Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout840076.tiff RESOLUTION RE: APPROVE PREMIUM ONLY PLAN WITH JAMES BENEFITS AND AUTHORIZE CHAIRMAN TO SIGN SAME WHEREAS , the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and WHEREAS , on the 1st day of October, 1984 , the Board approved an Agreement with James Benefits concerning the implementation of a Premium Only Plan, and WHEREAS, the Board has now been presented with the final form of the Premium Only Plan between Weld County, Colorado, and James Benefits, and WHEREAS, after review, the Board deems it advisable to approve said plan, a copy being attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, that the Premium Only Plan between Weld County, Colorado, and James Benefits be, and hereby is, approved. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Board that the Chairman be, and hereby is , authorized to sign said Plan. AQUs /- 8400 ;6 The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by the following vote on the 21st day of November, A.D. , 1984 . BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ATTEST: a WELD COUNTY, COLORADO Weld County lerk and Recorder and Clerk to the Board Norman Carlson, Chairman /7 BY:, ) b c, e ixie-4-2c J Z ine o son, Pro-Tem ceputy County C rk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Gene R. Brantner EXCUSED CMC7±4-- Chuck Carlson County Attorney _ �Jli4f-fitiVA. T. Martin WELD COUNTY PREMIUM ONLY PLAN SUMMARY PLAN DESCRIPTION TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION 1 THE PLAN IN BRIEF 2 Summary 2 Taxes 2 Definitions 2 ELIGIBILITY AND ENROLLMENT 5 HOW THE PLAN WORKS 6 OTHER FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW 8 - i - INTRODUCTION Benefits. For Both Of Us - A thought that brings visions of the good life. And that' s exactly what the Premium Only Plan (POP) can mean to eligible employees. Benefits are a form of compensation that is tax-free or tax-deferred. A POP provides you the flexibility and opportunity to purchase the kind of benefit protection that is most meaningful to your individual life style. The POP combines the best of two ideas: 1) tax-free compensation, and 2) flexibility to choose. You can use your plan contribution dollars to purchase "tax-free" benefit coverages so your compensation can go further. Now, that's the good life. This booklet describes the plan in plain language and summarizes the official legal documents that govern the operation of the plan. If you have any questions about the information in this booklet or if you would like to review the official legal documents, please call the Personnel Department. Issues concerning plan operation will be resolved solely in accordance with the official legal documents. - 1 - • THE PLAN IN BRIEF SUMMARY You are automatically a participant of the Plan as of the first day of the month following the first full month' s pay as a full-time employee, provided proper application has been made. Each year, the county may authorize a specific amount of money you may use to pay for insurance premiums. By December 15th of each year, you must decide what insurance coverage you want and elect to pay your share of that insurance coverage. TAXES Under current tax law, you avoid paying taxes on premium-only dollars that are spent on medical/dental Plan benefits, AD&D insurance up to a total of $50,000 of employee life insurance and any and all Spouse and Dependent life insurance. DEFINITIONS OF TERMS Read the following definitions to help you understand the POP provisions: Committee: An administrative committee composed of the County Commissioners will handle the general administration of the Plan. This Committee establishes uniform rules and decides how the Plan operates in accordance with the official Plan documents. Covered Dependents: Those who are eligible as provided herein and enrolled by a Covered Employee. Covered Dependents shall be the spouse of the Covered Employee; and children from birth to attainment of age 19, provided such children are unmarried and dependent upon the Covered Employee for support and maintenance, and for whom the employee is entitled to an exemption for income tax purposes. The term "children" shall include natural children, adopted children, foster children, and stepchildren who depend upon the employee for support and maintenance. Such terms shall also include children 19 years of age to age 23 who are registered students at an accredited college, vocation-al school , or university on a full-time basis, and are dependent upon the Covered Employee for support and maintenance. Covered Dependent shall also include a dependent child age 19 and over, pro- vided the child is (1) incapable of self-sustaining employment by reason of mental or physical handicap, (2) chiefly dependent upon the Covered Employee for support and maintenance, and (3) had been covered under this Plan on the day immediately preceding his 19th birthday. Proof of such incapacity and dependency must be furnished the Contract Administrator by the Covered Employee within the thirty-one (31) days prior to the child's 19th birthday and at reasonable intervals thereafter. For newly hired employees, a covered dependent will also include a handicapped child over age 19 who became handicapped prior to age 19 and who was con- sidered a Covered Dependent under the plan of the employee's former employer. Dependents DO NOT include children of a dependent son or daughter. - 2 - • Dependents shall be covered simultaneously with employees covering them as dependents, provided they are not confined in a hospital on the effective date. Coverage for newborn children will begin from birth. However, they need to be formally enrolled and appropriate coverage arranged within one month from birth to be effective thereafter, if dependent coverage does not already exist. Employer: Weld County which shall adopt the Plan according to the legal documents under which the Plan is established. Flexible Dollars: The amount and percentage of pay allocated each Plan Year to a participant's POP. Plan Year: The plan year begins each January 1 and ends on December 31. The first Plan Year begins September 1, 1984. Salary: Gross wages are defined as those wages paid to full-time employees of Weld County, Colorado for a minimum of 139.2 hours and a maximum of 174 hours per month. Gross wages are composed of regular hourly wages (salary does not include tax deferred deposits to the Weld County deferred compensation or 401k Plans), sick leave, vacation, emergency, compensatory time used, education, military, next year's vacation, worker's compensation and personal leave. Regular Hourly are those wages paid to an employee in the normal course of work. Minimum hours = 139.2 per month/Maximum hours = 174 per month. Exceptions to regular hourly wages used to calculate gross wages: Sick Other: All sick leave paid by the County during a month. Vacation: All vacation leave paid by the County during a month. Emergency: A special leave category established by ordinance to pay an employee during family emergencies, not to exceed three (3) days. Compensatory Time Used: Hours accrued and substituted for regular hours. Education: Time granted for educational purposes and not charged to regular hourly. Military: Those hours of military duty not charged to regular hourly. Next Year 's Vacation: Hours charged to next year ' s vacation. Worker's Compensation: The first three (3) days of worker's compensa- tion are charged to this category and paid at full pay. Personal Leave: Two (2) days per year per employee are charged to this category. Sick Leave Bank: Those hours granted to members of the sick leave bank for use during extended illness. - 3 - Substraction from Gross Wages: Leave Without Pay (LWOP): That category established to subtract hours from employees who do not have accruals to cover hours used. PLAN: The Plan means the Weld County Flexible Benefits Plan, effective December 16, 1984, and as it may be amended from time to time. - 4 - ELIGIBILTY AND ENROLLMENT If you are a full-time employee of the County, you are eligible to partici- pate in the Plan. You are automatically a participant on the first of the month after you meet the eligibility requirements. You remain a participant until you become ineligible. If you are disabled, however, you remain a participant until the end of the calendar year in which your disability began. You are disabled if you are unable to do your work because of a physical or mental disability that is expected to be per- manent and that qualifies you for long term disability benefits or retire- ment benefits. During enrollment, you will also want to complete a beneficiary designation form to tell the Plan administrator who should receive the amounts of unpaid benefits in case of your death. Beneficiary designation forms are available from your personnel representative. Elections are irrevocable once the period of coverage has begun. If the employee has designated a change because of premium increases during the Plan Year prior to the beginning of benefit coverage, the change will still qualify. Exceptions to this include: Marriage or divorce of a participant Death of a spouse or dependent Addition or deletion of dependents A participant or spouse gains or loses employment - 5 - HOW THE PLAN WORKS The Amount in Your Account Each year, the County will designate how much you may spend. We call that amount your Flexible Dollars. The amount announced depends on the types of benefit plans and options selected but will usually be the same for all employees. If you become a participant after January 1, the amount credited to your POP account will be prorated by the number of months remaining in that year. You must designate the coverage you wish under the benefit plans before the beginning of the year to be able to use your Flexible Dollars to pay for those plans. If you become a participant during the year, however, you may enroll in the benefit plans on the date of participation. Group Term Life Insurance When you elect coverage under the county's Group Term Life Insurance Plan, the employer pays premiums for that coverage with Flexible Dollars. Accidental Death and Dismemberment You may use your Flexible Dollars to pay premiums for AD&D coverage. Medical/Dental Care Expense Flexible dollars may be used to pay the premiums for medical/dental care coverage under the company's comprehensive Medical/Dental Plans. The maxi- mum for all medical/dental care premiums will be announced each year before the enrollment period. Premiums for Medical/Dental, Life, and AD&D Coverage Each year when you have the opportunity to sign up for these kinds of coverages the employer will inform you of the applicable premium rates. The amounts and kinds of coverage you elect will determine your total pre- mium, which the employer will pay from your POP account. What is Salary Reduction? Each year, after you have signed up for the coverage you want, you will have your compensation reduced to pay for the benefit plans selected. Because the employer will be paying the premiums on your behalf, it is con- sidered an Employer contribution. You can avoid paying federal , state, local , and, currently, FICA tax on the amount elected to be deposited in the POP account. In many instances, the amount of your take-home pay will actually increase by electing salary reduction into the POP. - 6 - WHAT HAPPENS IF I WANT TO STOP SALARY REDUCTION? You may have your salary reduction stopped for any of the following reasons: 1 . The Employer terminates the Plan. 2. You incur an unforeseen financial "emergency. " 3. You terminate coverage in the benefit programs at Weld County. - 7 - OTHER FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW Although Weld County is not considering any changes to the POP, the Employer does reserve the right to change, terminate, or conform the Plan to current governmental and IRS regulations. This description is not legally binding, and discrepancies between this description and the legal Plan document will be resolved in favor of the legal Plan document. - 8 - WELD COUNTY FLEXIBLE BENEFITS PLAN Effective: December 16, 1984 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Subsection Page 1 Establishment of the Plan 1.1 Establishment of the Plan 1 1.2 Applicability of Plan 1 2 Definitions 2.1 Definitions 2 2.2 Gender and Number 4 3 Eligibility and Participation 3. 1 Date of Participation 4 3.2 Duration 5 4 Benefits 4.1 Flexible Dollars 5 4.2 Benefits 7 4.3 Substitution 9 4.4 Notification of Employees 9 4.5 Rights Against the County 9 5 Election of Benefits and Application 5. 1 Election of Benefits 9 6 Beneficiary Designation 6. 1 Beneficiary Designation 10 7 Accounts and Records of the Plan 7.1 Accounts and Records 11 8 Incompetency 8. 1 Incompetency 11 9 Contributions and Financing 9.1 Contributions and Financing 12 10 Non-Alienation of Benefits 10. 1 Non-Alienation 12 11 Administration 11. 1 The Committee 12 11.2 Fiduciaries 12 11.3 Administration 13 11.4 Indemnification 13 11.5 Expenses of Administration 14 11.6 Rights of the County to Inspect the Records of the Plan and Trust Fund 14 FLEXM/WCO-2 TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Section Subsection Page 12 Changes in the Plan 12. 1 Amendment and Termination of the Plan 14 12.2 Final Distributions 15 13 Unclaimed Accounts 13.1 Unclaimed Accounts 15 14 Illegality of Particular Provision 14. 1 Illegality of Particular Provision 15 15 Effect of Mistake 15.1 Effect of Mistake 16 16 Applicable Laws 16.1 Applicable Laws 17 FLEXM/WCO-3 (Effective as of December 16, 1984) Section 1. Establishment of the Plan 1. 1 Establishment of the Plan. Weld County (the "Company") hereby establishes a flexible benefits plan within the meaning of section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, for its eligible employees effective as of December 16, 1984, to be known as the "Weld County Flexible Benefits Plan" as set forth in this document. The purpose of this Plan is to provide eligible Employees a means of obtaining a reimbursement of premiums for qualified medical , dental , group term life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment coverage. Such benefits are provided in a manner which affords the Employee the discretion to allocate the Plan funds so that he may utilize those benefits which are best suited to his needs and obtain them with advantageous tax treatment where possible. 1.2 Applicablility of the Plan. The provisions of this Plan are appliable only to the Employees of the county in current employment on or after the Effective Date. An Employee who retired or separated from employment prior to the Effective Date, or beneficiaries of such an Employee, shall not be entitled to benefits after the Effective Date under the provisions of this Plan unless the Employee is rehired and then becomes eligible for benefits. The provisions of this Plan for the reimbursement of medical , dental , and acci- dental death and dismemberment expenses constitute a self-insured medical reim- bursement plan within the meaning of Code section 105(h). Amounts which are not utilized for benefits under this Plan are forfeited by the Participants. FLEXM/WCO - 1 - Section 2. Definitions 2. 1 Definitions. Whenever used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below unless otherwise expressly pro- vided, and when the defined meaning is intended, the term is capitalized. (a) The term "Beneficiary" means the person or persons designated by a Participant pursuant to subsection 6. 1. (b) The term "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, and the regulations thereunder. (c) The term "Committee" means the administrative committee composed of the County Commissioners as provided in subsection 11.1. (d) The term "County" means Weld County, and to the extent described in a supplemental agreement to this plan, an organization which adopts this plan pursuant to Section 16 of this Plan. (e) The term "Covered Dependent" means those who are eligible as provided herein and enrolled by a Covered Employee. Covered Dependents shall be the spouse of the Covered Employee; and children from birth to attainment of age 19, provided such children are unmarried, and depen- dent upon the Covered Employee for support and maintenance, and for whom the employee is entitled to an exemption for income tax purposes. The term "children" shall include natural children, adopted children, foster children, and step children who depend upon the employee for support and maintenance. Such terms shall also include children 19 years of age to age 23 who are registered students at an accredited college, vocational school , or university on a full-time basis, and are dependent upon the Covered Employee for support and maintenance. FLEXM/WCO - 2 - Covered Dependent shall also include a dependent child age 19 and over, provided the child is (1) incapable of self-sustaining employ- ment by reason of mental or physical handicap, (2) chiefly dependent upon the Covered Employee for support and maintenance, and (3) had been covered under this Plan on the day immediately preceding his 19th birthday. Proof of such incapacity and dependency must be furnished the Contract Administrator by the Covered Employee within the thirty one (31) days prior to the child' s 19th birthday and at reasonable intervals there- after. For newly hired employees a covered dependent will also include a handicapped child over age 19 who became handicapped prior to age 19 and who was considered a Covered Dependent under the plan of the employee' s former employer. Dependents DO NOT include children of a dependent son or daughter. Dependents shall be covered simultaneously with employees covering them as dependents, provided they are not confined in a hospital on the effective date. Coverage for newborn children will begin from birth. However, they need to be formally enrolled and appropriate coverage arranged within one month from birth to be effective there- after, if dependent coverage does not already exist. (f) The term "Effective Date" means December 16, 1984. (g) The term "Employee" means a common-law employee of the County. (h) The term "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations thereunder. FLEXM/WCO - 3 - (i ) The term "Flexible Dollars" means those dollar amounts specified in subsection 4. 1 (a) which a Participant may allocate to obtain benefits described in subsection 4.2. (j ) The term "Participant" means an Employee who meets the conditions of subsection 3. 1. (k) The term "Plan" means the Weld County Flexible Benefits Plan effective as of December 16, 1984, and as it may be amended from time to time. (1 ) The term "Plan Year" means the twelve month period of time designated and determined by the Company to be January 1 through December 31 . The first Plan Year begins December 16, 1984. (m) The term "Salary Reduction Agreement" means an agreement between a Participant and the County under which the County reduces the Parti- cipant's current salary and the County contributes the amount of the reduction Plan on behalf of the Participants, as a before-tax contri- bution. 2.2 Gender and Number. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine terminology shall also include the feminine and the definition of any term in the singular also include the plural. Section 3. Eligibility and Participation 3. 1 Eligibility and Date of Participation. A person who is: A permanent full-time employee of the Employer who is eligible and who has been enrolled in the Plan. To be considered a full-time employee, you must work an average of 32 hours or more per week. In addition, you will not be covered unless on the "date of eligibility" you are actually working a full day on that date; otherwise, your effective date will be deferred until return to actual service for a full day's work. FLEXM/WC0 - 4 - • Coverage shall become effective on the first day of the month following the first full month 's pay, provided the employee has made proper application to the employer for coverage and proper contribution has been deducted from his/her pay. An employee previously covered under this Plan whose coverage was ter- minated during leave of absence or temporary lay-off is again eligible for coverage on the date of his re-employment if he returns to work within three (3) months after the commencement of leave of absence or lay-off, otherwise on the date he would become eligible under the previous paragraph if his service has commenced on the date of re-employment. 3.2 Duration. A Participant shall cease to be a Participant when the conditions of subsection 3. 1 are no longer satisfied. Notwithstanding the pre- ceding sentence, a Participant who suffers a Disability shall remain a Participant until the end of the Plan Year in which such Disability commences. "Disability" means a physical or mental inability to perform work, resulting from injury or disease, which is expected to be permanent and which entitles the Employee to a disability benefit under the Company's long-term disability plan or under its qualified pension plan. Section 4. Benefits 4. 1 Flexible Dollars. (a) General . Subject to paragraphs (b) and (c), a Participant' s Flexible Dollars with respect to a Plan Year shall be: the amount of the contribution a Participant elects to have the Employer make on his behalf to the plan pursuant to a Salary FLEXM/WC0 - 5 - Reduction Agreement, which amount shall not be less than 0, nor more than $5,000.00, of the Participant's annualized salary as of December 16 of a Plan Year, or the date participation in the Plan commences, if later. These Flexible Dollars shall be used for benefits provided during the Plan Year. A Participant' s rate of salary shall not include any bonus payments, fringe benefits, or other special compensation. The County reserves the right to reduce the amount of the Participant's Salary Reduction Agreement in order to assure compliance with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code for favorable tax treatment. (b) New Participants. If an Employee becomes a Participant in the Plan after December 16 and elects to reduce his salary by an exact amount of dollars each year, his Flexible Dollars for the Plan Year shall be equal to the product of the amount specified in Paragraph (a) and a fraction with the numerator equal to the number of completed calendar months of participation of the Plan Year and a denominator equal to 12. (c) Terminating Participants. If a Participant who has elected to reduce his salary by an exact amount of dollars each year terminates employment prior to December 31 and is not reemployed by such date, his Flexible Dollars for the Plan Year of termination shall equal the product of the amount specified in paragraph (a) and a fraction with a numerator equal to the number of completed calendar months of par- ticipation for the Plan Year and a denominator equal to 12. Any amounts left over which have not been used to provide benefits are forfeited by the Participant. FLEXM/WCO - 6 - • (d) Form of Salary Reduction Agreement. The Salary Reduction Agreement shall be in a form which permits the County to reduce the Participant's current salary and contribute the amount of the reduc- tion to the Plan on behalf of the Participant. The Salary Reduction Agreement shall apply only to amounts of the Participant' s pay that have not been actually or constructively received as of the date of the Salary Reduction Agreement. Any amounts so elected shall not become currently available to the Participant. Each Participant may make a Salary Reduction Agreement which will reduce his salary by an amount equal to that necessary to provide for the type of coverage elected under this Plan. The amount of the Salary Reduction elected by the Participant shall be deemed to be a County contribution for purposes of the Code. (e) Changes in Election. If a Participant has a qualified change in status due to his spouse losing or gaining employment, addition or deletion of a Dependent, divorce or marriage of the Participant, or death of a spouse or dependent, he may change the Salary Reduction Agreement with respect to the Plan Year. 4.2 Benefits. A Participant may apply his Flexible Dollars toward any of the following benefits: (a) Group-Term Life Insurance. Flexible Dollars may be used to obtain group term life insurance coverage on the life of the Participant. A Participant may elect to receive County provided insurance coverage not in excess of $50,000. Any amounts in excess of $50,000 must be purchased with after-tax money outside of this plan. Death benefits shall be paid pursuant to the terms FLEXM/WCO - 7 - of the life insurance policy. The amount of coverage shall be elected by the Participant on a form provided by the Committee. Premium payments shall be made directly by the County to the insurer. (b) Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance. Subject to sub- paragraph (d), Flexible Dollars may be used to reimburse the Participant for accidental death and dismemberment insurance with the Participant as the insured. Coverage shall be available in increments with a maximum amount of $1,000,000. The amount of coverage shall be elected by the Participant on a form provided by the Committee. Premium payments shall be made on the Parti- cipant' s behalf directly by the County to the insurer. Death and dismemberment benefits shall be payable pursuant to the terms of the insurance policy. (c) Medical and Dental Expenses. Subject to subparagraph (d), Flexi- ble Dollars may be used to reimburse the Participant for premium payments for coverage under the County's comprehensive medical plan, dental plan and any other Plan(s) sponsored by the County providing health benefits described in section 213(d) of the Code. Premium payments shall be made on the Participant's behalf directly by the County to the County Insurance Trust Fund. Medical and dental benefits shall be payable pursuant to the terms of the insurance policies and plans maintained by the County. (d) The total Flexible Dollars which may be used by a Participant pursuant to paragraphs (c) and (d) shall be determined by the FLEXM/WC0 - 8 - County prior to the commencement of each Plan Year, shall be a uniform amount for all similarly situated Participants, and shall not exceed the amount resulting from the division of the amount determined for the Plan Year for subsection 4. 1(a) by .75 or $5,000.00, whichever is less. 4.3 Substitution. The County shall be substituted for all rights of a Participant to recover attorney fees against any adverse party. Participants shall do nothing to prejudice such rights of the County and further they agree to do all acts necessary to preserve and take advantage of such rights. If payment has been made by the County in such instances and if the adverse party reimburses the Participant directly, the County shall have the right to recover such payment from any Participant. 4.4 Notification of Employees. The County shall communicate in writ- ing to all eligible Employees the terms and conditions of the Plan. 4.5 Rights Against the County. Neither the establishment of the Plan, nor any modification thereof, nor any distributions hereunder, shall be construed as giving to any Participant or any person whomsoever any legal or equitable rights against the County, its agents, or officers, as such, or as giving any person the right to be retained in the employ of the County. Section 5. Election of Benefits 5. 1 Election of Benefits. (a) Election of Insurance Coverage. Prior to the commencement of a Plan Year, or upon the commencement of participation in the Plan, if later, an Employee who is eligible to participate in the Plan shall designate on a form provided by the Committee the life insurance benefits described in subsection 4.2 (if any) which he elects for the Plan Year. FLEXM/WC0 - 9 - The Employee shall provide the Committee with all information required by an insurer of such benefits. If the Employee fails to file the form and required information on or before a date prescribed by the Committee, he shall receive no insurance benefits under this plan for the Plan Year. Section 6. Beneficiary Designation 6. 1 Beneficiary Designation. Each Participant shall designate upon such forms as may be provided for that purpose by the Committee, a Beneficiary or Beneficiaries who are to receive, in the event of his death, payment of a reim- bursement to which he is entitled under the Plan or the proceeds of life insurance policies. The designation of a Beneficiary shall not be effective for any purpose unless and until it has been filed with the Committee. In the event that a Participant fails to designate a Beneficiary in the specified manner, or if for any reason such designation shall be legally ineffective, or if such Beneficiary shall either predecease the Participant or die simultaneously with him, then, for purposes of the Plan, distribution shall be made by the Committee to the Participant' s spouse (if any). If there is no spouse, at the discretion of the Committee, the benefits shall be paid to either (1 ) any one or more of the persons comprising the group consisting of the Participant's descendants, the Participant' s parents, or the Participant's heirs-at-law, and the Committee may pay the entire benefit to any member of such group or apportion such benefit among any two or more of them in such shares as the Committee, determine, or (2) the estate. If the Committee does not so direct any of such payments, the Committee may elect to have a court of applicable jurisdiction determine to whom a payment shall be paid. FLEXM/WCO - 10 - Section 7. Accounts and Records of the Plan 7. 1 Accounts and Records. The Committee shall establish and maintain accounts in the name of each Participant at the time he first becomes a Participant of the Plan. Section 8. Incompetency 8. 1 Incompetency. Every person receiving or claiming benefits under the Plan shall be presumed to be mentally and physically competent and of age until the Committee receives a written notice, in a form and manner acceptable to the Committee, that such person is mentally or physically incompetent or a minor, and that a guardian, conservator or other person legally vested with the care of his estate has been appointed. If, however, the Committee shall find that any person to whom a benefit is payable under the Plan is unable to care for his affairs because of any mental or physical incompetency or because he is a minor, any payment due (unless a prior claim therefor shall have been made by a duly appointed legal representative of his estate) may be paid to the spouse, a child, a parent, or a brother or sister, or beneficiary or to any person with whom he is residing, or to any other person or institution deemed by the Commit- tee to have incurred expense for such person otherwise entitled to payment. In the event a guardian, conservator or other person legally vested with the care of the estate of any person receiving or claiming benefits under the Plan shall be appointed by a court of competent jurisdiction, payments shall be made to such guardian or conservator or other person, provided that proper proof of appointment is furnished in a form and manner suitable to the Committee. To the extent permitted by law, any such payment so made shall be a complete discharge of any liability therefor under the Plan. FLEXM/WC0 - 11 - Section 9. Contributions and Financing 9. 1 Contributions and Financing. Participants are not required to contri- bute to this Plan. All payments will be made directly by the County to the insurer or from the County Insurance Trust Fund in accordance with 4. 1 (a) for qualified medical and dental expenses. Section 10. Non-Alienation of Benefits 10. 1 Non-Alienation. No benefit payable under the provisions of the Plan shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge, and any attempt so to anticipate, alienate, sell , transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, or charge shall be void; nor shall such benefits be in any manner liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements, or torts of, or claims against, any par- ticipant, Covered Dependent or Beneficiary, including claims of creditors, claims for alimony or support, and any like or unlike claims. Section 11. Administration 11 . 1 The Committee. The Committee shall be comprised of the Weld County Board of Commissioners. The members of the Committee may act with a meeting or without a meeting, by a majority of the members of the Committee at the time in office. The Committee shall appoint the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners as having the powers and responsibilities of the Committee relating to the admi- nistration of benefits under the Plan. 11 .2 Fiduciaries. The Committee shall be the administrator of the Plan and the Committee shall be named fiduciary under the Plan. As a fiduciary, the Committee shall discharge its duties under the Plan solely in the interests of the Participants in the Plan and their Beneficiaries, and for the exclusive pur- FLEXM/WCO - 12 - pose of providing benefits to Participants and their Beneficiaries, and defraying the reasonable expenses of administering the Plan. 11 .3 Administration. The Committee shall administer the Plan and shall have the authority to exercise the powers and discretion conferred on it by the Plan and shall have such other powers and authorities necessary or proper for the administration of the Plan as shall be determined from time to time by Weld County. The Committee shall keep complete records and accounts necessary or proper to administer the Plan and shall render such statements to the County as the County may request. The Committee may adopt such rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan as it shall consider advisable and shall have full power and authority to enforce, construe, interpret and administer the Plan. All interpretations under this Plan and all determination of fact made in good faith by the Committee shall be binding on the Participants, their Beneficiaries, and all other persons interested. The Committee may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of its busi- ness as it deems advisable and may employ such agents, attorneys, accountants, investment advisers or other persons (who also may be employed by the County) as in its opinion may be desirable for the administration of the Plan, and may pay any such person reasonable compensation. The Committee may delegate to any agent, attorney, accountant or other person selected by it, any power or duty vested in, imposed upon, or granted to it by the Plan. 11 .4 Indemnification. The County, the Committee and all agents and representatives of the Committee, shall be indemnified by the County and saved harmless against any claims, and FLEXM/WCO - 13 - the expenses of defending against such claims, resulting from any action or con- duct relating to the administration of the Plan except claims arising from gross negligence, willful neglect, or willful misconduct. Weld County reserves the right to select and approve counsel and also the right to take the lead in any action in which it may be liable as an indemnitor. 11 .5 Expenses of Administration. Any expense incurred by the County or the Committee relative to the administration of the Plan shall be paid by the County. 11 .6 Rights of the County to Inspect the Records of the Plan and County Insurance Trust Fund. The County may at its own expense at any time or from time to time cause an examination of the books and records of the Plan to be made by such attorneys, accountants, auditors or other agents as it shall select for that purpose and may cause a report of such examination to be made. Section 12. Changes in the Plan 12. 1 Amendment and Termination of the Plan. The County expects the Plan to be permanent, but since future conditions affecting the County cannot be anticipated or foreseen, the County must necessarily and does hereby reserve the right to amend, modify or terminate the Plan at any time. The County may make any modifications or amendments to the Plan that are necessary or appropriate to qualify or maintain the Plan as a plan meeting the requirements of the applicable sections of the Code. The Plan shall not at any time be used for or diverted to purposes other than for the exclusive benefit of Participants or their Beneficiaries, and no amendment shall divest any person of his interest therein, except as may be required by the Internal Revenue Service or other governmental authority, or give any person any assignable or exchangeable FLEXM/Wro - 14 - interest or any right or thing of exchangeable value in advance of the time distribution is to be made to such person. 12.2 Final Distribution. Upon termination of the Plan, the interest of Participants shall be determined as of the date of termination, and thereafter final distributions shall be made pursuant to the provisions of the Plan to such persons. Section 13. Unclaimed Accounts 13. 1 Unclaimed Accounts. If the Committee shall be unable, within two years after any amount becomes due and payable from the Plan to a Participant or Beneficiary, to make payment because the identity or whereabouts of such person cannot be ascertained, the Committee may mail a notice by registered mail to the last known address of such person outlining the action described in this section to be taken unless such person makes written reply to the Committee within 60 days from the mailing of such notice. The Committee may direct that such amount and all further benefits with respect to such person shall be discontinued and all liability for the payment shall terminate; however, in the event of the subsequent reappearance of the Participant or Beneficiary prior to termination of the Plan, the benefits which were due and payable and which such person missed shall be paid in a single sum, and the future benefits due such person shall be reinstated in full . Section 14. Illegality of Particular Provision 14. 1 Illegality of Particular Provision. The illegality of any particular provision of this Plan shall not affect the other provisions, but the Plan shall be construed in all respect as if such invalid provision were omitted. FLEXM/WCO - 15 - Section 15. Effect of Mistake 15. 1 Effect of Mistake. In the event of a mistake as to the eligibility or participation of an Employee, or the allocations made to the account of any Participant, or the amount of distributions made or to be made to a Participant or other person, the Committee shall , to the extent it deems possible, cause to be allocated or cause to be withheld or accelerated, or otherwise make adjust- ment of, such amounts as will in its judgment accord to such Participant or other person the credits to the account or distributions to which he is properly entitled under the Plan. FLEXM/WCO - 16 - Section 16. Applicable Laws 16. 1 Applicable Laws. The Plan shall be governed by one construed according to the laws of the State of Colorado. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Weld County has caused this instrument to be executed, effective as of December 16, 1984. WELD COUNTY By Title Chairman, Board of County Comnissioners ATTEST: Weld County Clerk and Recorder ri De�7llty (1 l�r 4).J?: I)2✓�• FLEXM/WCO - 17 Hello