State of California
   
   M E M O R A N D U M
   
   REFERENCE CODE:
   PML 96-026
   
   
   DATE:
   June 5, 1996
   
   
   TO:
   Personnel Officers
   Personnel Transactions Supervisors
   Personnel Transactions Staff
   
   
   FROM:
   Department of Personnel Administration
   Benefits Division
   
   
   SUBJECT:
   FLEXELECT PROGRAM - PLAN YEAR 1997 
   
   
   CONTACT: Susan Barnes, Benefits Program Analyst
   (916) 324-0432 or CALNET 454-0432
   Office Vision:  DPA (SEBARNES)
   INTERNET:  SEBARNES@SMTP.DPA.CA.GOV
   
   The annual open enrollment period for the 1997 FlexElect Plan
   Year is September 1, 1996 through October 15, 1996.  This
   memo provides information on communication material that will
   be mailed to employees and how department personnel offices
   can order 1997 FlexElect Brochures and Procedure Manuals.
   
   At this time, there will be no major changes to the FlexElect
   Program for the 1997 Plan Year.  Therefore, the staff at the
   Department of Personnel Administration (DPA), Benefits
   Division has decided not to conduct any formal training for
   this program prior to the annual open enrollment period. 
   Departments need to be aware that the collective bargaining
   agreements expired on June 30, 1995 and the benefits
   available in the State's FlexElect Program could be impacted
   depending on the outcome of the current bargaining process. 
   DPA will ensure that employees who enroll during the
   FlexElect open enrollment, as well as personnel office staff,
   will be advised of any changes which may occur as a result of
   the collective bargaining process.
   
   
   Employee Communications
   
   Departments are responsible for informing their employees of
   the open enrollment period, the available options and how to
   enroll in the FlexElect Program.  We encourage departments to
   conduct training/awareness sessions for employees prior to
   the open enrollment period.  DPA staff are available to
   answer questions that may arise during your department's
   employee training/awareness sessions.  You may contact Janice
   Yates, Benefits Program Specialist, at (916) 324-0535 or
   CALNET 454-0535.
   
   The DPA will be communicating the FlexElect Open Enrollment
   Period to employees through a variety of sources.  A
   notification will be mailed in August to the home of all
   employees currently enrolled in the 1996 Cash Option
   informing them that they will be automatically re-enrolled
   for the 1997 Plan Year.  Permanent-Intermittent (PI)
   employees are required to re-enroll in the Cash Option each
   year and will not receive this notification, but will receive
   a postcard reminder about the FlexElect Open Enrollment
   Period.  Postcard reminders will also be sent to all
   employees enrolled in a FlexElect Reimbursement Account.
   
   DPA will be preparing a payroll stuffer for departments to
   distribute with the August pay warrants informing all
   employees about the FlexElect Open Enrollment Period.  In
   addition, a global message will be printed on the bottom of
   the August pay warrants regarding the open enrollment period.
   
   
   FlexElect Brochures and Procedure Manuals
   
   The FlexElect Brochure and Procedure Manual is currently
   being revised for the 1997 Plan Year and will be available in
   early August.  To order brochures and procedure manuals for
   your personnel office staff, please complete the attached
   request form (Attachment A) and fax or mail it back to Susan
   Barnes, as indicated on the top of the request form, by July
   1, 1996.
   
   When indicating the number of brochures and procedure manuals
   your department will need, please also include the number
   needed for your field offices, except for the following
   departments:  Corrections; Developmental Services; Education;
   Mental Health; and Youth Authority.  These departments should
   only order brochures needed for employees located at their
   headquarters office.  A copy of this PML will be sent to all
   field offices associated with these departments and they will
   be asked to submit a separate request.
   
   If you have any questions regarding the information contained
   in this PML, please contact Susan Barnes at (916) 324-0432 or
   CALNET 454-0432.
   
   
   
   
   
   Patricia Pavone, Chief
   Benefits Division
   
   Attachment will be mailed with hard copy of PML.