Classified Listing

ORDINANCE O-12-38
BE IT ENACTED BY THE QUORUM COURT OF GARLAND COUNTY, STATE OF ARKANSAS, AN ORDINANCE TO BE ENTITLED:
“AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE GARLAND COUNTY PERSONNEL POLICY AS ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE O-00-18, TO ESTABLISH WRITTEN POLICIES CONCERNING PAYMENT OF BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYEES RETIRING OR TAKING ANY TYPE OF LEAVE OF ABSENCE; AND TO REPEAL ORDINANCE O-05-25 TO MORE ACCURATELY REFLECT A.C.A. 24-12-128 REGARDING RETIRING EMPLOYEES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.”
WHEREAS, the Garland County Clerk has gained approval from the Garland County Quorum Court to establish written policies concerning payment of benefits for county employees; and,
WHEREAS, the Human Resources Committee has previously met and approved the request; and,
WHEREAS, the Garland County Quorum Court is hereby adopting A.C.A. 24-12-128 as the Garland County Retirement and Benefits Policy. The policy shall be as follows:
“A retiring county official or county employee may elect to continue to participate in the county health care plan if: (1) they are at least 55 years old and vested in the County Division of APERS; or (2) they have 30 or more years of actual service in the County Division of APERS regardless of age; or (3) they have at least 35 years of credited service in the County Division of APERS regardless of age. They must also pay the entire health care plan premium.
The coverage that retirees are entitled to retain under the authority of A.C.A. 24-12-128 is the same coverage that active employees receive. If the county health care plan includes dental, vision, life insurance and dependent coverage, such coverage may be retained by the retiree as long as they pay the entire premium.”
WHEREAS, employees taking Family Medical Leave or any leave of absence as approved by the Garland County Quorum Court shall be required to pay his or her share of the premiums for dependant health, dental, life, or any other supplemental coverage’s said employee has active for the duration of leave; and,
WHEREAS, employees taking Occupational Injury Leave as defined under the Arkansas Worker’s Compensation Law shall be required to pay his or her share of the premiums for dependant health, dental, life, or any other supplemental coverage’s said employee has active for the duration of leave; and,
WHEREAS, all premiums due Garland County shall be received by the Garland County Clerk no later than the 15th of each calendar month prior to the actual month’s coverage. Should the premium not be received by the last calendar day of the proceeding month all coverage’s will be cancelled immediately. The Garland County Clerk’s office will not make written notifications monthly as reminders of premiums due. This shall be the sole responsibility of the retiree or employee; and,
WHEREAS, effective July 1, 2012 only official Garland County full time employees shall be eligible for enrollment in any county administered benefit plans. Employees classified as part-time, extra-help, contract labor, or employees of the State of Arkansas shall not be eligible for participation in the county benefit plans (there will be a transition period for the State of Arkansas employees of one (1) year to transfer their insurance coverage from county to state, the deadline date for the transfer of insurance coverage will be July 1, 2013; and,
WHEREAS, the Garland County Clerk shall make immediate notification to currently enrolled State of Arkansas employees regarding the status of their current coverage’s and shall supply an official copy of this Ordinance to those employees along with any participating retiree or employee currently on leave of absence.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE QUORUM COURT OF GARLAND COUNTY, ARKANSAS:
SECTION 1. That Section V of the Garland County Personnel Handbook: Fringe Benefits-A. Retirement as approved by Ordinance O-00-18 is hereby amended as follows:
“A retiring county official or county employee may elect to continue to participate in the county health care plan if: (1) they are at least 55 years old and vested in the County Division of APERS; or (2) they have 30 or more years of actual service in the County Division of APERS regardless of age; or (3) they have at least 35 years of credited service in the County Division of APERS regardless of age. They must also pay the entire health care plan premium.
SECTION 2. That Section V of the Garland County Personnel Handbook: Fringe Benefits-B. Hospital, Dental, and Life Insurance as approved by Ordinance O-00-18 is hereby amended as follows:
“Employees taking family Medical Leave or any leave of absence as approved by the Garland County Quorum Court shall be required to pay his or her share of the premiums for dependant health, dental, life or any other supplemental coverage’s said employee has active for the duration of leave. Employees taking Occupational Injury Leave as defined under the Arkansas Worker’s Compensation Law shall be required to pay his or her share of the premiums for dependant health, dental, life, or any other supplemental coverage’s said employee has active for the duration of leave.
All premiums due Garland County shall be receive by the Garland County Clerk no later than the 15th of each calendar month prior to the actual month’s coverage. Should the premium not be received by the last calendar day of the preceding month all coverage’s will be cancelled immediately. The Garland County Clerk’s office will not make written notifications monthly as reminders of premiums due. This shall be the sole responsibility of the retiree or employee.
SECTION 3. If any provision of this Ordinance or the application thereto to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the Ordinance which can be given effect without invalid provisions or application, and to this end, the provisions of this Ordinance are declared to be severable.
SECTION 4. This Ordinance shall be codified in the Garland County Code of Ordinance and the sections may be renumbered and re-lettered to accomplish such intention. Further the Garland County Personnel Policy may be renumbered to accomplish such intention.