BP BHEAD INT S

AN ACT Relating to temporary employees; and amending RCW 41.05.011.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 41.05.011 and 1994 c 153 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section shall apply throughout this chapter.

(1) "Administrator" means the administrator of the authority.

(2) "State purchased health care" or "health care" means medical and health care, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment purchased with state and federal funds by the department of social and health services, the department of health, the basic health plan, the state health care authority, the department of labor and industries, the department of corrections, the department of veterans affairs, and local school districts.

(3) "Authority" means the Washington state health care authority.

(4) "Insuring entity" means an insurer as defined in chapter 48.01 RCW, a health care service contractor as defined in chapter 48.44 RCW, or a health maintenance organization as defined in chapter 48.46 RCW. On and after July 1, 1995, "insuring entity" means a certified health plan, as defined in RCW 43.72.010.

(5) "Flexible benefit plan" means a benefit plan that allows employees to choose the level of health care coverage provided and the amount of employee contributions from among a range of choices offered by the authority.

(6) "Employee" includes all full-time and career seasonal employees of the state, whether or not covered by civil service; elected and appointed officials of the executive branch of government, including full-time members of boards, commissions, or committees; and includes any or all part-time and temporary employees under the terms and conditions established under this chapter by the authority and temporary employees who are hired on a long-term basis by virtue of consecutive terms of temporary employment; justices of the supreme court and judges of the court of appeals and the superior courts; and members of the state legislature or of the legislative authority of any county, city, or town who are elected to office after February 20, 1970. "Employee" also includes: (a) By October 1, 1995, all employees of school districts and educational service districts. Between October 1, 1994, and September 30, 1995, "employee" includes employees of those school districts and educational service districts for whom the authority has undertaken the purchase of insurance benefits. The transition to insurance benefits purchasing by the authority may not disrupt existing insurance contracts between school district or educational service district employees and insurers. However, except to the extent provided in RCW 28A.400.200, any such contract that provides for health insurance benefits coverage after October 1, 1995, shall be void as of that date if the contract was entered into, renewed, or extended after July 1, 1993. Prior to October 1, 1994, "employee" includes employees of a school district if the board of directors of the school district seeks and receives the approval of the authority to provide any of its insurance programs by contract with the authority; (b) employees of a county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state if the legislative authority of the county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state seeks and receives the approval of the authority to provide any of its insurance programs by contract with the authority, as provided in RCW 41.04.205; (c) employees of employee organizations representing state civil service employees, at the option of each such employee organization, and, effective October 1, 1995, employees of employee organizations currently pooled with employees of school districts for the purpose of purchasing insurance benefits, at the option of each such employee organization.

(7) "Board" means the public employees' benefits board established under RCW 41.05.055.

(8) "Retired or disabled school employee" means:

(a) Persons who separated from employment with a school district or educational service district and are receiving a retirement allowance under chapter 41.32 or 41.40 RCW as of September 30, 1993;

(b) Persons who separate from employment with a school district or educational service district on or after October 1, 1993, and immediately upon separation receive a retirement allowance under chapter 41.32 or 41.40 RCW;

(c) Persons who separate from employment with a school district or educational service district due to a total and permanent disability, and are eligible to receive a deferred retirement allowance under chapter 41.32 or 41.40 RCW.