As used in this part 6, unless the context otherwise
requires:
(1)Cafeteria benefits means flexible benefits as defined in subsection (8)
of this section.
(2)Carrier means an insurer, health maintenance organization (HMO),
third-party administrator, or other entity with whom the state contracts to provide
or administer, or both provide and administer, the group benefit plans.
(3)COBRA means the continuation of certain benefits as provided by the
federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.
(5)Dependent means:
(a)An employee's legal spouse; each child, including adopted children,
stepchildren, and foster children, through the end of the month in which the child
turns twenty-six years of age; or an unmarried child of any age who
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As used in this part 6, unless the context otherwise
requires:
(1) Cafeteria benefits means flexible benefits as defined in subsection (8)
of this section.
(2) Carrier means an insurer, health maintenance organization (HMO),
third-party administrator, or other entity with whom the state contracts to provide
or administer, or both provide and administer, the group benefit plans.
(3) COBRA means the continuation of certain benefits as provided by the
federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended.
(4) Repealed.
(5) Dependent means:
(a) An employee's legal spouse; each child, including adopted children,
stepchildren, and foster children, through the end of the month in which the child
turns twenty-six years of age; or an unmarried child of any age who has either a
physical or mental disability, as defined by the carrier, not covered under other
government programs, and for whom the employee is the major source of financial
support or for whom the employee is directed by court order to provide coverage;
(b) Any person authorized by the director to be a dependent in response to
statutory changes made to mandated coverage for group benefits insurance
pursuant to title 10, C.R.S.;
(c) Repealed.
(c.5) An employee's partner in a civil union who has submitted
documentation demonstrating the creation of a civil union with the employee;
(d) Any additional dependents specified by the director by rule adopted in
accordance with article 4 of this title.
(6) Director means the state personnel director.
(6.5) Repealed.
(7) Employee means any officer or employee under the state personnel
system of the state of Colorado whose salary is paid by state funds or any
employee of the department of education, the Colorado commission on higher
education, or the Colorado school for the deaf and the blind whose salary is paid by
state funds, or any member of the military employed pursuant to section 28-3-904,
C.R.S. Employee includes any officer or employee of the legislative or judicial
branch, any elected or appointed state official or employee who receives
compensation other than expense reimbursement from state funds, any elected
state official who does not receive compensation other than expense
reimbursement from state funds, and includes any member of the board of
assessment appeals. Employee does not include persons employed on a
temporary basis; except that it shall include a member of the military employed
pursuant to section 28-3-904, C.R.S., for more than thirty consecutive days.
(8) Flexible benefits means an array of group benefit plans from which an
employee can select using the state's contribution, the employee's own funds, or a
combination of both, to pay for such benefits.
(9) Group benefit plans means any group benefits contracted for or
administered by the director, including but not limited to, medical, dental, life, and
disability benefits. Group benefit plans may also include voluntary benefits and
flexible benefits as determined by the director. Group benefit plans do not
include any group benefits that involve a contribution or donation as defined in
article 45 of title 1 to any candidate committee, political committee, political party,
small donor committee, small-scale issue committee, or any other political entity.
For purposes of section 24-50-104 (1)(a)(I), group benefit plans includes any group
benefits offered by a state institution of higher education to employees of such
institution who are in the state personnel system.
(10) Medicaid means federal insurance or assistance as such is provided by
the provisions of Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act and the Colorado
Medical Assistance Act, articles 4, 5, and 6 of title 25.5, C.R.S.
(11) Medical benefits includes, but is not limited to, hospital room and
board; other hospital services; certain out-patient benefits; maternity benefits;
surgical benefits, including obstetrical care; in-hospital medical care; diagnostic X
rays; laboratory benefits; physician services; prescription drugs; behavioral, mental
health, and substance use disorder services; comparable medical benefits for
employees who rely solely on spiritual means for healing; and such other similar
benefits as the director deems reasonable and appropriate for eligible employees
and dependents.
(12) Medicare means federal insurance or assistance as such is provided by
the Health Insurance for the Aged Act, 42 U.S.C. sec. 1395, or as such act may be
amended.
(13) Short-term disability plan means a group policy or contract provided
by a carrier for the purpose of providing short-term disability income replacement
to be provided to any eligible employee who has completed any required waiting
period.
(14) Voluntary benefits means a variety of benefit plans contracted for or
administered by the director that an employee can select by contributing a
predetermined portion of the employee's salary to pay for such products and
services for which, if available, the employee's contribution may be matched by a
state contribution. No state contribution match is effective until or unless the
director has completed a fiscal analysis of the cost and the outcome of any such
voluntary benefit, which includes a determination by the department of the number
of potential state employees retained as a result of offering the benefit.
Source: L. 94: Entire part added with relocations, p. 1123, � 1, effective May
19. L. 98: (4) and (5) amended, p. 677, � 5, effective August 5; (7) amended, p. 306, �
1, effective August 5. L. 2003: (13) amended, p. 1933, � 8, effective May 22. L. 2005: (7) amended, p. 663, � 5, effective May 27. L. 2006: (5) amended, p. 544, � 2,
effective July 1; (10) amended, p. 2010, � 74, effective July 1. L. 2009: (5) amended
and (6.5) added, (SB 09-088), ch. 267, p. 1218, � 2, effective August 5. L. 2010: (4)
repealed, (HB 10-1181), ch. 351, p. 1627, � 18, effective June 7; (9) amended, (HB 10-1427), ch. 408, p. 2019, � 2, effective June 10. L. 2013: (5)(c.5) added, (SB 13-011), ch.
49, p. 168, � 27, effective May 1. L. 2017: (11) amended, (SB 17-242), ch. 263, p. 1322,
� 180, effective May 25. L. 2018: (5)(a) amended (5)(c) repealed, (SB 18-131), ch. 100,
p. 774, � 2, effective August 8. L. 2019: (6.5) repealed, (SB 19-241), ch. 390, p. 3470,
� 29, effective August 2. L. 2024: (9) amended and (14) added, (HB 24-1293), ch.
180, p. 976, � 1, effective August 7.