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Diocesan Resolution 2012 Special Convention: Denominational Health Plan

The results of the Special Convention of the Diocese of Newark, held June 9, 2012 at Christ Church in East Orange, NJ are as follows:

The revised Diocesan Canon 14 - Health Insurance proposed by the Committee on Constitution and Canons was not adopted.

The following resolution was adopted as revised.

REVISED RESOLUTION FOR SPECIAL CONVENTION

Resolved, that the Special Convention of the Diocese of Newark held on June 9, 2012, mandates the implementation of the Denominational Health Plan, as defined in Title I, Canon 8 of The Episcopal Church, in all congregations within the Diocese and in the Diocesan Office, and as described below,

  1. That congregations and the Diocesan Office (hereinafter referred to as “employers”) shall provide health insurance, selected from the offerings included in the Diocesan Health Plan and administered by the Church Pension Fund’s Medical Trust, to all eligible clergy and lay employees, and
     
  2. That eligible lay employees are those scheduled to work 1,500 or more hours annually, and eligible clergy are those contracted to work half-time or more, and
     
  3. That employers shall contribute at least 90% of the median cost of the level of insurance coverage that is needed by their eligible clergy and lay employees, and
     
  4. That the level of insurance coverage needed by eligible clergy and lay employees be determined annually by congregational leaders (clergy-in-charge and wardens), taking into consideration such factors as household structure and spousal employment, following an explicit process to be completed prior to the open enrollment period that solicits open and honest input from each eligible clergy and lay employee, and
     
  5. That employers shall not reduce coverage levels for existing eligible clergy and lay employees, except that, in the spirit of cost-sharing, employers may limit their contribution to 90% of the median cost of the level of insurance coverage chosen, with employees contributing the cost differential, such cost-sharing to be phased in over a minimum of two years, and
     
  6. That employers are required to make the same offering (coverage and contribution levels) to all eligible clergy and lay employees, under the parity provision of the Denominational Health Plan, and
     
  7. That employers with existing health insurance provisions that are not in parity must achieve parity within five years under a plan filed with and approved by the Office of the Bishop. This five-year period notwithstanding, any employers entering into an employment agreement with a new eligible clergy or lay employee must meet the parity standard at the beginning of that agreement, and
     
  8. That eligible clergy and lay employees may elect not to participate in the Diocesan Health Plan if alternate coverage is available and approved by the Medical Trust, and
     
  9. That schools, day care facilities, community development corporations and other congregational and diocesan institutions and organizations, regardless of the independence of their incorporation or tax status, are encouraged to adopt the principles articulated in this resolution, and
     
  10. That all employers will report annually on the process used to determine the level of insurance coverage needed by their eligible clergy and lay employees, the percentage of health insurance costs contributed by the employer, and any issues that arose in the determination of the employer’s health insurance benefits policy. This report will be made to the Office of the Bishop and is to be filed at the end of the open enrollment period and not later than December 1 of each year, with reference to the insurance coverage for the following calendar year, and
     
  11. That to ensure just implementation of the process for determining the level of insurance needed by eligible clergy and lay employees, a Compensation and Benefits Ombudsmen Committee will be appointed by the Bishop to hear appeals on those decisions made by employers on the provision of health coverage which in the mind of the eligible clergy or lay employee are not fair and just. The Committee will consist of three people, at least one of whom shall be a clergy person and at least one a layperson, for a term of three years.  The appointments shall be made by the Bishop, after consultation with the Diocesan Council Steering Committee, and ratified by Diocesan Council.  None of the members shall be a member of the Diocesan staff. The appeal request shall be submitted to the Bishop who will forward the request to the Committee whose review shall be conducted within thirty days of its receipt.
Resource Date: 
Jun 9, 2012