ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and Director of Human Resource with a Request to ADOPT an ORDINANCE Amending Section 2-350 of the CODE of the City of Peoria to Amend DIVISION 7 (PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS) to Facilitate the Administration of PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT ACT (PSEBA).
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BACKGROUND: Public Safety Employee Benefits Act (PSEBA) requires any employer that employs a full-time law enforcement officer or a firefighter to pay, in the event he/she suffers a catastrophic injury or death in the line of duty, the health insurance premiums for the employee until he/she becomes Medicare eligible, the employee’s spouse until remarried, and the employee’s children up to age 25.
Currently, Section 2-350 of the City Code sets procedural rules for a PSEBA hearing conducted by a hearing officer for all PSEBA claims. The section also states that the Mayor shall appoint the hearing officer.
The attached amendment to Section 2-350 of the City Code gives the initial evaluation of eligibility to the Human Resources Department and proposes an administrative hearing when necessary, rather than for all claims. The amendment also states that the Corporation Counsel shall appoint the hearing officer.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Will reduce the additional cost of the service of a hearing officer who must be a licensed attorney since administrative hearings may not be necessary for each case.
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS: N/A
IMPACT IF APPROVED: Puts in a place an initial evaluation by the City’s Human Resources Department to determine eligibility and retains an administrative hearing process when necessary, thus eliminating the need for an administrative hearing for each PSEBA applicant.
IMPACT IF DENIED: Maintains a process that requires an administrative hearing for each PSEBA applicant which may be burdensome and costly when the issues that determine an applicant’s eligibility may be straightforward.
ALTERNATIVES: N/A
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: N/A
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2014 - 2029 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Financially Sound City Government, Effective City Organization
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Have an efficient government.
DEPARTMENT: Human Resources