(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the interests of the state would be served by the Department of Human Resources meeting and conferring with the exclusive representatives of the various bargaining units to discuss the establishment of long-term care benefits for state employees.

(b) If long-term care insurance plans are not available to state employees within one year following the date on which any long-term care plan is first offered for enrollment by the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System, state employees may enroll in the long-term care insurance plans offered by the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System.

(c) If subdivision (b) is in conflict with a memorandum of understanding entered into pursuant to Section 3517.5, the memorandum of understanding shall prevail and control without further legislative action, except that if the prevailing provisions of a memorandum of understanding require the expenditure of funds, these provisions may not become effective unless approved by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act.

(d) The Department of Human Resources may enter into contracts with the Board of Administration of the Public Employees’ Retirement System to allow active eligible state employees, and their spouses and parents, to enroll in any long-term care insurance plans offered by the board of administration.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 665, Sec. 105. (SB 1308) Effective January 1, 2013.)