Section 22849.

(a) The board shall conduct a study to examine the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of creating a single statewide health care pool that would cover all public school employees working in school districts, county offices of education, community colleges, and in entities created or established by those school employers, including, but not limited to, joint powers agencies, regional occupational centers, and regional occupational programs.

(b) The health care school pool study shall, at a minimum, include the following:

(1) A review and analysis of the costs, cost savings, benefits, and drawbacks of creating a health care pool for all public school employees in California, including retirees.

(2) An analysis of rates, including both a regional rating structure and a single statewide rating structure.

(3) An analysis and reporting of any and all cost savings in the administration of a single health care pool for all school employees compared to the current process that includes hundreds of different plans.

(4) An examination of plan design options in the health care school pool.

(5) An analysis of the feasibility and cost savings of including all school employees under this part, as the health care pool for all school employees.

(6) An analysis of the feasibility and cost savings of creating a pool operated exclusively for school employees.

(7) An analysis and comparison of a mandatory pool versus a voluntary pool.

(c) The completion of the health care school pool study shall be contingent upon the ability to secure or budget for funding to cover the costs of the study. The completed study shall be reported to the Legislature within one year after funding is secured or budgeted.

(d) The board shall consult with the Teachers' Retirement Board of the State Teachers' Retirement System in preparing the study.

(Added by Stats. 2005, Ch. 708, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2006.)