A. The "group benefits committee" is created. The committee shall be composed of nine members as follows:

(1) one employee of, appointed by the secretary of, each of the two departments of the state, excluding state institutions of higher education, having the largest number of full-time employees;

(2) the superintendent of insurance or his designee;

(3) the director of the state personnel office or his designee;

(4) the executive secretary of the public employees retirement association or his designee;

(5) the chief financial officer of a state agency or institution, appointed by the governor;

(6) one employee of a local public body participating in the state group plan, appointed by the governor; and

(7) two public employees of state agencies, other than those from whom members are appointed pursuant to Paragraphs (1) through (4) of this subsection, appointed by the governor.

B. Members of the committee appointed by the governor or by a department secretary shall serve terms of four years. Vacancies in appointive memberships shall be filled by the appointing authority. An appointive membership shall be deemed vacant when the member ceases to be a public employee or ceases to meet the qualifications for his membership set forth in Subsection A of this section. An appointive membership shall also be deemed vacant when the member fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the committee.

C. A majority of the committee shall constitute a quorum. The members of the committee shall elect annually from among the membership a chairman and vice chairman.

History: Laws 1989, ch. 231, § 3.