State of California

  M E M O R A N D U M

  REFERENCE CODE:
  2003-025

  DATE:
  July 31, 2003

  TO:
  Personnel Officers
  Labor Relations Officers
  Work and Family Coordinators

  FROM:
  Department of Personnel Administration
  Policy and Operations Division

  SUBJECT:
  Work and Family Program - Dependent Care Benefit 
  APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 12, 2003

  CONTACT:
  Rosanne McHenry, Work and Family Coordinator
  (916) 327-0522
  FAX:  (916) 324-0524
  Email:  RosanneMcHenry@dpa.ca.gov


  This memorandum contains important information regarding 
  the State-negotiated Dependent Care Benefit for State 
  employees.  The Dependent Care Benefit Program, designed by 
  Joint Labor-Management Committee on Work and Family, is 
  intended to help State employees deal with the high cost of 
  dependent care.  THE APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR THE 
  2004 BENEFIT HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 12, 2003.
  
  To apply for this benefit, interested employees must 
  complete a TWO-STEP PROCESS:
  
  1.   Complete the application form:  Sign (original 
  signature required) and mail the Dependent Care Benefit 
  Application (DPA 684) to:
  
  Department of Personnel Administration
  Work and Family Program
  1515 "S" Street, North Building, Suite 400
  Sacramento, CA  95814-7243
  
  THE APPLICATION MUST BE POSTMARKED NO LATER THAN 
  SEPTEMBER 12, 2003.  Faxed, e-mailed, or late applications 
  will not be accepted.
  
  This program has been funded to provide dependent care benefits 
  to a limited number of employees in 2004.  If the number of 
  qualified applicants exceeds available funds, the Department of 
  Personnel Administration (DPA) will hold a drawing to select 
  which applications will be approved.  Employees will be notified 
  by DPA during October 2003, whether or not their application has 
  been approved.
  
  2.   If the application is approved, employees will be required 
  to enroll in a FlexElect dependent care account during the 
  FlexElect open enrollment period (October 1, 2003 - 
  October 31, 2003).  The dependent care contribution will be 
  deposited into the employee's FlexElect account on 
  January 1, 2004. 
  
  All eligible State employees have been mailed an information 
  packet containing information on the dependent care benefit, a 
  dependent care benefit application, and a description of the 
  FlexElect Program.  Information regarding employee eligibility, 
  as well as information regarding the extended application 
  deadline, is available online at http://www.dpa.ca.gov, under 
  Work and Family.
  
  DPA has provided marketing and program materials to departmental 
  Work and Family Coordinators, including posters for the worksite.  
  If your department has not designated a Work and Family 
  Coordinator, Personnel Offices should ensure that program 
  information and marketing materials are distributed to eligible 
  employees and employee worksites.
  
  Please inform your employees of the revised application deadline.  
  A revised application is attached to this memo. Your assistance 
  will help ensure that all eligible State employees have an 
  opportunity to enroll in this benefit program.
  
  
  
  
  Bob Painter, Chief
  Policy and Operations Division
  
  Attachments will be distributed via mail.