1998-023-RES WHEREAS, COP HAS A UNIFORM GROUP BENEFITS PLAN THAT IS ADMINISTERED
RESOLUTION NO. 98-023
WHEREAS, the City of Paris has a uniform group benefits plan that is administered by
the Texas Municipal League Group Benefits Risk Pool (TML-GBRP); and,
WHEREAS, effective with the first plan year following July 1, 1997, the Federal Health
Insurance Portability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), which establishes a standard definition for what can
be considered an existing condition, will go into effect, with the effective date for the City of Paris
being May 1, 1998; and,
WHEREAS, in addition to HIPAA, the Federal Government has amended the Public
Health Services Act (PHS) to standardize benefits relating to mothers and newborns and to
establish parity in the application of mental health benefits; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Paris's employee health benefit plan in a non-Federal
governmental plan, and HIP AA allows such plans to elect to be exempt from any or all of this new
legislation; and,
WHEREAS, because of the severe penalties which are established in the law for non-
compliance, the City's plan administrator, TML-GBRP, recommends that the City of Paris exempt
itself to avoid the potential of financial penalties, and it is deemed appropriate that such
recommendation be taken; and,
WHEREAS, the form for the Election Under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 300gg-21, attached hereto
as Exhibit A, should, in all things, be approved, and the Mayor, Eric S. Clifford, should be
authorized to execute the same; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, that the
form of the Election Under 42 U.S.c. Sec. 300gg-21, which exempts the City of Paris from the
requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIP AA) and the Public
Health Services Act (PHS), attached hereto as Exhibit A, be, and the same is hereby, approved;
and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Mayor, Eric S. Clifford, be, and he is hereby,
authorized and directed to execute, on behalf of the City of Paris, the Election Under 42 U.S.c.
Sec. 300gg-21, under the terms and conditions and in the form shown in Exhibit A, attached
hereto.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 9th day of Febru~
Eric S. Clifford, Mayor
ATTEST:
~~~l
Mattie Cunningham, City Cler
CITY OF PARIS, PARIS, TEXAS
ELECTION UNDER 42 V.S.C. ~ 300gg-21
The CITY OF PARIS, PARIS, TEXAS, 135 1st Street S.E., Paris, Texas 75461-9037,
(903) 785-7511, a Texas political subdivision employees' uniform group benefits plan
administered by the Texas Municipal League Group Benefits Risk Pool, 1821 Rutherford Lane,
Suite 300, Austin, Texas 78754-515,1 (512/719-6500), pursuant to 42 U.S.C. ~ 300gg-21, hereby
elects to be exempt for the plan year beginning May 1, 1998 through April 30, 1999, from the
following requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996: (A
check in the box indicates entities decision to be exempt)
l8J Limitations on preexisting condition exclusion periods
l8J Special enrollment periods for individuals (and dependents) losing other coverage.
l8J Prohibitions against discriminating against individual participants and beneficiaries
based on health status.
l8J Standards relating to benefits for mother and newborns
l8J Parity in the application of certain limits to mental health benefits.
The City of Paris Health Benefit Plan is a self-funded program and does not include health
insurance coverage.
This election is being made at a duly called open meeting of the City Council of the City
of Paris on February 9, 1998, at Paris, Texas.
The attached "Notice to Plan Participants Regarding the City of Paris's Election Under 42
D.S.C. ~ 300gg-2111 will be provided to all Plan participants by being prominently printed in the
Plan's summary plan document. Said notice will be given to each Plan participant at the time of
enrollment.
EXHiBIT A
It is hereby certified that Eric S. Clifford is the Mayor of the City of Paris and is fully
authorized to execute this election form on behalf of and at the request of the City of Paris.
SIGNED this 9th day of February, 1998.
Eric S. Clifford, Mayor
ATTEST:
Mattie Cunningham, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
T. K. Haynes, City Attorney