this plan.
B.
The Sussex County Council shall review the financial
status of the fund yearly.
C.
The Sussex County Council shall annually reconsider the
amount of other post-employment benefit payments and determine the necessity
for allocating additional monies for the payment of such benefits.
D.
This fund shall be used for the payment of other post-employment
benefits and no other purpose.
E.
The payment of other post-employment benefits shall not
be subject to attachment or execution by any creditor of a covered former
employee who is receiving benefits under the plan.
Any person who makes a material misrepresentation or false statement
on an application for benefits or falsifies or permits the falsification of
any records of the other post-employment benefit plan in an attempt to defraud
the plan or to secure the payment of benefits that would not otherwise be
payable, but for the misrepresentation or falsification, shall be guilty of
a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to pay a fine not exceeding
$1,000 or suffer imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both, under the discretion
of the Court.
A.
The Personnel Director and the Finance Director shall
have the responsibility of keeping such records as are necessary to determine
eligibility for the payment of benefits authorized hereunder.
B.
Personnel records shall not be deemed to be public records.
However, a written request by a covered employee or former employee to the
Personnel Director shall entitle the former employee to review his or her
records, provided that no more than two such requests in any twelve-month
period will be honored, unless the former employee shows good reason for any
additional requests.
C.
Records concerning administration of the fund created
by this chapter shall be kept by the Sussex County Finance Director.
The County Administrator and Finance Director shall be authorized to
execute such documents as are necessary to implement, operate and maintain
the plan, to comply with best accounting practices and to achieve favorable
tax recognition and treatment for the plan. Such documentation shall comply
with the standards contained in the Governmental Accounting Standards Board
Statement 45, entitled "Accounting and Financial Reporting by Employers for
Postemployment Benefits Other Than Pensions."
