(A) Lake County has the following types of full-time employees as this term relates to eligibility for heath care benefits:
(1) (a) A regular full-time employee is an employee who has completed his or her orientation period and who works on average at least 35 hours or more per week.
(b) The overwhelming majority of the full-time employees who work for Lake County fall within this classification.
(2) (a) A regular part-time employee is an employee who may be paid out of a regular full-time employee position but who is fact does not work at least 35 hours or more per week.
(b) These are employees who clearly work less than 35 hours per week but for budget purposes are placed in job classifications where the salary is based upon working 35 hours per week.
(3) A statutory full-time employee is an employee who is paid out of a regular full-time employee position, who in fact may not work at least 35 hours per week, but who receives benefits by virtue of state statute, reimbursement agreement with the state or federal government, or is an elected or appointed official, judge or magistrate, pursuant to the Indiana Constitution, or state statute.
(a) These are employees who may work less than 35 hours per week but for budget purposes are placed in job classifications where the salary is based upon working 35 hours per week and for whom health benefits must be provided by state
statute or reimbursement funding agreements with the State of Indiana or the federal government. This includes county elected or appointed officials, judges and magistrates in a position created by the Indiana Constitution, or state statute.
(b) Notwithstanding this division (A)(3), in order to implement the settlement agreement entered into between the Lake County Superior Court and the Lake County Council dated March 13,2018, in Order for Mandate of Funds in the Lake Superior Courts, 45D10-1701-CB-00003, judges and magistrates appointed to a position of judge or magistrate after January 1, 2019, shall be ineligible to participate in any and all current and future health care coverage and benefits provided by Lake County government. However, judges or magistrates appointed after January 1, 2019, who were either a judge or magistrate in the Lake Superior Court on December 31, 2018, shall be covered.
(B) For purposes of health care benefits, a regular full-time employee and a statutory full-time employee are eligible for health care benefits.
(C) A regular part-time employee is not eligible for health care benefits.
(D) Effective April 1, 2013, the Lake County plan for providing health benefits will not include benefits for regular part-time employees currently employed. The effective date for new employees hired after November 13, 2012 is the date of adoption, November 13, 2012.
(E) (1) Effective January 1, 2024, costs center contributions for health care are hereby established at $1070 per pay period for each full-time position, single or family, effective date January 1, 2024.
(2) The $1,070 per pay period contribution shall be made by all offices, departments and agencies that have full-time employees.
(Ord. 1354A, passed 11-13-2012; Ord. 1354A-1, passed 3-12-2019; Ord. 992C-47, passed 12-10-2019; Ord. 992C-49, passed 12-14-2021; Ord. 992C-3, passed 11-15-2022; Ord. 992C-52, passed 10-10-2023)