(a) In order to effectively support the University of California and its work in implementing this chapter, there is hereby established in the State Treasury, the Health Care Benefits Fund. The university’s work in providing the bill analyses shall be supported from the fund.

(b) For the 2017–18 to 2019–20 fiscal years, inclusive, each health care service plan, except a specialized health care service plan, and each health insurer offering health insurance, as defined in Section 106 of the Insurance Code, shall be assessed an annual fee in an amount determined through regulation. The amount of the fee shall be determined by the Department of Managed Health Care and the Department of Insurance in consultation with the university and shall be limited to the amount necessary to fund the actual and necessary expenses of the university and its work in implementing this chapter. The total annual assessment on health care service plans and health insurers shall not exceed two million dollars ($2,000,000).

(c) The Department of Managed Health Care and the Department of Insurance, in coordination with the university, shall assess the health care service plans and health insurers, respectively, for the costs required to fund the university’s activities pursuant to subdivision (b).

(1) Health care service plans shall be notified of the assessment on or before June 15 of each year with the annual assessment notice issued pursuant to Section 1356. The assessment pursuant to this section is separate and independent of the assessments in Section 1356.

(2) Health insurers shall be noticed of the assessment in accordance with the notice for the annual assessment or quarterly premium tax revenues.

(3) The assessed fees required pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be paid on an annual basis no later than August 1 of each year. The Department of Managed Health Care and the Department of Insurance shall forward the assessed fees to the Controller for deposit in the Health Care Benefits Fund immediately following their receipt.

(4) “Health insurance,” as used in this subdivision, does not include Medicare supplement, vision-only, dental-only, or CHAMPUS supplement insurance, or hospital indemnity, accident-only, or specified disease insurance that does not pay benefits on a fixed benefit, cash payment only basis.

(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 38, Sec. 10. (AB 114) Effective July 10, 2017. Inoperative July 1, 2020. Repealed as of January 1, 2021, pursuant to Section 127665.)