(a) Any qualified organization, as defined in subdivision (b), in cooperation with the Public Employees’ Retirement System, may develop a health benefits plan which would be available to persons who are members of those organizations, with equal premiums for both active and retired teachers. The plan would be available, on an optional basis, to each school district, county board of education, and a county superintendent of schools which becomes a contracting agency with the Public Employees’ Retirement System pursuant to Section 22857 of the Government Code.
(b) “Qualified organization” means an exclusive representative of the certificated or classified employees, as defined by Section 3540.1 of the Government Code, or any organization with a membership of at least 1,000 members who are retirees of the State Teachers’ Retirement System, or any organization with a membership of at least 1,000 members who are faculty members in the California Community Colleges.
(c) This section shall not apply to any contracting agency unless and until the agency elects to be subject to this section pursuant to Section 22857 of the Government Code.
(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 896, Sec. 6. Effective September 29, 2004.)