BILL NUMBER: AB 1082	CHAPTERED  10/11/03

	CHAPTER  764
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 11, 2003
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 10, 2003
	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 27, 2003
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  MAY 15, 2003
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 7, 2003

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Laird

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2003

   An act to amend Sections 22869 and 22872 of the Government Code,
relating to public employee health care benefits, and making an
appropriation therefor.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1082, Laird.  Public  employee health care benefits:  domestic
partners.
   Existing law authorizes public agencies that contract with the
Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) for employee and annuitant
health care benefits to provide those benefits to domestic partners.
  For these purposes, a domestic partnership is defined according to
existing state law.  Employer, employee, and annuitant contributions
for health care benefits are deposited in one of 2 continuously
appropriated funds.
   This bill would authorize a contracting agency, that adopted a
local definition of domestic partnership prior to January 1, 2000, to
provide health care benefits to those domestic partners.  By
expanding the eligibility for benefits, the bill would increase the
contributions that are deposited into a continuously appropriated
fund and, thereby, make an appropriation.
   Appropriation:  yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 22869 of the Government Code is amended to
read:
   22869.  For purposes of this part, a "domestic partnership" shall
be either of the following:
   (a) Two people who meet all of the criteria set forth in Section
297 of the Family Code.
   (b) Two people who meet all of the criteria of a "domestic
partnership," as defined by the governing board of a contracting
agency, if the contracting agency adopted that definition prior to
January 1, 2000.
  SEC. 2.  Section 22872 of the Government Code is amended to read:
   22872.  (a) In order to receive any benefit provided by this
article, an employee or annuitant shall present the board with proof
in a manner designated by the board that the employee or annuitant
and his or her domestic partner have filed a valid Declaration of
Domestic Partnership pursuant to Division 2.5 (commencing with
Section 297) of the Family Code or have established a valid domestic
partnership, as defined by his or her contracting agency in
accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 22869.
   (b) The employee or annuitant shall also provide a signed
statement indicating that the employee or annuitant agrees that he or
she may be required to reimburse the employer, their designated
health services plan, and the system, for any expenditures made by
the employer, their designated health services plan, and the system,
for medical claims, processing fees, administrative charges, costs,
and attorney's fees on behalf of the domestic partner if any of the
submitted documentation is found to be incomplete, inaccurate, or
fraudulent.
   (c) The employee or annuitant shall notify the employer or the
board when a domestic partnership has terminated, as required by
subdivision (c) of Section 299 of the Family Code or as required by
his or her contracting agency in accordance with subdivision (b) of
Section 22869.