Health Benefits Advisory Committee
City of Houston Personnel Department
611 Walker St, 4th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Contact: Candy Aldridge
Phone: (713) 837-9330 Fax: (713) 837-9330
Email: Candy.aldridge@cityofhouston.net
Updated as of: 7/14/2009
LEGAL AUTHORITY FOR CREATION AND OPERATION(City)
The Health Benefits Advisory Committee was originally created by Executive Order 1-4, effective February 1, 1984; Amendment # 5, effective February 1, 2003; and the most recent Amendment # 6 effective August 25, 2005.
GENERAL POWER AND DUTIES
To encourage employees and retirees to participate in the review, evaluation, and proposal of recommendations to the City's health benefits programs for employees, retirees, and their dependents, by providing input on behalf of consumers or health benefits services.
MEETING TIME AND LOCATION
Time and location varies and is determined by need.
COMPOSITION
The Board has a membership of twenty representatives. Representatives from the following department/organizations will be appointed by the Mayor to the Health Benefits Advisory Committee for a two-year term:
1. One Aviation Department employee.
2. One Building Services Department employee.
3. One City Council Member.
4. The City Controller.
5. One Health and Human Services Department employee.
6. One Library Department employee.
7. One Municipal Court Clerk's Office employee.
8. One Parks and Recreation Department employee.
9. One Public Works & Engineering Department employee.
10. One Solid Waste Management Department employee.
11. One representative from the private sector.
12. One person who is a retired municipal employee of the Houston Municipal Employees' Pension System who is covered by city benefit plans.
13. One person who is a retired firefighter of the Houston Firefighters' Relief and Retirement Fund who is covered by city benefit plans.
14. One person who is a retired police officer of the Houston Police Officers' Pension System who is covered by city benefit plans.
15. One HPD police officer who is a member of a labor organization that represents the interests of police officers, and who shall be recommended by the Police Chief in consultation with the Majority Bargaining Agent, if any, designated under state law.
16. One HFD firefighter who is a member of a labor organization that represents the interests of firefighters, and who shall be recommended by the Fire Chief in consultation with the Exclusive Bargaining Agent, if any, designated under state law.
17. One civilian City employee who is a member of a labor organization that represents the interests of municipal employees other than police officers and firefighters.
In addition to the named retiree members, there shall be one appointed member from each of the following:
18. Houston Municipal Employees' Pension System
19. Houston Firefighters' Relief and Retirement Fund
20. Houston Police Officers' Pension System and who is a Board member or employee who is also a participant in that pension plan.
The chairperson will appoint an appeals Subcommittee composed of three members for a term of two years. Additionally, an alternate member shall be appointed to serve whenever one of the regular members in unavailable. One regular member shall be a member of a labor organization. Failure to attend any two successive meetings of the Subcommittee will result in the replacement of the member on that Subcommittee. The Subcommittee shall meet as needed to consider appeals of any matter for which the City or the Human Resources Director is obliged to provide an appeals process.
The chairperson shall also appoint a Vendor Review Subcommittee of three members who will serve for a term of two years. The Subcommittee shall meet at least quarterly with City health benefits vendors and City benefits staff members to review vendor performance and make recommendations concerning the vendors’ performance and compliance with their contractual obligations and performance objectives.
QUORUM: Committee members are responsible for attending ALL scheduled meetings, without missing more than three meetings during their two-year term or three successive meetings during the term. The chairperson will consider extenuating circumstances.
TERM: The terms of all Committee representatives are for two-years.
CHAIRPERSON: The Director of the Human Resources Department shall be an ex officio member and shall serve as the chairperson.
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY
Entity is NOT included in the financial reporting for the City of Houston.
MEMBER LIST