Colorado § 24-51-1206.7 - Denver public schools division premium subsidy.

§ 24-51-1206.7. Denver public schools division premium subsidy.

(1) The provisions of this section apply to the DPS health care trust fund. After January 1, 2010, the general assembly shall consider the recommendation of the board and shall approve by resolution the premium subsidy to be paid monthly from the Denver public schools health care trust fund for subsidy recipients of the Denver public schools division enrolled in the health care program. No premium subsidy shall be paid for persons enrolled in the health care program who are not benefit recipients. It is the intent of this section not to cause an increase or decrease in health-care subsidies by DPS.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, and unless otherwise determined by the board through rule-making pursuant to section 24-51-204 (5), on and after January 1, 2010, the premium subsidy for benefit recipients of the Denver public schools division shall be:

(a) Two hundred thirty dollars per month for subsidy recipients who are not entitled to medicare hospital insurance benefits provided by the federal "Health Insurance for the Aged Act", 42 U.S.C. sec. 1395, as amended; and

(b) One hundred fifteen dollars per month for subsidy recipients who are entitled to medicare hospital insurance benefits provided by the federal "Health Insurance for the Aged Act", 42 U.S.C. sec. 1395, as amended.

(3) For subsidy recipients whose benefits are based upon less than twenty years of service credit, the premium subsidy shall be reduced by five percent for each year of service credit less than twenty years. The service credit used in said calculation of the amount of the premium subsidy for disability retirees shall be the same service credit used in the calculation of the disability retirement benefit pursuant to the provisions of section 24-51-704. Any portion of a year equal to or exceeding six months shall be considered a full year for purposes of the calculations specified in this subsection (3).

(4) If the amount of the premium for the health care of a subsidy recipient is less than the amount of the premium subsidy as determined pursuant to the provisions of this section, the board shall pay the amount of the health-care premium.

(5) (a) Service credit accrued by DPS members and members of the Denver public schools division on and after January 1, 2010, shall apply toward the calculation of the premium subsidy as provided in subsection (3) of this section. Service credit accrued under the DPS plan by DPS members prior to January 1, 2010, shall apply toward the calculation of the premium subsidy as provided in subsection (3) of this section only if the service credit was accrued while employed by a Denver public schools and if at least one of the following applies:

(I) The DPS member was participating in the Denver public schools retiree health benefit trust as of December 31, 2009; or

(II) The DPS member was a deferred DPS member as of December 31, 2009.

(b) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this subsection (5), service credit shall be granted for an approved leave of absence any time during a member's employment with Denver public schools prior to December 31, 2009, to serve at a charter school, as defined in section 24-51-1702 (10), for no longer than a three-year period, if written certification of eligibility under this paragraph (b) is provided to the association by Denver public schools. Service credit provided for in this paragraph (b) shall apply only to the calculation of a subsidy payable from the DPS division health care trust fund.

Source: L. 2009: Entire section added, (SB 09-282), ch. 288, p. 1350, § 50, effective January 1, 2010.