Iowa Legislature: 11.64

CHAPTER 64BENEFITS[Prior to 8/15/86; See Deferred Compensation Program, 270—Ch 4][Prior to 1/7/04, see 581—Ch 15]11—64.1(8A) Health benefits. The director is authorized by the executive council of Iowa to administer health benefit programs for employees of the state of Iowa who are covered under Iowa Code chapter 509A. The executive council of Iowa shall determine the amount of the state’s contribution toward each individual employee’s premium cost and shall authorize the remaining premium cost to be deducted from the employee’s pay. The state’s contribution for each contract-covered employee shall be as provided for in applicable collective bargaining agreements negotiated in accordance with Iowa Code chapter 20.Related ARC(s): 8265B, 3215C11—64.2(8A) Dental insurance. The director is authorized by the executive council of Iowa to administer dental insurance programs for employees of the state of Iowa who are covered under Iowa Code chapter 509A.Related ARC(s): 8265B11—64.3(8A) Life insurance. The director is authorized by the executive council of Iowa to administer life insurance programs for employees of the state of Iowa who are covered under Iowa Code chapter 509A, except for employees of the board of regents.Related ARC(s): 8265B11—64.4(8A) Long-term disability insurance. The director is authorized by the executive council of Iowa to administer long-term disability insurance programs for employees of the state of Iowa who are covered under Iowa Code chapter 509A, except for employees of the board of regents.Employees who receive loss of time benefits under the state workers’ compensation program shall have those benefits, except for benefits designated as medical costs pursuant to Iowa Code section 85.27 and that portion of benefits paid as attorneys’ fees approved pursuant to Iowa Code section 86.39, deducted from any state long-term disability benefits received where the workers’ compensation injury or illness was a substantial contributing factor to the award of long-term disability benefits. Disability benefit payments will be further reduced by primary and family social security payments as determined at the time social security disability payments commence, railroad retirement disability income, and any other state-sponsored sickness or disability benefits payable.Related ARC(s): 8265B11—64.5(8A) Health benefit appeals. A member who disagrees with a group health benefit company’s decision on the application of group contract benefits may:

File a written appeal with the respective company as defined in the group contract, or
File a written appeal with the commissioner of insurance at the department of commerce.

11—64.6(8A) Deferred compensation. 64.6(1) Definitions. The following definitions shall apply when used in this rule:

"Account" means any fixed annuity contract, variable annuity contract, life insurance contract, documents evidencing mutual funds, variable or guaranteed investments, or combination thereof provided for in the plan.

"Beneficiary" means the person or estate entitled to receive benefits under the plan following the death of the participant.

"Director" means the director of the Iowa department of administrative services.

"Employee" means a nontemporary (permanent full-time or permanent part-time) employee of the employer, including full-time elected officials and members of the general assembly, except employees of the board of regents. For the purposes of enrollment, elected officials-elect and members-elect of the general assembly shall be considered employees. Persons in a joint employee relationship with the employer shall not be considered employees eligible to participate in the plan.

"Employer" means the state of Iowa and any other governmental employer that participates in the plan. Effective July 1, 2003, “employer” shall also include any governmental entity located within the state of Iowa that enters into an agreement to allow its employees to participate in the plan.

"Fiduciary" means a person or company that manages money or property for another and that must exercise the standard of care imposed by law or contract. For the purpose of these rules, “fiduciary” means the trustee, the plan administrator, investment providers, and the persons they designate to carry out or help carry out their duties or responsibilities as fiduciaries under the plan.

"Governing body" means the executive council of the state of Iowa.

"Group" means one or more employees.

"Investment provider" means a company authorized under this rule to issue an account or administer the records of such an account or accounts under the deferred compensation plan authorized by Iowa Code sections 8A.402 and 509A.12.

"Normal retirement age" means 65 years of age, unless an employee declares a different age pursuant to the plan’s catch-up provision. The age cannot be earlier than a year in which the employee is eligible to receive retirement benefits without an age reduction penalty from the employer-sponsored retirement plan.

"Participating employee" "participant" means any employee or former employee of the employer who is currently deferring or who has previously deferred compensation under the plan and who retains the right to benefits under the plan.

"Plan" means the state of Iowa employee contribution plan for deferred compensation as authorized by Internal Revenue Code Section 457 and Iowa Code sections 8A.434 and509A.12.

"Plan administrator" means the designee of the director who is authorized to administer the plan.

"Plan year" means a calendar year.

"Retirement investors’ club" means the voluntary retirement savings program for employees designed to increase personal long-term savings. The program contains three plans, the 457 employee contributions plan, the 401(a) employer contribution plan, and the 403(b) tax-sheltered annuity plan.

"Trust" means the Iowa state employee deferred compensation trust fund created in the state treasury and under the control of the department.

"Trustee" means the director of the Iowa department of administrative services.

64.6(2) Plan administration. a. Director’s authorization. The director is authorized by the governing body to administer a deferred compensation program for eligible employees and to enter into contracts and service agreements with deferred compensation investment providers for the benefit of eligible employees and on behalf of the state of Iowa and other eligible employers. This rule shall govern all investment options and participant activity for the funds placed in the program. b. Plan modification. The trustee may at any time amend, modify, or terminate the plan without the consent of the participant (or any beneficiary thereof). The plan administrator shall provide to participating employees and investment providers sufficient notice of all amendments to the plan. No amendment shall deprive participants of any of the benefits to which they are entitled under the plan with respect to deferred amounts credited to their accounts before the effective date of the amendment. If the plan is curtailed or terminated, or the acceptance of additional deferred amounts is suspended permanently, the plan administrator shall nonetheless be responsible for the supervision of the payment of benefits resulting from amounts deferred before the amendment, modification, or termination. Payment of benefits will be deferred until the participant would otherwise have been entitled to a distribution pursuant to the provisions of the plan. c. Location of account documentation. The investment providers shall send the original annuity policies, contracts or account forms to the plan administrator. Failure to do so may result in termination of an investment provider’s contract or service agreement. The plan administrator shall keep all such original documents. Participating employees may review their own documentation during normal work hours at the department, but may not under any circumstances remove the documentation from the premises. d. Not an employment contract. Participation in this plan by an employee shall not be construed to give a contract of employment to the participant or to alter or amend an existing employment contract of the participant, nor shall participation in this plan be construed as affording to the participant any representation or guarantee regarding the participant’s continued employment. e. Tax relief not guaranteed. The employer, trustee, and the investment providers do not represent or guarantee that any particular federal or state of Iowa income, payroll, personal property or other tax consequences will result because of the participant’s participation in the plan. The participant is obligated to consult with the participant’s own tax representative regarding all questions of federal or state of Iowa income, payroll, personal property or other tax consequences arising from participation in the plan. f. Investment agents. The investment providers shall, subject to the trustee’s consent, have the power to appoint agents to act for the investment providers in the administration of accounts according to the terms, conditions, and provisions of their contracts or service agreements with the plan. Investment providers are responsible for the conduct of their agents, including their adherence to the plan document and administrative rules. The plan administrator may require an investment provider to remove the authority of any agent to provide services to the plan or plan participants when cause has been shown that the agent has violated these rules or state or federal law or regulation related to the governance of the plan or agent conduct. g. Plan expenses. Expenses incurred by the plan administrator while administering the plan, including fees and expenses approved by the plan trustee for investment advisory, custodial, record-keeping, and other plan administration and communication services, and any other reasonable and necessary expenses or charges allocable to the plan that have been incurred for the exclusive benefit of plan participants and that have been approved by the plan trustee may be charged to the short-term interest that has accrued in the deferred compensation trust fund created by Iowa Code section 8A.434 prior to the allocation of funds to a participant’s chosen investment provider. Such expenses may also be funded from fees assessed to eligible employers who choose to offer the plan to their employees. h. Time periods. As necessary or desirable to facilitate the proper administration of the plan and consistent with the requirements of Section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), the plan administrator may modify the time periods during which a participating employee or beneficiary is required to make any election under the plan, and the time periods for processing these elections by the plan administrator, including the making or amending of a deferral agreement, the making or amending of investment provider selections, the election of distribution commencement dates or distribution methods. i. Supplementary information and procedures. Any explanatory brochures, pamphlets, or notices distributed by the plan shall be distributed for information purposes only and shall not override any provision of the plan or give any person any claim or right not provided for under the plan. In the event any form or other document used in administering the plan, including but not limited to enrollment forms and marketing materials, conflicts with the terms of the plan, the terms of the plan shall prevail. j. Binding plan. The plan, and any properly adopted amendments, shall be binding on the parties and their respective heirs, administrators, trustees, successors and assignees and on all beneficiaries of the participant. 64.6(3) Rights of participating employees. a. Exclusive benefit. The trustee shall hold the assets and income of the plan for the exclusive benefit of the participating employee or the participating employee’s beneficiary. b. Creditors. The accounts of a participating employee under the plan shall not be subject to creditors of the participating employee or the participant’s beneficiary and shall be exempt from execution, attachment, prior assignment, or any other judicial relief, or order for the benefit of creditors or other third persons. c. Designation of beneficiary. Upon enrollment, a participating employee must designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries. An employee who has an open account with an investment provider that is no longer able to open new accounts may change the employee’s designated beneficiary or beneficiaries at any time thereafter by providing the plan administrator with written notice of the change on the form prescribed by the plan administrator. An employee who has an open account with an investment provider that is able to open new accounts may change the employee’s designated beneficiary or beneficiaries at any time thereafter by completing the investment provider’s beneficiary change form. d. Assignment. Neither a participating employee, nor the participating employee’s beneficiary, nor any other designee shall have the right to commute, sell, assign, transfer, borrow, alienate, use as collateral or otherwise convey the right to receive any payments. 64.6(4) Trust provisions. a. Investment options. The trustee shall adopt various investment options for the investment of deferred amounts by participating employees or their beneficiaries and shall monitor and evaluate the appropriateness of the investment options offered by the plan. b. Designation of fiduciaries. The trustee, the plan administrator, and the persons they designate to carry out or help carry out their duties or responsibilities are fiduciaries under the plan. Each fiduciary has only those duties or responsibilities specifically assigned to fiduciaries under the plan, contractual relationship, trust, or as delegated to fiduciaries by another fiduciary. Each fiduciary may assume that any direction, information, or action of another fiduciary is proper and need not inquire into the propriety of any such action, direction, or information. No fiduciary will be responsible for the malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance of any other fiduciary, except where the fiduciary participated in such conduct, or knew or should have known of such conduct in the discharge of the fiduciary’s duties under the plan and did not take reasonable steps to compel the cofiduciary to redress the wrong. c. Fiduciary standards. (1) All fiduciaries shall discharge their duties with respect to the plan and trust solely in the interest of the participating employees and their beneficiaries and in accordance with Iowa Code section 633.123. Such duties shall be discharged for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to the participating employees and beneficiaries and, if determined applicable, defraying expenses of the plan. (2) The investment providers shall discharge their duties with the care, skill, prudence, and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims and as defined by applicable Iowa law. d. Trustee powers and duties. The trustee may exercise all rights or privileges granted by the provisions of the plan and trust and may agree to any alteration, modification or amendment of the plan. The trustee may take any action respecting the plan or the benefits provided under the plan that the trustee deems necessary or advisable. Persons dealing with the trustee shall not be required to inquire into the authority of the trustee with regard to any dealing in connection with the plan. The trustee may employ persons, including attorneys, auditors, investment advisors or agents, even if they are associated with the trustee, to advise or assist, and may act without independent investigation upon their recommendations. Instead of acting personally, the trustee may employ one or more agents to perform any act of administration, whether or not discretionary. e. Trust exemption. This trust is intended to be exempt from taxation under IRC Section 501(a) and is intended to comply with IRC Section 457(g). The trustee shall be empowered to submit or designate appropriate agents to submit the plan and trust to the IRS for a determination of the eligibility of the plan under IRC Section 457, and the exempt status of the trust under IRC Section 501(a), if the trustee concludes that such a determination is desirable. f. Held in trust. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the plan, in accordance with IRC Section 457(g), all amounts of compensation deferred pursuant to the plan, all property and rights purchased with such amounts, and all income attributable to such amounts, property, or rights shall be held in trust for the exclusive benefit of participants and beneficiaries under the plan. Any trust under the plan shall be established pursuant to a written agreement that constitutes a valid trust under the law of the state of Iowa. All plan assets shall be held under one or more of the following methods: (1) Compensation deferred under the plan shall be transferred to a trust established under the plan within a period that is not longer than is reasonable for the proper administration of the accounts of participants. To comply with this requirement, compensation deferred under the plan shall be transferred to a trust established under the plan not later than 15 business days after the end of the month in which the compensation would otherwise have been paid to the employee. (2) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the plan, including any annuity contract issued under the plan, in accordance with IRC Section 457(g), compensation deferred pursuant to the plan, all property and rights purchased with such amounts, and all income attributable to such amounts, property, or rights shall be held in one or more annuity contracts, as defined in IRC Section 401(g), issued by an insurance company qualified to do business in the state where the contract was issued, for the exclusive benefit of participants and beneficiaries under the plan or held in a custodial account as described in subparagraph (3) below. For this purpose, the term “annuity contract” does not include a life, health or accident, property, casualty, or liability insurance contract. Amounts of compensation deferred under the plan shall be transferred to an annuity contract described in IRC Section 401(f) within a period that is not longer than is reasonable for the proper administration of the accounts of participants. To comply with this requirement, amounts of compensation deferred under the plan shall be transferred to a contract described in IRC Section 401(f) not later than 15 business days after the end of the month in which the compensation would otherwise have been paid to the employee. (3) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the plan, in accordance with IRC Section 457(g), compensation deferred pursuant to the plan, all property and rights purchased with such amounts, and all income attributable to such amounts, property, or rights shall be held in one or more custodial accounts for the exclusive benefit of participants and beneficiaries under the plan or held in an annuity contract as described in subparagraph (2) above. For purposes of this subparagraph, the custodian of any custodial account created pursuant to the plan must be a bank, as described in IRC Section 408(n), or a person who meets the nonbank trustee requirements of Treasury Regulations Section 1.408-2(e)(2) to (6) relating to the use of nonbank trustees.Amounts of compensation deferred under the plan shall be transferred to a custodial account described in IRC Section 401(f) within a period that is not longer than is reasonable for the proper administration of the accounts of participants. To comply with this requirement, amounts of compensation deferred under the plan shall be transferred to a custodial account described in IRC Section 401(f) not later than 15 business days after the end of the month in which the compensation would otherwise have been paid to the employee. 64.6(5) Absolute safeguards of the employer, trustee, their employees, and agents. a. Questions of fact. The trustee and the plan administrator are authorized to resolve any questions of fact necessary to decide the participating employee’s rights under the plan. An appeal of a decision of the plan administrator shall be made to the trustee, or the trustee’s designee, who shall render a final decision on behalf of the plan. b. Plan construction. The trustee and the plan administrator are authorized to construe the plan and to resolve any ambiguity in the plan and to apply reasonable and fair procedures for the administration of the plan. An appeal of a decision of the plan administrator shall be made to the trustee, or the trustee’s designee, within 30 days of the plan administrator’s decision. The trustee, or the trustee’s designee, shall render a final decision on behalf of the plan. c. No liability for loss. The participating employee specifically agrees that the employer, the plan, the trustee, the plan administrator, or any other employee or agent of the employer shall not be liable for any loss sustained by the participating employee or the participating employee’s beneficiary for the nonperformance of duties, negligence, or any other misconduct of the above-named persons except that this paragraph shall not excuse malicious or wanton misconduct. d. Payments suspended. The trustee, plan administrator, investment providers, their employees and agents, if in doubt concerning the correctness of their actions in making a payment of a benefit, may suspend the payment until satisfied as to the correctness of the payment or the identity of the person to receive the payment, or until the filing of an administrative appeal under Iowa Code chapter 17A, and thereafter in any state court of competent jurisdiction, a suit in such form as they consider appropriate for a legal determination of the benefits to be paid and the persons to receive them. e. Court costs. The employer, the plan, the trustee, the plan administrator, their employees and agents are hereby held harmless from all court costs and all claims for the attorneys’ fees arising from any action brought by the participating employee, or any beneficiary thereof, under the plan or to enforce their rights under the plan, including any amendments of the plan. 64.6(6) Eligibility. Except employees of the board of regents, any nontemporary executive, judicial or legislative branch employee, or employee of a governmental employer that enters into an agreement to join the plan, who is regularly scheduled for 20 or more hours of work per week or who has a fixed annual salary is eligible to defer compensation under this rule. An elected official-elect and elected members-elect of the general assembly are also eligible provided that deductions meet the requirements set forth in the plan. Final determination on eligibility shall rest with the plan administrator. 64.6(7) Communications. a. Forms. All enrollments, elections, designations, applications and other communications by or from an employee, participant, beneficiary, or legal representative of any such person regarding that person’s rights under the plan shall be made in the form and manner established by the plan administrator and shall be deemed to have been made and delivered only upon actual receipt by the person designated to receive such communication. The employer or the plan shall not be required to give effect to any such communication that is not made on the prescribed form and in the prescribed manner and that does not contain all information called for on the prescribed form. b. Notices mailed. All notices, statements, reports, and other communications from the plan to any employee, participant, beneficiary, or legal representative of any such person shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered to, or when mailed by first-class mail to, such person at that person’s last mailing address appearing on the plan records. 64.6(8) Disposition of funds while employed. a. Unforeseeable emergency. A participating employee may request that the plan administrator allow the withdrawal of some or all of the funds held in the participating employee’s account based on an unforeseeable emergency. Forms must be completed and returned to the plan administrator for review in order to consider a withdrawal request. The plan administrator shall determine whether the participating employee’s request meets the definition of an unforeseeable emergency as provided for in federal regulations. In addition to being extraordinary and unforeseeable, an unforeseeable emergency must not be reimbursable: (1) By insurance or otherwise; (2) By liquidation of the participating employee’s assets, to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship; or (3) By cessation of deferrals under the plan.Upon the plan administrator’s approval of an unforeseeable emergency distribution, the participating employee will be required to stop current deferrals for a period of no less than six months.A participating employee who disagrees with the initial denial of a request to withdraw funds on the basis of an unforeseeable emergency may request that the trustee or the trustee’s designee reconsider the request by submitting additional written evidence of qualification or reasons why the request for withdrawal of funds from the plan should be approved. All such requests must be in writing and be received by the trustee, or the trustee’s designee, within 30 calendar days of the date of the initial denial. Requests received after 30 days will be rejected as untimely, and the initial denial shall become final agency action. b. Voluntary in-service distribution. A participant who is an active employee of an eligible employer shall receive a distribution of the total amount payable to the participant under the plan if the following requirements are met: (1) The total amount payable to the participant under the plan does not exceed $5,000 (or the dollar limit under IRC Section 411(a)(11), if greater); (2) The participant has not previously received an in-service distribution of the total amount payable to the participant under the plan; (3) No amount has been deferred under the plan with respect to the participant during the two-year period ending on the date of the in-service distribution; and (4) The participant elects to receive the distribution.The plan administrator may also elect to distribute the accumulated account value of a participant’s account without consent, if the above criteria are met.This provision is available only once in the lifetime of the participating employee. If funds are distributed under this provision, the participating employee is not eligible under the plan to utilize this provision at any other time in the future. c. Transfers under domestic relations orders. (1) To the extent required under a final judgment, decree, or order (including approval of a property settlement agreement) made pursuant to a state domestic relations law, any portion of a participating employee’s account may be paid or set aside for payment to a spouse, former spouse, or child of the participating employee. The plan will determine whether the judgment, decree, or order is valid and binding on the plan and whether it is issued by a court or agency with jurisdiction over the plan. The judgment, decree or order must specify which of the participating employee’s accounts are to be paid or set aside, the valuation date of the accounts and, to the extent possible, the exact value of the accounts. Where necessary to carry out the terms of such an order, a separate account shall be established with respect to the spouse, former spouse, or child who shall be entitled to choose investment providers in the same manner as the participating employee. Unless otherwise subsequently suspended or altered by federal law, all applicable taxes shall be withheld and paid from this lump sum distribution. The provisions of this subparagraph shall not be construed to authorize any amount to be distributed under the plan at a time or in a form that is not permitted under IRC Section 457. (2) A right to receive benefits under the plan shall be reduced to the extent that any portion of a participating employee’s account has been paid or set aside for payment to a spouse, former spouse, or child pursuant to these rules or to the extent that the employer or the plan is otherwise subject to a binding judgment, decree, or order for the attachment, garnishment, or execution of any portion of any account or of any distributions therefrom. The participating employee shall be deemed to have released the employer and the plan from any claim with respect to such amounts in any case in which:

The department, the retirement investors’ club, or the plan has been served with legal process or otherwise joined in a proceeding relating to such amounts,
The participating employee has been notified of the pendency of such proceeding in the manner prescribed by the law of the jurisdiction in which the proceeding is pending for service of process or by mail from the employer or a plan representative to the participating employee’s last-known mailing address, and
The participating employee fails to obtain an order of the court in the proceeding relieving the employer and the plan from the obligation to comply with the judgment, decree, or order.

(3) The department, the retirement investors’ club or the plan shall not be obligated to incur any cost to defend against or set aside any judgment, decree, or order relating to the division, attachment, garnishment, or execution of the participating employee’s account or of any distribution therefrom. 64.6(9) Investment providers. a. Participation. The investment providers under the plan are authorized to offer new accounts and investment products to employees only if awarded a contract or service agreement through a competitive bid process. A list of active investment providers shall be provided, upon request, to any employee or other interested party. Inactive investment providers shall participate to the extent necessary to fully discharge their duties under the applicable federal and state laws and regulations, the plan, their service agreements or contracts with the employer, and their investment accounts or contracts with participating employees. b. Investment products. Investment products shall be limited to those that have been approved by the plan administrator. No new accounts shall be available to employees for life insurance under the plan. c. Reports and consolidated statements. The investment providers will provide various reports to the plan administrator as well as consolidated statements, newsletters, and performance reports to participants as specified in the service agreements or contracts with investment providers. d. Dividends and interest. The only dividend or interest options available on policies or funds are those where the dividend or interest remains within the account to increase the value of the account. e. Minimum contract requirements. In addition to meeting selection requirements, an investment provider must meet and maintain the requirements set forth in its contract or service agreement with the state of Iowa. f. Removal from participation. Failure to comply with the provisions of these rules, the investment provider contract or service agreement with the employer, or the terms and conditions of the investment provider account with the participating employee may result in termination of an investment provider contract or service agreement, and all rights therein shall be exercised by the employer. 64.6(10) Marketing and education. a. Orientation and information meetings. Employers may hold orientation and information meetings for the benefit of their employees during normal work hours using materials developed and approved by the plan administrator. Active investment providers may make authorized presentations upon approval of individual agency or department authorities during nonwork hours. There shall be no solicitation of employees by investment providers at an employee’s workplace during the employee’s working hours, except as authorized in writing by the plan administrator. b. General requirements for solicitation. (1) An active investment provider may solicit business from participants and employees through representatives, the mail, or direct presentations. (2) Active investment providers and representatives may solicit business at an employer’s work site only with the prior permission of the agency director or other appropriate authority. (3) Investment providers or representatives may not conduct any activity with respect to a registered investment option unless the appropriate license has been obtained. (4) An investment provider or representative may not make a representation about an investment option that is contrary to any attribute of the option or that is misleading with respect to the option. (5) An investment provider or representative may not state, represent, or imply that its investment options are endorsed or recommended by the plan administrator, the employing agency, the state of Iowa, or an employee of the foregoing. (6) An investment provider or representative may not state, represent, or imply that its investment option is the only option available under the plan. c. Disclosure. (1) Enrollment. When soliciting business for an investment product, an active investment provider or representative shall provide each participating employee or eligible employee with a copy of the approved disclosure for that option. If a variable annuity product has several alternative investment choices, the participant must receive disclosures concerning all investment choices. An active investment provider shall notify the plan administrator in writing if the investment provider will be marketing its investment options through representatives. The notification must contain a complete identification of the representatives who will be marketing the options. Every representative and agent who enrolls eligible employees in the plan and is authorized by the investment provider to sign plan forms must be included on this notification. (2) Disbursement methods and account values. When discussing distribution methods for an investment option, investment providers or representatives shall disclose to each participating employee or eligible employee all potential distribution methods and the potential income derived from each method for that option. d. Approval of a disclosure form. (1) An investment provider shall complete and submit to the plan administrator a disclosure form for each approved investment product. If a variable annuity product has several investment choices, the plan administrator must receive all disclosures related to those investment choices. An investment provider shall complete a disclosure form on each investment product that has participating employee funds (including those no longer offered). (2) If changes occur during the plan year, any changes must be submitted to the plan administrator for approval prior to their implementation. Disclosure forms will be updated quarterly. Even if no changes occur, an investment provider shall resubmit its disclosure form to the plan administrator for approval every year. (3) If an investment provider or representative materially misstates a required disclosure or fails to provide disclosure, the plan administrator may sanction the investment provider or bind the investment provider to the disclosure as stated on the form. e. Confidentiality. The plan administrator may provide to all active investment providers any information that can be made available under the department’s rules. Notwithstanding any rule of the department to the contrary, the plan administrator shall make available to all active investment providers the names and home addresses of all state employees. The plan administrator may assess reasonable costs to the active investment providers to defray the expense of producing any requested information. All information obtained under the plan shall be confidential and used exclusively for purposes relating to the plan and as expressly contemplated by the service agreement or contract entered into by the investment provider. f. Number of investment providers. Only investment providers that are selected through a competitive bid process, that are subsequently awarded a contract or service agreement, and that are authorized to do business in the state of Iowa may sell annuities, mutual funds or other approved products under the plan, and then only if the investment providers agree to the terms, conditions, and provisions of the contract or service agreement. 64.6(11) Investment option removal/replacement. The plan administrator may determine that an investment option offered under the plan is no longer acceptable for inclusion in the plan. If the plan administrator decides to remove an investment option from the plan as the result of the option’s failure to meet the established evaluation criteria and according to the recommendations of consultants or advisors, the option shall be removed or phased out of the plan. Employees newly enrolling in the plan shall be informed in writing that investment options that do not meet the evaluation criteria are not open to new enrollments. a. Notice to participant. Any participating employees already deferring to the investment option being phased out shall be informed in writing that they need to redirect future deferrals from this option to an alternative investment option offered under the plan by notifying the investment provider, unless otherwise directed, of their new investment choice. b. Automatic transfer. If any participating employee has failed to move a remaining account balance from the investment option being phased out, the plan administrator shall instruct an investment provider to automatically move that participating employee’s account balance into another designated alternative investment option offered under the plan. c. Reexamination. At any time during this process, the plan administrator may reexamine the performance of the investment option being phased out and the recommendations of consultants and advisors to determine if continued inclusion of the investment option in the plan is justified. 64.6(12) Demutualization of investment providers. a. Ballots. An investment provider that is a mutual company and that provides any annuity product or life insurance product held under the plan shall provide the plan administrator with a ballot(s) for official vote registration. The ballot(s) shall be completed and returned to the company according to the specified deadline in the instructions. The ballot(s) shall include the owner’s name, policy numbers of affected contracts, name of annuitant or insured, number of shares anticipated, and the control number for the group of shares. b. Policyholder booklet. The company shall provide the plan administrator with a policyholder booklet, as well as instructions and guide information, prior to or in conjunction with the delivery of the ballot(s). Notices of progress, time frames and meetings will also be provided to the plan administrator as such information becomes available. c. Method of compensation. Compensation will be provided in cash according to the terms of the demutualization plan. In the event that stocks are issued in lieu of cash, the company shall provide a listing which includes participants’ names, social security numbers, policy numbers, and number of shares pro rata. d. Liquidation of stock. An arrangement will be entered into between the plan administrator and a stockbroker as soon as administratively possible in order to liquidate the stock for cash. The broker shall retain commission fees according to the arrangement entered into from the value obtained at the time of sale. The employer will not realize a tax liability nor will the participating employees. e. Deposit of proceeds. The proceeds of the sale of the stock, less the broker commission, and any dividends issued prior to the sale of the stock, shall be made payable to the plan. Cash shall be deposited into the plan’s trust fund until payment instructions are received from the participant or the participant’s beneficiary.Related ARC(s): 8265B, 1568C, 4053C11—64.7(8A) Dependent care. The director administers the dependent care flexible spending account plan for employees of the state of Iowa. The plan is permitted under IRC Section 125. The plan is also a dependent care assistance plan under IRC Section 129. Administration of the plan shall comply with all applicable federal regulations, the Plan Document, and the Summary Plan Description. For purposes of this rule, the plan year is a calendar year. 64.7(1) Employee eligibility. All nontemporary employees who work at least 1040 hours per calendar year are eligible to participate in the dependent care flexible spending plan. Temporary employees are not eligible to participate in this plan. 64.7(2) Enrollment. An open enrollment period, as designated by the director, shall be held for employees who wish to participate in the plan. New employees may enroll within 30 calendar days following their date of hire. Employees also may enroll or change their existing dependent care deduction amounts during the plan year provided that they have a qualifying change in family status as defined in the Plan Document and the Summary Plan Description. To continue participation, employees shall reenroll each year during the open enrollment period. 64.7(3) Termination of participation in the plan. An employee may terminate participation in the plan provided that the employee has a qualifying change in status as defined in the Summary Plan Description. Employees who terminate state employment and are rehired within 30 days must resume their participation in the plan. Employees who terminate state employment and are rehired more than 30 days after termination may reenroll in the plan.11—64.8(8A) Premium conversion plan (pretax program). The director administers the premium conversion plan for employees of the state of Iowa. The plan is permitted under IRC Section 125. Pursuant to IRC Section 105, the plan is also an insured health care plan to the extent that participants use salary reduction to pay for health or dental insurance premiums. In accordance with IRC Section 79, the plan is also a group term life insurance plan to the extent that salary reduction is used for life insurance premiums. Administration of the plan shall comply with all federal regulations and the Plan Document. For purposes of this rule, the plan year is January 1 to December 31 of each year. 64.8(1) Employee eligibility. All nontemporary employees who work at least 1040 hours per calendar year are eligible to participate in the pretax conversion plan. Temporary employees are not eligible to participate in the plan. 64.8(2) Enrollment. An enrollment and change period, as designated by the director, shall be held for employees who wish to make changes in their current pretax status. New employees will automatically be enrolled in the plan after satisfying any waiting period requirements for group insurance unless an election form is submitted. Employees also may change their existing pretax status during the plan year if they have a qualifying change in status as defined in the Plan Document. 64.8(3) Termination of participation in the plan. An employee may terminate participation in the plan during an open enrollment period. Otherwise, an employee may terminate participation if the employee has a qualifying change in status as defined in the Plan Document.Related ARC(s): 8265B11—64.9(8A) Interviewing and moving expense reimbursement. 64.9(1) Interviewing expenses. If reimbursement is approved by the appointing authority, a person who interviews for state employment shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in order to interview. Reimbursement shall be at the same rate at which an employee is reimbursed for expenses incurred during the performance of state business. 64.9(2) Moving expenses for reassigned employees. A state employee who is reassigned at the direction of the appointing authority shall be reimbursed for moving and related expenses in accordance with the policies of the department of administrative services or the applicable collective bargaining agreement. Eligibility for reimbursement shall occur when all of the following conditions exist: a. The employee is reassigned at the direction of the appointing authority; b. The reassignment requires a permanent change in duty station beyond 25 miles; c. The employee must change the employee’s place of personal residence beyond 25 miles unless the department of administrative services has given prior written approval; and d. The reassignment is for the primary benefit of the state. 64.9(3) Moving expenses for newly hired or promoted employees. If reimbursement is approved by the appointing authority, a person newly hired or promoted may be reimbursed for moving and related expenses. Reimbursement shall be at the same rates used for the reimbursement of a current employee who has been reassigned. Reimbursement shall not occur until the employee is on the payroll. 64.9(4) Temporary living expenses. An employee may be reimbursed for up to 90 days of temporary living expenses. Such reimbursement shall be included as part of the total amount reimbursable under the relocation policy. 64.9(5) Repayment. As a condition of receiving reimbursement for moving expenses, the recipient must sign an agreement to continue employment with the appointing authority for a period following the date of receipt of reimbursement that is deemed by the appointing authority to be commensurate with the amount of reimbursement received. In the event that the recipient leaves the department of the appointing authority for any reason, the recipient will repay to the appointing authority a proportionate fraction of the amount received for each month remaining in the period provided for in the agreement. If the recipient continues employment with the state, then the repayment will be subject to a repayment schedule approved by the director. If the recipient leaves state government, then the repayment will be recouped out of the final paycheck. Recoupment must be coordinated with the accounting enterprise of the department of administrative services to ensure proper tax reporting.11—64.10(8A) Education financial assistance. Education financial assistance may be granted for the purpose of assisting employees in developing skills that will improve their ability to perform job responsibilities. Assistance may be in the form of direct payment to the organization or institution or by reimbursement to the employee as provided for in subrule 64.10(4). 64.10(1) Employee eligibility. Any nontemporary employee may be considered for education financial assistance. 64.10(2) Workshop, seminar, or conference attendance. The appointing authority may approve education financial assistance for an employee attending a workshop, seminar, or conference conducted by a professional, educational, or governmental organization or institution when attendance by the employee would not require a reduction in job responsibilities. a. Assistance for meeting continuing education requirements may be approved when the assistance is applied toward maintaining a professional registration, certification, or license and the workshop, seminar, or conference is related to the duties and responsibilities of the employee’s position. b. Payment of registration fees and other costs, such as lodging, meals, and travel, shall be in accordance with the policies and procedures of the department of administrative services. c. If attendance is outside the state of Iowa, travel must be authorized pursuant to Iowa Code section 8A.512A(2)“a.” 64.10(3) Educational institution coursework. Education financial assistance to an employee taking academic courses at an educational institution, with or without educational leave, shall require the preapproval of the appointing authority and the director. Requests for reimbursement shall be on forms prescribed by the director. a. An employee may take academic courses at any accredited educational institution (university, college, area community college) within the state. Attendance at an out-of-state institution may be approved provided that there are geographical or educational considerations which make attendance within the state impractical. b. Reimbursement requests shall be made to the director before the employee takes the courses. If the director does not approve the request, the employee shall not be reimbursed. c. Reimbursement may be approved for courses taken to meet continuing education requirements when necessary to maintain a professional registration, certification, or license when the courses relate to the duties and responsibilities of the employee’s position. d. An employee receiving other financial assistance, such as scholarship aid or Veterans Administration assistance, shall be eligible to receive education financial assistance only to the extent that the total of all methods of reimbursement does not exceed 100 percent of the payment of expenses. e. In order for the employee to be reimbursed, the employee’s department shall submit to the department of administrative services the employee’s original paid receipt from the educational institution, the approved education financial assistance form, and proof of the employee’s successful completion of the courses as follows: (1) Undergraduate courses shall require at least a “C-” grade. (2) Graduate courses shall require at least a “B-” grade. (3) Successful completion of vocational or correspondence courses or continuing education courses shall require an official certificate, diploma or notice. 64.10(4) Repayment. As a condition of applying for reimbursement for education expenses, the recipient must sign an agreement to continue employment with the appointing authority. The agreement must be signed prior to approval and will stipulate the period of time deemed by the appointing authority to be commensurate with the amount of reimbursement received. The period of time commences upon successful completion of the course. In the event that the recipient leaves the department of the appointing authority for any reason, the recipient will repay to the appointing authority an appropriate fraction of the amount received for each month remaining in the period provided for in the agreement. If the recipient continues employment with the state, then the repayment will be subject to a repayment schedule approved by the director. If the recipient leaves state government, then the repayment will be recouped out of the final paycheck. Recoupment must be coordinated with the accounting enterprise of the department of administrative services to ensure proper tax reporting. 64.10(5) Annual report. Rescinded IAB 11/21/18, effective 12/26/18.Related ARC(s): 8265B, 2267C, 3041C, 4134C, 6236C11—64.11(8A) Particular contracts governing. Where provisions of collective bargaining agreements differ from the provisions of this chapter, the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement shall prevail for employees covered by the collective bargaining agreements.11—64.12(8A) Tax-sheltered annuities (TSAs). 64.12(1) Administration. The director is authorized by 2003 Iowa Code Supplement section 8A.402 to administer a tax-sheltered annuity program for eligible employees. 64.12(2) Definitions. The following definitions shall apply when used in this rule:

"Company" means any life insurance company or mutual fund provider that issues a policy under the tax-sheltered annuity plan authorized under Iowa Code section 8A.438.

"Employee" means an employee of the state of Iowa, including employees of the board of regents administrative staff on the centralized payroll system, or an employee of a participating employer.

"Employer" means the state of Iowa, a public school district in the state of Iowa, an area education agency in the state of Iowa, or a community college in the state of Iowa.

"Participating employee" means an employee participating in the plan.

"Participating employer" means an employer that has elected to join the state’s tax-sheltered annuity plan.

"Plan" means the tax-sheltered annuity plan authorized in Iowa Code section 8A.438.

"Plan administrator" means the designee of the director who is authorized to administer the tax-sheltered annuity plan.

"Plan year" means a calendar year.

"Policy" means any retirement annuity, variable annuity, family of mutual funds or combination thereof provided by IRC Section 403(b) and Iowa Code section 8A.438.

"Salary reduction form" means the tax-sheltered annuity form signed by the participating employee to begin or change payroll deductions.

64.12(3) Eligibility. a. Initial eligibility. Any employee who works for the department of education, the board of regents administrative office, or a participating employer is eligible to participate in this plan. Participating employers may establish different eligibility requirements, as long as the requirements conform to IRC Section 403(b) and the applicable federal regulations. Final determination on eligibility shall rest with the plan administrator. b. Eligibility after terminating reduction of compensation. Any employee who terminates the reduction of compensation may choose to reenroll in the plan in accordance with paragraphs 64.12(4)“a” and “b” and 64.12(6)“a.” 64.12(4) Enrollment and termination. a. Enrollment. State employees may enroll in the plan at any time. Participating employers may establish different enrollment periods, as long as the periods conform to IRC Section 403(b) and the applicable federal regulations. The salary reduction form must be submitted to the employing agency’s personnel assistant or payroll office for approval. b. Forms submission. State personnel assistants shall provide the plan administrator with the salary reduction form in a timely manner. c. Termination of salary reductions. A participating employee may terminate salary reductions by providing to the employing agency’s personnel assistant or payroll office written notification on a form required by the plan administrator. d. Availability of forms. It is the responsibility of each employee interested in participating in the plan to obtain the necessary forms from the investment provider. 64.12(5) Tax status. a. FICA and IPERS. The amount of compensation reduced under the salary reduction form shall be included in the gross wages subject to FICA and IPERS until the maximum taxable wages established by law have been reached. b. Federal and state income taxes. The amount of earned compensation reduced under the form is exempt from federal and state income taxes until such time as the funds are paid or made available as provided in IRC Section 403(b). 64.12(6) Reductions from earnings. a. Salary reduction amount changes. Participating employees may increase or decrease their salary reduction amount by providing to their personnel assistant or payroll office written notice on a form required by the plan administrator. Salary reduction amounts may be changed to permit a one-time lump sum contribution from the last paycheck due to termination of employment. b. Maximum salary reduction limits. Employees’ salary reductions may not exceed the maximum limit set forth in federal law. c. Minimum salary reduction amount. Participating employers may establish a minimum amount as long as the minimum conforms to IRC Section 403(b) and the applicable federal regulations. 64.12(7) Companies. a. Time of payment. Participating employers shall transmit amounts within 15 business days after the end of the calendar month. b. Cooperation with third-party administrator. Companies are required to cooperate with the plan’s third-party administrator, including the provision of daily account information as well as any other data or information required for administration of the plan. c. Annual status report. Each company shall provide to the participating employee at the employee’s home address an annual status report stating the value of each participant’s policy. This practice shall be continued even after the participating employee terminates or stops contributions to the plan. These annual reports are required as long as a value exists in the contract or any activity occurs during the year. d. Crediting of accounts. Companies must minimize crediting errors and provide timely and reasonable credit resolution. e. Solicitation. There shall be no solicitation of employees by companies at the employees’ workplace during employees’ work hours, except as authorized by the plan administrator or participating employer. f. Dividends. The only dividend options available on cash value policies are those where the dividend remains with the company to increase the value of the policy. g. Removal from participation. Failure to comply with the provisions of these rules will result in permanent removal as a participating company and may require that the monthly ongoing deferrals to existing contracts be discontinued, as determined by the director. 64.12(8) Disposition of funds. a. Distribution eligibility. An employee is eligible for a distribution of funds based upon any of the following circumstances: severance of employment; reaching age 59½; becoming disabled; qualifying for a financial hardship; or becoming eligible for a reservist distribution. Distribution will be made in accordance with applicable IRS regulations. b. Financial hardship. A participating employee may request to withdraw some or all of the salary reduction contributions to the policy, but not the income earned thereon, based on a financial hardship and in accordance with 401(k) regulations. New contributions to the plan will not be allowed after the receipt of a distribution based on financial hardship until such time as allowed by law. c. Federal and state withholding taxes. It is the company’s responsibility, when making payments to an employee, to withhold the required federal and state income tax, to timely remit the tax to the proper government agency, and to file all necessary reports as required by federal and state regulations, including IRS Form 1099-R. d. Federal penalties. Under IRC Section 72(t), an additional tax of 10 percent of the amount includable in gross income applies to early withdrawal for qualified plans as defined in IRC Section 4974(c). An IRC Section 403(b) contract is a qualified plan for these purposes. 64.12(9) General. a. Orientation and information meetings. Employers may hold orientation and information meetings for the benefit of their employees using materials developed or approved by the plan administrator, but there shall be no solicitation of employees by companies allowed at such meetings without employer approval. b. Company changes. (1) If a participating employee wishes to redirect contributions to another company, the employee shall submit a form to the personnel assistant or payroll office in accordance with paragraph 64.12(6)“a.” (2) The funds accumulated under the old policy may be transferred in total to the new policy or to another existing policy, if allowed under the participating employer’s plan elections, in accordance with the plan’s policies and applicable IRC Section 403(b) provisions. c. Deferred compensation or tax-sheltered annuity participation—maximum contribution. State employees who, under the laws of the state of Iowa, are eligible for both deferred compensation and tax-sheltered annuities shall be allowed to contribute to one plan or the other, but not to both at the same time. d. Direct transfer/rollover. (1) Effective January 1, 2002, a former employee may request a direct transfer/rollover to an eligible retirement plan as defined in IRC Section 402(c)(8)(B). Eligible rollover amounts that are received by a former employee are subject to mandatory federal and state withholding as required by law. (2) An employee may request a trustee-to-trustee transfer of funds to a defined benefit governmental plan for the purchase of permissive service credit. 64.12(10) Forfeiture. IRC Section 403(b)(1)(C) provides that an employee’s interest in an IRC Section 403(b) contract is nonforfeitable, except for failure to pay future premiums. 64.12(11) Nontransferability. The employee’s interest in the contract is nontransferable within the meaning of IRC Section 401(g). The contract may not be sold, assigned, discounted, or pledged as collateral for a loan or as security for the performance of an obligation or for any other purpose.Related ARC(s): 8265B11—64.13(8A) Health flexible spending account. The director administers the health flexible spending account plan for employees of the state of Iowa. The program is permitted under IRC Section 125. Administration of the plan shall comply with all applicable federal regulations and the Plan Document. To the extent that the provisions of the Plan Document or administrative rule conflict with IRC Section 125, the provisions of IRC Section 125 shall govern. For purposes of this rule, the plan year is a calendar year. 64.13(1) Employee eligibility. All nontemporary employees who work at least 1040 hours per calendar year are eligible to participate in the health flexible spending account plan. Temporary employees are not eligible to participate in this plan. 64.13(2) Enrollment. An open enrollment period, as designated by the director, shall be held for employees who wish to participate in the plan. New employees may enroll within 30 calendar days following their date of hire. Employees also may enroll or change their existing health flexible spending account salary reduction amounts during the plan year, provided they have a qualifying change in status as defined in the Plan Document, and as permitted under IRC Section 125. To continue participation, employees shall reenroll each year during the open enrollment period. 64.13(3) Modification or termination of participation in the plan. An employee may modify or terminate participation in the plan, provided the employee has a qualifying change in status as defined in the Plan Document, and as permitted under IRC Section 125. Employees who have terminated state employment and are rehired within 30 days must resume their participation in the plan. Employees who terminate state employment and are rehired more than 30 days after termination may reenroll in the plan. 64.13(4) Continuation of coverage. The health flexible spending account plan shall provide the opportunity to continue coverage as required by applicable state and federal laws. 64.13(5) Eligible health care expenses. The types of expenses eligible for reimbursement shall be consistent with medical expenses as defined under IRC Section 213. 64.13(6) Acceptable proof of eligible expense. Only those expenses for which appropriate documentation is submitted shall be eligible for reimbursement. Such documentation shall include the date upon which the expense was incurred; sufficient evidence that the expense is an eligible health care expense; evidence that the expense has been incurred and will not be reimbursed under an otherwise qualified health plan authorized by IRC Sections 105 and 106; and the amount of such expense. 64.13(7) Appeal process. In the event that a participant disagrees with a determination as to reimbursement from the health flexible spending account plan, a formal appeals mechanism is hereby provided. The participant may submit a formal appeal in writing to the director (or designee). Such appeal must be accompanied by a previous written request for favorable consideration to the designated administrator of the plan, along with evidence as to an unfavorable determination in response to this request. Upon receipt of a qualified appeal, the director (or designee) shall provide a written determination within 30 days of receipt. Such determination shall be final and binding. This appeal process is not a contested case proceeding as defined by Iowa Code chapter 17A. 64.13(8) Third-party administrator. The director may contract with a third-party administrator to perform such actions as are reasonably necessary to administer the health flexible spending account plan.Related ARC(s): 3215C11—64.14(8A) Deferred compensation match plan. The director is authorized by the governing body to administer a deferred compensation match plan for employees of the state of Iowa and employees of other eligible participating governmental employers. The plan shall be qualified under IRC Section 401(a) and Iowa Code section 509A.12. The assets and income of the plan shall be held in trust for the exclusive benefit of the participating employee or the participating employee’s beneficiary. The trustee shall be the director of the department of administrative services. The director shall adopt various investment options for the investment of plan funds by participating employees or their beneficiaries and shall monitor and evaluate the appropriateness of the investment options offered by the plan.The plan shall match eligible participant contributions to the deferred compensation plan with contributions by the employer. Eligibility of participants and the rate of employer matching contributions shall be subject to determination by the trustee and the governing body. The only voluntary contributions by participants that the plan shall accept are eligible rollover contributions.11—64.15(8A) Insurance benefit eligibility. 64.15(1) Full-time and part-time employees with probationary or permanent status who work 20 or more hours a week are eligible for health and dental insurance coverage. For employees working 20 to 29 hours per week, the state’s share of the premium is one-half the amount paid for full-time employees (30 to 40 hours per week). Temporary employees are not eligible for health or dental insurance. 64.15(2) Full-time employees with probationary or permanent status who work 30 or more hours a week are eligible for life and long-term disability insurance coverage. Temporary employees are not eligible for life and long-term disability insurance. 64.15(3) The surviving spouse and each surviving child of an eligible peace officer or fire fighter, as defined in Iowa Code section 509A.13C, are eligible for the continuation of existing, or reenrollment in previously existing, health insurance coverage. 64.15(4) The surviving spouse and each surviving child of an eligible employee of the Iowa department of corrections, as defined in Iowa Code section 509A.13D, are eligible for the continuation of existing, or reenrollment in previously existing, health insurance coverage.Related ARC(s): 4136C, 6089C11—64.16(8A) Sick leave insurance program. The director is authorized to establish a sick leave insurance program (program) for employees. The program shall allow eligible employees to convert a portion of their sick leave balance at retirement into a sick leave bank with which the state will pay the state’s share of retiree health insurance. Employees of the department of natural resources or department of public safety who are classified as peace officers and are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement shall receive benefits at retirement consistent with the provisions of the negotiated collective bargaining agreement with the State Police Officers Council. The benefits for sick leave banks earned by all department of public safety peace officer employees shall be administered by the department of public safety. 64.16(1) To be eligible to participate in the program, the employee must be employed on or after July 1, 2006, and must retire under a retirement system in the state maintained in whole or in part by public contributions or payment prior to reaching Medicare eligibility. a. Participation in the program ceases when any one of the following occurs: (1) The employee’s sick leave balance is exhausted; (2) The employee reaches Medicare eligibility; (3) The employee terminates participation in the state’s group insurance program; (4) The employee returns to permanent employment with the state; (5) The employee fails to pay any required amount; or (6) The employee dies. b. A deceased employee’s sick leave bank is not transferable to another person, including a spouse. 64.16(2) Upon a participating employee’s termination of employment, the employee’s sick leave hours are multiplied by the employee’s regular hourly wage. The employee receives up to $2,000 of this amount on the employee’s final paycheck. The remainder is multiplied by a conversion factor, and that amount is placed into the employee’s sick leave bank. The conversion factors are as follows: If an employee has up to 750 hours, the rate is 60 percent; if an employee has over 750 hours and up to 1,500 hours, the rate is 80 percent; and if the employee has more than 1,500 hours, the rate is 100 percent. The employee’s sick leave balance before payment of up to $2,000 is used to determine the number of hours an employee has for conversion purposes. The amounts placed into the employee’s sick leave bank have no cash value, other than for purposes of paying the state’s share of retiree health insurance premiums under this program. The value of sick leave hours for peace officer employees of the department of natural resources and the department of public safety shall be calculated in the same manner as for those employees covered by the collective bargaining agreement with the State Police Officers Council. 64.16(3) Rescinded IAB 5/27/15, effective 7/1/15. 64.16(4) To participate in the program, an employee must complete a sick leave insurance program enrollment form upon retirement. Upon commencement of participation in the program, the employee may choose to continue the employee’s current health insurance plan selection or may choose any other state group health plan whose total cost is the same or lower than the total cost of the current plan selection. Except for employees eligible for benefits negotiated consistent with the collective bargaining agreement negotiated with the State Police Officers Council, employees may not apply the sick leave balance to a private insurance plan.Related ARC(s): 2000C, 3215CThese rules are intended to implement Iowa Code sections 8A.402, 8A.433 to 8A.438, and 8A.454 and Iowa Code chapter 509A.Related ARC(s): 8265B, 1568C, 2000C, 2267C, 3041C, 3215C, 4053C, 4134C, 4136C, 6089C, 6236C

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