BILL NUMBER: AB 714INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Melendez FEBRUARY 25, 2015 An act to amend Section 22830 of the Government Code, relating to state employees. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 714, as introduced, Melendez. State employees: health benefits. Existing law requires the Board of Administration of the Public Employees' Retirement System to approve health benefit plans, to contract with carriers offering health benefit plans, and to administer a program to provide health benefits to state employees. Existing law requires the state and each employee to contribute a portion of the cost of providing the benefit coverage afforded under the approved health benefit plan in which the employee or annuitant is enrolled. Under existing law, enrollment in a health benefit plan serves as authorization of the deduction of the contribution from the salary of an employee. This bill would authorize an employee to elect not to enroll in a health benefit and to elect to be paid the contribution that the employer would have made toward the cost of benefits. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 22830 of the Government Code is amended to read: 22830. (a) An employee or annuitant, under eligibility rules as prescribed by board regulations, may enroll in a health benefit plan approved or maintained by the board either as an individual or for self and family. (b) Enrollment shall serve as authorization of the deduction of the contributions required under this part from the salary of an employee or allowance of an annuitant. (c) (1) During the open enrollment period or at any other time an employee would otherwise be permitted to make a change to his or her health benefit plan, an employee may elect not to enroll in any health benefit plan approved or maintained by the board. (2) If an employee makes the election described in paragraph (1), no deduction of the contributions required under this part shall be made from the salary of the employee, and the employee may also elect to be paid the contribution that the employer would have made pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 22870) or 8 (commencing with Section 22890).