(a) Applicants applying to the purchasing pool shall agree to pay family contributions, unless the applicant has a family contribution sponsor. Family contribution amounts consist of the following two components:

(1) The flat fees described in subdivision (b) or (d).

(2) Any amounts that are charged to the program by participating health, dental, and vision plans selected by the applicant that exceed the cost to the program of the highest cost Family Value Package in a given geographic area.

(b) In each geographic area, the board shall designate one or more Family Value Packages for which the required total family contribution is:

(1) Seven dollars ($7) per child with a maximum required contribution of fourteen dollars ($14) per month per family for applicants with annual household incomes up to and including 150 percent of the federal poverty level.

(2) (A) Nine dollars ($9) per child with a maximum required contribution of twenty-seven dollars ($27) per month per family for applicants with annual household incomes greater than 150 percent and up to and including 200 percent of the federal poverty level and for applicants on behalf of children described in clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 12693.70.

(B) Commencing the first day of the fifth month following the enactment of the 2008–09 Budget Act, the family contribution pursuant to this paragraph shall be twelve dollars ($12) per child with a maximum required contribution of thirty-six dollars ($36) per month per family.

(C) Commencing November 1, 2009, the family contribution pursuant to this paragraph shall be sixteen dollars ($16) per child with a maximum required contribution of forty-eight dollars ($48) per month per family.

(D) Subject to prior federal authorization, the family contribution pursuant to this paragraph shall be thirty dollars ($30) per child with a maximum required contribution of ninety dollars ($90) per month per family, or any lesser increase in family contributions as is authorized by the federal Department of Health and Human Services. The family contribution required by this subparagraph shall commence the first day of the third month following the later of the following:

(i) The effective date of the act adding this subparagraph.

(ii) Receipt of federal authorization for the contribution in the form of an approved amendment to California’s state plan under Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act or a waiver of one or more requirements of Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act.

(3) (A) On and after July 1, 2005, fifteen dollars ($15) per child with a maximum required contribution of forty-five dollars ($45) per month per family for applicants with annual household income to which subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 12693.70 is applicable. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if an application with an effective date prior to July 1, 2005, was based on annual household income to which subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 12693.70 is applicable, then this subparagraph shall be applicable to the applicant on July 1, 2005, unless subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 12693.70 is no longer applicable to the relevant family income. The program shall provide prior notice to any applicant for currently enrolled subscribers whose premium will increase on July 1, 2005, pursuant to this subparagraph and, prior to the date the premium increase takes effect, shall provide that applicant with an opportunity to demonstrate that subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 12693.70 is no longer applicable to the relevant family income.

(B) Commencing the first day of the fifth month following the enactment of the 2008–09 Budget Act, the family contribution pursuant to this paragraph shall be seventeen dollars ($17) per child with a maximum required contribution of fifty-one dollars ($51) per month per family.

(C) Commencing November 1, 2009, the family contribution pursuant to this paragraph shall be twenty-four dollars ($24) per child with a maximum required contribution of seventy-two dollars ($72) per month per family.

(D) Subject to prior federal authorization, the family contribution pursuant to this paragraph shall be forty-two dollars ($42) per child with a maximum required contribution of one hundred twenty-six dollars ($126) per month per family, or any lesser increase in family contributions as is authorized by the federal Department of Health and Human Services. The family contribution required by this subparagraph shall commence the first day of the third month following the later of the following:

(i) The effective date of the act adding this subparagraph.

(ii) Receipt of federal authorization for the contribution in the form of an approved amendment to California’s state plan under Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act or a waiver of one or more requirements of Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act.

(c) Combinations of health, dental, and vision plans that are more expensive to the program than the highest cost Family Value Package may be offered to and selected by applicants. However, the cost to the program of those combinations that exceeds the price to the program of the highest cost Family Value Package shall be paid by the applicant as part of the family contribution.

(d) The board shall provide a family contribution discount to those applicants who select the health plan in a geographic area that has been designated as the Community Provider Plan. The discount shall reduce the portion of the family contribution described in subdivision (b) to the following:

(1) A family contribution of four dollars ($4) per child with a maximum required contribution of eight dollars ($8) per month per family for applicants with annual household incomes up to and including 150 percent of the federal poverty level.

(2) (A) Six dollars ($6) per child with a maximum required contribution of eighteen dollars ($18) per month per family for applicants with annual household incomes greater than 150 percent and up to and including 200 percent of the federal poverty level and for applicants on behalf of children described in clause (ii) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 12693.70.

(B) Commencing the first day of the fifth month following the enactment of the 2008–09 Budget Act, the family contribution pursuant to this paragraph shall be nine dollars ($9) per child with a maximum required contribution of twenty-seven dollars ($27) per month per family.

(C) Commencing November 1, 2009, the family contribution pursuant to this paragraph shall be thirteen dollars ($13) per child with a maximum required contribution of thirty-nine dollars ($39) per month per family.

(D) Subject to prior federal authorization, the family contribution pursuant to this paragraph shall be twenty-seven dollars ($27) per child with a maximum required contribution of eighty-one dollars ($81) per month per family, or any lesser increase in family contributions as is authorized by the federal Department of Health and Human Services. The family contribution required by this subparagraph shall commence the first day of the third month following the later of the following:

(i) The effective date of the act adding this subparagraph.

(ii) Receipt of federal authorization for the contribution in the form of an approved amendment to California’s state plan under Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act or a waiver of one or more requirements of Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act.

(3) (A) On and after July 1, 2005, twelve dollars ($12) per child with a maximum required contribution of thirty-six dollars ($36) per month per family for applicants with annual household income to which subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 12693.70 is applicable. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if an application with an effective date prior to July 1, 2005, was based on annual household income to which subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 12693.70 is applicable, then this subparagraph shall be applicable to the applicant on July 1, 2005, unless subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 12693.70 is no longer applicable to the relevant family income. The program shall provide prior notice to any applicant for currently enrolled subscribers whose premium will increase on July 1, 2005, pursuant to this subparagraph and, prior to the date the premium increase takes effect, shall provide that applicant with an opportunity to demonstrate that subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 12693.70 is no longer applicable to the relevant family income.

(B) Commencing the first day of the fifth month following the enactment of the 2008–09 Budget Act, the family contribution pursuant to this paragraph shall be fourteen dollars ($14) per child with a maximum required contribution of forty-two dollars ($42) per month per family.

(C) Commencing November 1, 2009, the family contribution pursuant to this paragraph shall be twenty-one dollars ($21) per child with a maximum required contribution of sixty-three dollars ($63) per month per family.

(D) Subject to prior federal authorization, the family contribution pursuant to this paragraph shall be thirty-nine dollars ($39) per child with a maximum required contribution of one hundred seventeen dollars ($117) per month per family, or any lesser increase in family contributions as is authorized by the federal Department of Health and Human Services. The family contribution required by this subparagraph shall commence the first day of the third month following the later of the following:

(i) The effective date of the act adding this subparagraph.

(ii) Receipt of federal authorization for the contribution in the form of an approved amendment to California’s state plan under Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act or a waiver of one or more requirements of Title XXI of the federal Social Security Act.

(e) Applicants, but not family contribution sponsors, who pay three months of required family contributions in advance shall receive the fourth consecutive month of coverage with no family contribution required.

(f) Applicants, but not family contribution sponsors, who pay the required family contributions by an approved means of electronic fund transfer shall receive a 25-percent discount from the required family contributions.

(g) It is the intent of the Legislature that the family contribution amounts described in this section comply with the premium cost-sharing limits contained in Section 2103 of Title XXI of the Social Security Act. If the amounts described in subdivision (a) are not approved by the federal government, the board may adjust these amounts to the extent required to achieve approval of the state plan.

(h) The adoption and one readoption of regulations to implement paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) and paragraph (3) of subdivision (d) shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, and safety, or general welfare for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the board is hereby exempted from the requirement that it describe specific facts showing the need for immediate action and from review by the Office of Administrative Law. For purpose of subdivision (e) of Section 11346.1 of the Government code, the 120-day period, as applicable to the effective period of an emergency regulatory action and submission of specified materials to the Office of Administrative Law, is hereby extended to 180 days.

(i) The board may adopt, and may only one time readopt, regulations to implement the changes to this section that are effective the first day of the fifth month following the enactment of the 2008–09 Budget Act. The adoption and one-time readoption of a regulation authorized by this section is deemed to address an emergency, for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the board is hereby exempted for this purpose from the requirements of subdivision (b) of Section 11346.1 of the Government Code.

(j) The program shall provide prior notice to any applicant for a subscriber whose premium will increase as a result of amendments made to this section and shall provide the applicant with an opportunity to demonstrate that, based on reduced family income, the subscriber is subject to a lower premium pursuant to this section.

(k) The adoption and readoption, by the board, of regulations to implement the changes made to this section by the act that added this subdivision shall be deemed to be an emergency and necessary to avoid serious harm to the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare for purposes of Sections 11346.1 and 11349.6 of the Government Code, and the board is hereby exempted from the requirement that it describe facts showing the need for immediate action and from review by the Office of Administrative Law.

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 3, Sec. 1. (AB 97) Effective March 24, 2011.)