42.1 In recognition of the mutual advantages in addressing employees’
dependent care needs, the State and PEF agree to provide dependent care
benefits through family benefits programs designed to assist employees with
balancing work and family responsibilities.
42.2 A joint labor/management
advisory body, which recognizes the need for combined representation of all
employee negotiating units and the State, will monitor and evaluate the family
benefits program and other work-life services.
42.3 The State and PEF remain committed to ensuring that all network
child care currently available to State employees is provided in safe, high
quality centers. Therefore, the State and PEF agree to:
a)
Continue financial support for health and
safety grants for child care network
centers;
b)
Provide technical support and training for
child and elder care initiatives; and
c)
Encourage the continuation of existing host
agency support for child care centers.
42.4 The Committee shall continue to fund the administration of the
Flexible Benefit Spending Program, Dependent Care Advantage Account (DCAA).
This program will provide employees with the opportunity to increase their net income by paying for all or part
of selected benefits such as child care, elder care, and dependent care with
pre-tax dollars.
42.5 In the second year of the Agreement Calendar Year 2009, the State shall provide a contribution
to each Dependent Care Advantage Account enrollee as follows:
Up to $35,000 $600
$35,001 - $45,000 $500
$45,001 - $55,000 $400
$55,001 - $65,000 $300
Over $65,000 $200
Employee Gross Annual Salary Employer
Contribution
Up
to $30,000 $700
$30,001
to $40,000 $600
$40,001 to $50,000 $500
$50,001 to $60,000 $400
$60,001 to $70,000 $300
Over $70,000 $200
In subsequent
years, the employer contribution may be increased or reduced so as to fully
expend available funds for this purpose, while maintaining salary sensitive
differentials. In the event that available funds are not fully expended for
this purpose, the residual funds shall be made available to benefit members as
mutually determined by the Director of GOER and the President of PEF or their
designees. In no event shall the
aggregate employer contribution to DCAA enrollees exceed the available funds
for this purpose.
42.6 Employees choosing not to use the Flexible Benefit Spending Program
who use worksite child care centers designated by the Governor's Office of
Employee Relations may elect to pay their child care fees to the child care
centers through a payroll deduction program to be put in place pursuant to law.
42.7 In the interest of providing greater availability of dependent care and other services to PEF represented employees and maximizing resources available, the Family Benefits Program may support additional initiatives as recommended by the Advisory Board.
42.8 The State shall prepare, secure introduction and
recommend passage by the Legislature of such legislation as may be appropriate
and necessary to obtain appropriations of $1,041,390 for Fiscal Year 2003-04,
$1,041,390 for Fiscal Year 2004-2005, $1,041,390 for Fiscal Year 2005-2006
and $1,041,390 for Fiscal Year 2006-2007 $1,628,000 for Fiscal Year 2007-2008,
$1,709,400 for Fiscal Year 2008-2009, $1,794,900 for Fiscal Year 2009-2010, and
$1,884,600 for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 to fund the operation and
activities of the Program.
42.9 The President of PEF, or the designee of the President, shall serve as a member of the Advisory Board for the term of this Agreement.