Article 8.9. Vision Care of California Government Code >> Division 4. >> Title 3. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 8.9.

This article shall be known and may be cited as the County Retirement System Vision Care Program.

A member who retires from a county retirement system covered by this chapter may enroll in a vision care program offered pursuant to this article subject to meeting the eligibility requirements established for the program.

Each retired member that elects to participate in the program shall be solely responsible for the payment of premiums.

The benefits in this article are in addition to any other benefits provided in this chapter.

The sponsor of the vision care program may contract with a third-party administrator to provide vision care to the retired member, his or her survivors, and his or her eligible dependents.

If the vision care program is intended to be part of the retirement system trust fund, then the operation of the vision care program, including, but not limited to, its funding, governance, investment of assets, allocation of income, and payment of benefits, shall comply with the requirements of Section 401(h) of Title 26 of the United States Code, to the extent required by that title, and related federal regulations. If the vision care program is intended to be separate from and not a part of the retirement system, then no assets attributable to that program shall be commingled for investment, or any other purpose, with the assets of the retirement system. Assets attributable to the program shall constitute a separate fund with a trust that is separate from the funds and trust of the retirement system except to the extent that the commingling of assets for investment purposes satisfies the requirements of the federal tax laws. The sponsor of the vision care program shall indicate as part of the establishment of the program whether that separate fund is intended to be a part of, or separate from, the retirement system.