WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Government offers various employee benefits through the metropolitan employee benefit system; and

WHEREAS, the metropolitan employee benefit system currently requires all metropolitan employees to participate in the plans for medical care benefits and dental care benefits; and

WHEREAS, the Employee Benefit Board has determined that allowing metropolitan employees who have other coverage to decline medical and dental care benefits will achieve an overall savings to the medical and dental care plans; and

WHEREAS, the Employee Benefit Board has received an actuarial determination that allowing metropolitan employees to decline medical and dental care benefits will enhance the soundness of the system of employee benefits by reducing plan costs; and

WHEREAS, the Employee Benefit Board has determined to use the savings so generated to mitigate the premium increases otherwise required for the self-insured medical plan.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. Section 3.24.010 is hereby amended by adding a new subsection C as follows:

C. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the system to the contrary, eligible employees may decline coverage for medical and/or dental care benefits upon demonstrating to the board that such employee has other medical and/or dental care coverage. The policies for declining such benefits and demonstrating alternative coverage shall be as approved by the board. The board shall also adopt policies governing the circumstances, if any, under which an employee who has declined medical or dental care benefits coverage may elect to begin such coverage.

Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect from and after its passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Introduced:	November 7, 2002
Passed First Reading:	November 7, 2002
Referred to:	Budget & Finance Committee Personnel Committee
Passed Second Reading:	November 19, 2002
Passed Third Reading:	December 3, 2002
Approved:	December 9, 2002
By: