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#02 Extend health care and related benefits to domestic partners of qualifying City & Library employees (File Res. #2012-863) HUMAN RESOURCES DIVISION MEMORANDUM February 13, 2012 TO: City Council FROM: Susan A. Musick, Human Resources Director SUBJECT: Action on a Proposed Resolution Extending Health Care & Related Benefits to Domestic Partners of Qualifying City & Library Employees (File Resolution No. 2012-863) Executive Summary Council Members Liebert and Rashkin requested that the City consider granting health plan benefits to the domestic partners of eligible City employees, and funeral leave to employees with domestic partners. As a result of this inquiry, the Human Resources Division: 1. Conducted a survey of Wisconsin Public Employers Labor Relations Association (WPELRA) to see if member cities, counties, or technical colleges provide benefits to domestic partners, and if so, what are the benefits, and eligibility criteria. 2. Reviewed the matter with our health plan third party administrator to obtain their thoughts and advice. It is difficult to estimate the number of City and Library employees who have a domestic partner. Currently, there are 70 unmarried employees with single medical plan coverage. However, we don’t track the number of single parents with family medical plan coverage, and who live with a domestic partner. There are unknowns in adding this benefit, making the City’s cost impact difficult to predict. Based on the experience of other employers with this coverage, the estimated cost could range from less than 1% to 5% of medical claims per year. Recommendation Staff recommends approval of extending the funeral leave benefit to Administrative and General Municipal employees with domestic partners. There is no staff recommendation on extending health plan benefits to the domestic partners of employees. City Manager Recommendation The City Manager recommends extending the funeral leave benefit to domestic partners and that any other administrative policy leave changes in the future that do not have a direct financial impact be extended to domestic partners. 1 I cannot recommend extending health insurance benefits currently based on the fact that we are reviewing health insurance benefits and other benefits may be impacted in 2013. Suggested Motion If Council decides to approve these benefits, then the proposed motion would be “I move to approve File Resolution Number 2012-863.” Key Points to Consider 1. The experience of other public sector employers indicates that the additional cost for domestic partner benefits is approximately 1% of their health plan costs. 2. At the same time, there is an unknown and potentially high risk to extend health care benefits to the domestic partners of employees. 3. The City is not aware of any difficulties in recruiting because of the lack of domestic partner benefits. 4. Most Wisconsin counties and municipalities do not offer domestic partner benefits unless they are part of the State Health Plan. 5. Adding domestic partner health plan benefits would result in added administrative work. 6. Implementing benefit changes vary by employee group: A. Benefit changes may be implemented for Administrative (non-represented) employees, and General Municipal (DPW) employees under the new collective bargaining law. B. The City would have a duty to bargain this health plan eligibility change with Transit Union employees. C. Based upon a pending lawsuit, the City’s obligation in the case of Police and Fire Unions is unclear. An Eau Claire County ruling is expected in the next couple of weeks that should clarify if the City may unilaterally offer domestic partner benefits to these two Unions, or has a duty to bargain the change. Current Benefits for City Employees with Domestic Partners Under the Wisconsin Family and Medical Leave (FMLA), the City allows employees to take state FMLA for the serious health condition of his or her domestic partner and for the parent of the domestic partner. Under the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS), employees may purchase life insurance coverage for his or her domestic partner, the same as an employee would make this purchase for his or her spouse. Survey Results A survey was distributed by email to approximately 107 employer members of the th WPELRA on 8 September 2011, with a requested return date of September 16. In response, 38 completed surveys were returned. 2 1. Of those responding to the question regarding their definition of domestic partner (same gender, opposite gender, or both), four respondents indicated they follow the Wisconsin Statute definition (40.02.(21d)), which is copied and pasted below. "Domestic partnership" means a relationship between 2 individuals that satisfies all of the following: (a) Each individual is at least 18 years old and otherwise competent to enter into a contract. (b) Neither individual is married to, or in a domestic partnership with, another individual. (c) The 2 individuals are not related by blood in any way that would prohibit marriage under s. 765.03. (d) The 2 individuals consider themselves to be members of each other's immediate family. (e) The 2 individuals agree to be responsible for each other's basic living expenses. (f) The 2 individuals share a common residence. Two individuals may share a common residence even if any of the following applies: 1. Only one of the individuals has legal ownership of the residence. 2. One or both of the individuals have one or more additional residences not shared with the other individual. 3. One of the individuals leaves the common residence with the intent to return. 2. All employers are responsible to grant Wisconsin FMLA for the serious health condition of a domestic partner and the domestic partner’s parent, as State law provides. 3. All employers with WRS are responsible to offer spouse and dependent life insurance to employees’ domestic partners, at the employee’s expense. 4. Two employers allow employees to have paid time off for bereavement or funeral leave for the domestic partner (City of Appleton and Rock County). 5. Two employers allow employees to use sick leave for the illness of a domestic partner (City of Appleton and Price County). 1 6. Two employers with the State Health Plan offer health insurance to employees’ domestic partners (City of Fitchburg, Western Wisconsin Cares). 7. One employer with their own Health Plan offers health coverage to employees’ domestic partners (City of Appleton for same gender domestic partners). 8. Most employers do not require same gender relationship to be registered with their home County. 9. The WRS requires employees and their domestic partners complete an affidavit so that the employee’s domestic partner may receive WRS related benefits, e.g., life insurance, health insurance. Although the City of Madison did not respond to the survey, a review of their website indicates that the City participates in the State Health Plan and WRS, and therefore offers health and life insurance to the domestic partners of their employees. 1 The State Health Plan provides domestic partners coverage. 3 Although the City of Milwaukee did not respond to the survey, a review of their website indicates that the City offers health and dental benefits to the domestic partners of their employees for 18 of the City’s 25 Unions. The children of domestic partners are not covered by the City’s health and dental plans. Third Party Administrator For health plan purposes, our third party claims administrator can implement any decision the City should make in this matter. Points that our third party administrator brought up include: 1. Our stop loss insurer needs to be notified of, and approve, an eligibility change. 2. Domestic partner must be clearly defined. 3. If the City is going to make this change, then an open enrollment must be scheduled to allow employees to enroll their domestic partner. 4. An effective date must be identified for when the domestic partners would have coverage. 5. Dean’s insured business offers health plan benefits to domestic partners. Dean requires that the employee and his or her domestic partner complete an affidavit, and provide proof of their common residence. Cost Impact An employer takes on risk whenever it enrolls an employee and/or dependent onto the health plan. The experience of some other municipalities indicates that adding domestic partners has a cost of less than 1% per year. This would equal to approximately $70,000 per year for the City (based upon estimated 2012 medical claims). However, other studies urge caution that adverse selection of high-risk enrollees could result in cost increases of 3% to 5% if only 1% or 2% of the employees choose domestic partner benefits. For the City, this level of cost increase equates to $210,000 to $350,000 per year. The difficulty of adverse selection is that the City won’t know the cost impact until it occurs. Funeral Leave Currently, the City does not have this benefit for employees with domestic partners. However, the Human Resources Department recommends extending the funeral leave benefit (up to three days) for the death of a domestic partner of an Administrative employee or General Municipal (DPW) Employee. The police, fire, and transit unions would need to bargain for this benefit improvement. C: Eric J. Levitt, City Manager Jacob J. Winzenz, Director of Administrative Services & Assistant City Manager 4 RESOLUTION NO. 2012-863 A RESOLUTION TO EXTEND HEALTH CARE AND RELATED PACKAGE BENEFTS TO ALL OTHERWISE QUALIFYING CITY AND LIBRARY DOMESTIC PARTNER EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES WHEREAS the City and Library have a non-discrimination policy which states all persons are given equal consideration without regard to race, creed (religion), color, sex, national origin, handicap as defined in the Americans with Disability Act, ancestry, arrest or conviction record, marital status, membership in Military Reserve, sexual orientation, or age..."; and WHEREAS the City and Library are committed to being a leader within the community with regard to diversity..."; and WHEREAS, the City and Library are committed to equal treatment of all employee families and couples; an inequity currently exists concerning certain employee benefits for same gender and opposite gender employees that is contrary to a fundamental sense of human fairness; and WHEREAS, employers compensate employees through more than just wages and salary by providing benefits such as health plan coverage, with the traditional benefits structure including an employee's opposite-sex spouse and children; WHEREAS, extension of all benefits not currently required by law to be extended to same gender and opposite gender employees and their families would satisfy this fundamental fairness inequity and be in the best interest of and benefit to the City and the Library, its employees, taxpayers, and community; and WHEREAS, such extension of benefits including, but not limited to, health care, prescription drug, dental, and vision care benefit packages and funeral leave to same gender and opposite gender domestic partners who otherwise would qualify (e.g. vesting requirements, hours per week, etc.) would increase the attractiveness of the City and the Library’s employment benefit package, thus, significantly facilitating successful employee recruitment and retention; and WHEREAS, current societal standards as annunciated by the State of Wisconsin, Milwaukee County, the Cities of Madison, Milwaukee, Fitchburg, Appleton, other Wisconsin communities, many institutions of higher education, and private sector employers is to extend health care and related benefit packages to all qualifying same gender and opposite gender domestic partners and their families; and WHEREAS, Wis. Stats. Sec. 40.02(21d) provides some by limited guidance as to the definition of “domestic partners” for Wisconsin Retirement System and certain State health insurance benefit purposes; and WHEREAS, although it is difficult to estimate the number of City and Library employees who have domestic partners, a health plan cost impact range is estimated from 1% ($70,000) to 5% ($350,000) of health costs per year. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of Janesville that this Council stands for the proposition that same gender and opposite gender domestic partners be allowed access to and provided all of the same health care, prescription drug, dental, vision care, and other benefits, rights, and privileges, which are extended to opposite gender spouse relationships to which the latter are currently and, from time to time, may be entitled, and as are allowed by the IRS, commencing January 1, 2013, to the extent allowed by law; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Council requests and directs that the City Administration: (a) Study and consult with the City’s health care advisors and others to determine appropriate definitions, standards, and related administrative procedures and processes for such extension; and (b) Extend health care, prescription drug, dental, and vision care to all qualifying opposite gender and same gender domestic partners of Administrative, General Municipal, and Library employees, and their children commencing January 1, 2013, to the extent allowed by law; and (c) Negotiate as appropriate, the extension of health care, prescription drug, dental, and vision care to all qualifying opposite gender and same gender domestic partners of Union employees and their children during collective bargaining negotiations for 2013, to the extent allowed by law; and (d) Extend the City’s funeral leave benefit to Administrative, General Municipal, and Library employees with qualifying opposite gender and same gender domestic partners, commencing January 2013; and (e) Negotiate as appropriate, the extension of the applicable contractual funeral leave to Union employees with qualifying opposite gender and same gender domestic partners during collective bargaining negotiations for 2013, to the extent allowed by law. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Administration include the costs arising from such extension in the proposed budget for fiscal/calendar year 2013. ADOPTED: Motion by: Second by: APPROVED: Councilmember Aye Nay Pass Absent Dongarra-Adams Liebert McDonald Eric J. Levitt, City Manager Rashkin Steeber ATTEST: Voskuil Jean Ann Wulf, City Clerk-Treasurer APPROVED AS TO FORM: City Attorney Wald Klimczyk Proposed by: Council Members Liebert and Dongarra-Adams Prepared by: City Attorney and Human Resources Director èÔ×úÇÉÓÎ×ÉÉùÛÉ×ÖÍÊøÍÏ×ÉÈÓÙìÛÊÈÎ×Êú×Î×ÖÓÈÉ  úÇÉÓÎ×ÉÉ×ÉÈÔÛÈÍÖÖ×ÊØÍÏ×ÉÈÓÙÌÛÊÈÎ×ÊÚ×Î×ÖÓÈÉ×ÎÒÍÃÛÙÍÏÌ×ÈÓÈÓÆ×רÕ×ÛÎØÊ×ÓÎÖÍÊÙרӯ×ÊÉÓÈÃÛÎØÎÍÎ ØÓÉÙÊÓÏÓÎÛÈÓÍÎÌÍÐÓÙÓ×ÉÛÎØÓÎÓÈÓÛÈÓÆ×É øÍÏ×ÉÈÓÙÌÛÊÈÎ×ÊÚ×Î×ÖÓÈÉÛÊ×ÕÍÍØÖÍÊÚÇÉÓÎ×ÉÉ  øÍÏ×ÉÈÓÙÌÛÊÈÎ×ÊÚ×Î×ÖÓÈÉÌÊÍÆÓØ×ÛÎÓÎ×ÄÌ×ÎÉÓÆ×  Ì×ÊÙ×ÎÈÓÎÙÊ×ÛÉ×ÓÎÚ×Î×ÖÓÈÉÙÍÉÈ×ÎÔÛÎÙ×Ï×ÎÈ  ÈÍÈÔ×ÍÆ×ÊÛÐÐ×ÏÌÐÍÃ××ÙÍÏÌ×ÎÉÛÈÓÍÎÌÛÙÑÛÕ×ÛÎØÔÛÆ×Ú×ÙÍÏ×ÍÎ×ÍÖÈÔ×ÔÛÐÐÏÛÊÑÉÍÖÌÊÍÕÊ×ÉÉÓÆ× ÙÍÏÌÛÎÓ×ÉÈÔÛÈÆÛÐÇרӯ×ÊÉÓÈà øÍÏ×ÉÈÓÙÌÛÊÈÎ×ÊÚ×Î×ÖÓÈÉÛÊ×ÛÎÓÏÌÍÊÈÛÎÈÉÈ×ÌÈÍÅÛÊØ×ËÇÛÐÌÛÃÖÍÊ×ËÇÛÐÅÍÊÑ  ú×Î×ÖÓÈÉÙÍÏÌÊÓÉ×Î×ÛÊÐà   åÓÈÔÍÇÈØÍÏ×ÉÈÓÙÌÛÊÈÎ×ÊÚ×Î×ÖÓÈÉÛÉÓÕÎÓÖÓÙÛÎÈÌÍÊÈÓÍÎÍÖÍÆ×ÊÛÐÐÙÍÏÌ×ÎÉÛÈÓÍÎÓÎÈÔ×ÖÍÊÏÍÖ  ÉÌÍÇÉÛÐÚ×Î×ÖÓÈÉÓÉÇÎÛÆÛÓÐÛÚÐ×ÈÍÕÛÃÐ×ÉÚÓÛÎÚÓÉ×ÄÇÛÐÛÎØÈÊÛÎÉÕ×ÎØ×ÊÅÍÊÑ×ÊÉ øÍÏ×ÉÈÓÙÌÛÊÈÎ×ÊÚ×Î×ÖÓÈÉÛÊ×ÛÎ×ÛÉÃÅÛÃÈÍÍÚÈÛÓÎÛÙÍÏÌ×ÈÓÈÓÆ×ÛØÆÛÎÈÛÕ×ÖÍÊÈÛÐ×ÎÈÛÎØÈÍØÊÓÆ×  Ê×ÙÊÇÓÈÏ×ÎÈÛÎØÊ×È×ÎÈÓÍÎÍ֨רÓÙÛÈר×ÏÌÐÍÃ××ÉóÖÍÎ×ÌÇÊÌÍÉ×ÍÖÛÚ×Î×ÖÓÈÉÌÊÍÕÊÛÏÓÉÈÍÌÊÍÆÓØ×Û ÉÛÖ×ÈÃÎ×ÈÖÍÊ×ÏÌÐÍÃ××ÉÛÎØÈÔ×ÓÊÖÛÏÓÐÓ×ÉÈÔ×Ê×ÚÃ×ÎÛÚÐÓÎÕ×ÏÌÐÍÃ××ÉÈÍÖÍÙÇÉÏÍÊ×ÍÎÈÔ×ÓÊÅÍÊÑ ÈÔ×ÎÛÌÐÛÎÈÔÛÈØÍ×ÉÎÍÈÓÎÙÐÇØ×ØÍÏ×ÉÈÓÙÌÛÊÈÎ×ÊÚ×Î×ÖÓÈÉÓÕÎÍÊ×ÉÛÉÓÕÎÓÖÓÙÛÎÈÌÍÊÈÓÍÎÍÖÈÔ×ÅÍÊÑÖÍÊÙ× íÖÖ×ÊÓÎÕØÍÏ×ÉÈÓÙÌÛÊÈÎ×ÊÚ×Î×ÖÓÈÉ×ÎÉÇÊ×ÉÛÎ×ÏÌÐÍÃ×ÊÓÉÌÊ×ÌÛÊרÖÍÊÙÔÛÎÕÓÎÕÊ×ÐÛÈÓÍÎÉÔÓÌ Ê×ÙÍÕÎÓÈÓÍÎÐÛÅÉÖÍÊÉÛÏ×É×ÄÙÍÇÌÐ×ÉÛÙÊÍÉÉÈÔ×çÎÓÈרéÈÛÈ×É   èÔ×èÊÇ×ùÍÉÈÍÖìÊÍÆÓØÓÎÕô×ÛÐÈÔùÛÊ×ú×Î×ÖÓÈÉ  ûÙÙÍÊØÓÎÕÈÍÈÔ×÷ÏÌÐÍÃ××ú×Î×ÖÓÈê×É×ÛÊÙÔóÎÉÈÓÈÇÈ×Û  w€ÖÍÇÎØÈÔÛÈÓÎÌ×ÊÙ×ÎÈÍÖÈÔ×ÍÊÕÛÎÓÂÛÈÓÍÎÉÈÔÛÈÍÖÖ×ÊØÍÏ×ÉÈÓÙÌÛÊÈÎ×ÊÚ×Î×ÖÓÈÉÈÔ×ÃÙÍÏÌÊÓÉ×Ð×ÉÉÈÔÛÎ  Ì×ÊÙ×ÎÈÍÖÈÍÈÛÐÚ×Î×ÖÓÈÙÍÉÈÉvèÔ×É×ÖÓÎØÓÎÕÉÛÊ×ÙÍÎÉÓÉÈ×ÎÈÅÓÈÔÈÔ××ÄÈ×ÎÉÓÍÎÍÖØÍÏ×ÉÈÓÙÌÛÊÈÎ×ÊÚ×Î×ÖÓÈÉÚà ÐÍÙÛÐÌÇÚÐÓÙÛÎØÌÊÓÆÛÈ××ÏÌÐÍÃ×ÊÉÓÎåÓÉÙÍÎÉÓÎ  èÔ×ùÓÈÃÍÖïÛØÓÉÍÎÅÔÓÙÔÔÛÉÍÖÖ×ÊרØÍÏ×ÉÈÓÙÌÛÊÈÎ×ÊÔ×ÛÐÈÔÚ×Î×ÖÓÈÉÖÍÊÙÓÈÃ×ÏÌÐÍÃ××ÉÉÓÎÙ×   ÖÍÇÎØÈÔÛÈÈÔ×ÓÎÙÊ×ÛÉ×ÓÎÙÍÉÈÓÎÌÊÍÆÓØÓÎÕÊ×ÓÏÚÇÊÉ×Ï×ÎÈÖÍÊÔ×ÛÐÈÔÓÎÉÇÊÛÎÙ×ÖÍÊØÍÏ×ÉÈÓÙÌÛÊÈÎ×ÊÉ ÅÛÉÎ×ÕÐÓÕÓÚÐ×yÛÐ×ÉÉÈÔÛÎÍÎ×Ì×ÊÙ×ÎÈÓÎÙÊ×ÛÉ×ÓÎÈÔ×ùÓÈÃÉÔ×ÛÐÈÔÙÛÊ×ÚÇØÕ×È åÔ×ÎÈÔ×ùÓÈÃÍÖïÓÐÅÛÇÑ××ÍÖÖ×ÊרÈÔ×Ú×Î×ÖÓÈÉÓÎ ÖÛÊÖ×Å×ÊÈÔÛÎÍÎ×Ì×ÊÙ×ÎÈÍÖ×ÏÌÐÍÃ××É  Ê×ÕÓÉÈ×ÊרÖÍÊÈÔ×Ú×Î×ÖÓÈÉé××wöÍÇÊÈ××ÎïÓÐÅÛÇÑ××åÍÊÑ×ÊÉé××ÑìÛÊÈÎ×Êô×ÛÐÈÔùÍÆ×ÊÛÕ×v ïÓÐÅÛÇÑ××òÍÇÊÎÛÐé×ÎÈÓÎ×Ðø×Ù   óÎûÌÊÓÐ ÚÛÉרûÏ×ÊÓÙÛÎöÛÏÓÐÃóÎÉÇÊÛÎÙ×ùÍÏÌÛÎÃÊ×ÌÍÊÈר  ÈÔÛÈÈÔ×ÓÊÔ×ÛÐÈÔÙÛÊ×ÙÍÉÈÉÓÎÙÊ×ÛÉרÐ×ÉÉÈÔÛÎÍÎ×Ì×ÊÙ×ÎÈÉÓÎÙ×ÈÔ×ÃÚ×ÕÛÎÍÖÖ×ÊÓÎÕØÍÏ×ÉÈÓÙÌÛÊÈÎ×Ê Ô×ÛÐÈÔÚ×Î×ÖÓÈÉÓÎ    øÍÏ×ÉÈÓÙìÛÊÈÎ×Êú×Î×ÖÓÈÉíÖÖ×ÊרèÔÊÍÇÕÔÍÇÈåÓÉÙÍÎÉÓÎ  ïÛÎÃåÓÉÙÍÎÉÓÎÌÇÚÐÓÙÛÎØÌÊÓÆÛÈ××ÏÌÐÍÃ×ÊÉÛÊ×ÛÐÊ×ÛØÃÌÊÍÆÓØÓÎÕØÍÏ×ÉÈÓÙÌÛÊÈÎ×ÊÔ×ÛÐÈÔÙÛÊ×ÙÍÆ×ÊÛÕ×ÈÍ ÈÔ×ÓÊ×ÏÌÐÍÃ××É÷ÄÛÏÌÐ×ÉÓÎÙÐÇØ×  éÈÛÈ×ÍÖåÓÉÙÍÎÉÓÎíÉÔÑÍÉÔéÙÔÍÍÐøÓÉÈÊÓÙÈ  ùÓÈÃÍÖûÌÌÐ×ÈÍÎïÛÊËÇ×ÈÈ×çÎÓÆ×ÊÉÓÈà  ùÓÈÃÍÖïÛØÓÉÍÎûÐÐÓÛÎÈìÊ×ÙÓÉÓÍÎöÇÂ×  ùÓÈÃÍÖïÓÐÅÛÇÑ××ùÍÏÌÛÎÃòÛÎ×ÉÆÓÐÐ×  ïÓÐÅÛÇÑ××ùÍÇÎÈÃïÓÐÐ×ÊùÍÍÊÉ  ø×ì×Ê×éÙÔÍÍÐøÓÉÈÊÓÙÈñÓÏÚ×ÊÐÃùÐÛÊÑ  ðÛùÊÍÉÉ×ùÍÇÎÈÃûÏ×ÊÓÙÛÎöÛÏÓÐà   öÍÊÛÖÇÐÐÐÓÉÈÍÖåÓÉÙÍÎÉÓÎ×ÏÌÐÍÃ×ÊÉÍÖÖ×ÊÓÎÕØÍÏ×ÉÈÓÙÌÛÊÈÎ×ÊÚ×Î×ÖÓÈÉÆÓÉÓÈÔÈÈÌ ÖÛÓÊÅÓÉÙÍÎÉÓÎÙÍÏ ÙÍÇÌÐ×É ÅÓ×ÏÌÐÍÃ×ÊÉ  ûÆÛÓÐÛÚÐ×ÖÊÍÏÈÔ×ôÇÏÛÎêÓÕÔÈÉùÛÏÌÛÓÕÎÛÈÔÈÈÌ ÅÅÅÔÊÙÍÊÕ Ê×ÉÍÇÊÙ×É ×ÎÈÊà ×ÉÈÛÚÐÓÉÔÓÎÕØÍÏ×ÉÈÓÙÌÛÊÈÎ×ÊÚ×Î×ÖÓÈÉ wøÍÏ×ÉÈÓÙìÛÊÈÎ×Êú×Î×ÖÓÈÉöÛÙÈÉÛÎØúÛÙÑÕÊÍÇÎØv÷ÏÌÐÍÃ××ú×Î×ÖÓÈê×É×ÛÊÙÔóÎÉÈÓÈÇÈ×ìÇÚÐÓÙÛÈÓÍÎö×ÚÊÇÛÊà  ÅÅÅ×ÚÊÓÍÊÕ ÌØÖ ÌÇÚÐÓÙÛÈÓÍÎÉ ÖÛÙÈÉ