Public employees.

Existing law permits the Department of Personnel Administration to charge an administrative fee to employees participating in a group legal services plan established through regulation for excluded employees and memoranda of understanding reached pursuant to the Ralph C. Dills Act. This bill would in addition permit the department to charge an administrative fee to annuitants participating in a group legal services plan established through regulation for annuitants. The Vision Care Program for State Annuitants, administered by the Department of Personnel Administration, provides vision care coverage to specified state annuitants and their dependents, as contracted for by the department. The program is funded by annuitant premiums. Existing law also establishes in the State Treasury the Vision Care Program for State Annuitants Fund that is, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for expenditure for the provision of vision care benefits to state annuitants and their dependents, as specified. This bill would direct the plan provider to directly bill the annuitant if there are insufficient funds in an annuitant's allowance to pay the premium. This bill would also provide that moneys in the Vision Care Program for State Annuitants Fund would be continuously appropriated, as specified.