[In these minutes: Presentation by the State Department of Employee Relations, HPTF Final Report]

HEALTH PLAN TASK FORCE (HPTF)

MINUTES

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2000
10:00 - 12:00
210 DONHOWE BUILDING

[These minutes reflect discussion and debate at a meeting of a committee of the University of Minnesota Senate or Twin Cities Campus Assembly; none of the comments, conclusions, or actions reported in these minutes represent the view of, nor are they binding on the Senate or Assembly, the Administration, or the Board of Regents.]

PRESENT: Dick McGehee (Chair), Linda Aaker, Mary Austin, Allan Baumgarten, Avner Ben-Ner, Susan Brorson, Carol Carrier, Marjorie Cowmeadow, Amos Deinard, Keith Dunder, Robert Fahnhorst, Bart Finzel, George Green, Bev Hall, David Hamilton, Christopher Hulla, Ron Kubik, Sue Mauren, Priscilla Pope, Kathryn Pouliot, Jason Reed, Gailon Roen, Harlan Smith, Anna Sommers, Robert Sonkowsky, Larry Thompson, Gavin Watt.

GUESTS: Dave Haugen, Budd Johnson, Pat Pahachek.

1. PRESENTATION BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

David Haugen, Assistant Commissioner for the State Department of Employee Relations (DOER), gave a presentation on DOER's commitment to the University and the increased discussions between Julien Carter and the University. While DOER would like to continue to work with the University, any plan changes would need approval from the Subcommittee on Employee Relations and the legislature.

From the initial list of proposed changes, DOER has agreed to: plans to compete with SEGIP, a point of service option across plans, custom plan design within SEGIP, separate risk pools, and graduate assistant inclusion in SEGIP plans. The one change that will be the hardest to approve is the inclusion of domestic partners. DOER is working with the Governor to look into changing this exclusion through the legislature.

The committee then made the following comments:

• Timing is critical for plan modification, the legislature, and bargaining
  
• Separate risk pools would be needed if core benefits are different
  
• Pricing will not be completed until May but the University will need to have a plan in place
  
• AFSCME wants to stay within the state's risk pool
  
• Can the University offer domestic partner benefits if the state does not?
  
• To avoid timing problems, the University could have the legislature approve plans a year in advance

Dick McGehee presented the final report of the task force and asked for any changes before presentation to the Senate. A committee member asked that the phrase, "The Teamsters agree with AFSCME" be removed until they make this their official position.

The committee then reviewed the four recommendations. Recommendations 1, 2, and 4 were approved without any changes. Recommendation 3 was changed to language suggested by Chris Hulla in an e-mail to the committee.
A member then noted that the retirees are affected by what the University does and might not have the choice of staying with the state, like AFSCME, if the University decides to separate.

With no further comments, Professor McGehee thanked everyone for attending and adjourned the meeting.

Rebecca Hippert
University Senate