Staff Council discusses insurance changes

During the Jan. 7 Staff Council meeting, Donna Shell, assistant director of human resources, addressed general staff concerns about recent legislative and Employee Retirement System changes in active and retiree insurance coverage.

Staff Council representatives said their constituents were most concerned about the change by the 78th Texas Legislature in the minimum age for retiree insurance eligibility, from 55 to 65. The change does not apply to retiring employees who meet the "Rule of 80" (when years of service plus age equals 80).

There were also concerns about the new $50-per-person, per-plan-year deductible for prescription drugs from ERS. People on the insurance plan must spend $50 of their own money on prescription drugs each year before the insurance company co-pays start.

"The first thing you have to remember is that this isn't UNT's plan — the group benefits program is funded by the Legislature each biennium and is administered by ERS," Shell said. "The reasoning for pushing back the age of eligibility is that the insurance program is in a deficit and these changes will provide a good portion of the savings needed to cover it. They're waiting until age 65 to pick up the minimum insurance because Medicare starts at 65 and covers 80 percent of most claims."

The changes to the retiree insurance program may be the last for some time, Shell added, but she said the group benefits program is completely at the discretion of the Legislature. Because of that, she said employees with concerns are limited to approaching their state representatives or filing a complaint with the ERS (www.ers.state.tx.us).

In other business, the staff council:

• Named Sabrina Gilbreath, administrative services officer in the chemistry department, to replace Patti McGee, administrative services officer in facilities, as a council representative.
  
  
• Elected Martha Hall, accountant in financial reporting, as the new secretary and treasurer, replacing Becky Hughes, administrative assistant in the philosophy and religion studies department. The secretary/treasurer keeps the minutes, serves on the executive committee, tracks attendance and ensures adherence to the group's constitution and bylaws.
  
  
• Pursuant to a request from Richard Rafes, senior vice president for administration, nominated three staff members to serve on a planning committee for the daycare center to be located at the Liberty Christian School site. The nominees are Cheylon Brown, Multicultural Center director; Carol Hagen, director of the Child Development Lab; and Paul Ruggiere, assistant director at the Survey Research Center. The planning committee will include staff, faculty and student members.
  
  
• Heard a report from the University Planning Committee on several meetings with UNT President Norval Pohl in which Pohl promoted a system of responsibility-centered management at the university. The budgeting method, which is used by Indiana University, allows each university department and unit to use the revenues it creates as it sees fit. The method decentralizes spending but also requires more accountability for each department.
  
  
• Heard a proposal for two changes to the council's constitution from the Staff Council Bylaws Committee. The first would allow former Staff Council representatives who have served two consecutive terms to reapply after only a year. Currently, the bylaws require that former representatives wait two years before reapplying. The second change to the bylaws clarifies the section on missed meetings — if a representative misses three meetings in a row, he or she must undergo a review process. The council will vote on the changes at its next meeting.
  
  
• Heard a report from the Executive Committee about the university smoking policy. At the last meeting, Rafes asked the council's advice in enforcing or modifying the policy. The current general policy requires that people who are smoking stand 20 feet away from a building; however, some exempt buildings are allowed to create their own smoking policies. The Executive Committee suggested that the current policies work but the university needs more education and signage to alert smokers on campus to the policies. Staff Council President David Brockington, the Faculty Senate chair and the Student Government Association president plan to meet with Rafes to discuss the smoking policies and the possibility of making UNT a smoke-free campus.
  
  
• Expressed approval of the new bicycle policy Rafes announced at the November meeting. The current policy does not allow bicycles into the campus interior any time of the day. The new policy would allow bikes on campus from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. If successful, the university may expand the policy to include daytime hours.

The next council meeting will be at 2 p.m. March 3 in Marquis Hall, Room 118. For more information, visit www.unt.edu/staffcouncil.

BY RUFUS COLEMAN rcoleman@unt.edu

Other featured articles in this issue

• UNT to present gala celebration Feb. 14 to honor 50 years of desegregation
• Academy wins federal funds
• Gift creates UNT euphonium endowment
• Equity, diversity workshop set
• New UNT research center uncovers secrets of plants
• UNT performance of oratorio set for Jan. 29
• UNT to present films from eight countries during series
• Markley accepted into Leadership Texas
• 'Star man' fronts musically diverse band Crawfish

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