2.1 Full-time Appointment (100%). Employees with a status appointment of 100% time are eligible to participate in the USNH benefits program.
2.1.1 Employee/employer contribution for the Flex Plus Option B and any other medical plans with premiums below that of USNH's standard plan, Plan B, are based on the cost sharing formula described below. Any plan with premium or cost in excess of the standard Plan B will have the same contribution percentage as that for Plan B. These are the contribution rates in effect as of January 1, 2007.
2.1.2 There are no contributions required for the Flex Plus individual Option B dental, life and long term disability plan.
2.1.3 Contributions to the retirement plan are based on the option selected and the employee's regular budgeted earnings. The formulas for tuition benefit contributions are defined in the tuition waiver policy USY V.A.9.
2.2 Percent Time Appointment (75-99%). Employees with a status appointment of 75-99% time are eligible to participate in the Flexible Benefits Plan, the retirement plan, and the tuition waiver plan. For contributions schedule please see USY V.A.2.1.1 - 3.
2.3 Percent Time Appointment (50-74%). Employees with a status appointment of 50-74% time are covered by the programs listed in USY V.A.2.3.1 and are also eligible to participate in the medical and Option B equivalents of dental, life, long term disability, and retirement and tuition waiver plan.
2.3.1 Employee Contribution Schedule. Medical Plan -- Employee contribution as outlined in USY V.2.1.1 plus 50% of the employer's contribution; Dental Plan -- 50% of the individual premium or, when elected, USNH will contribute 50% of the individual premium towards the cost of a two person or family plan. Life and long term disability plans -- 50% of premium based on regular budgeted earnings.
2.4 Percent Time Appointment (49% or less). Employees with status appointments of 49% or less are covered by workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, liability insurance coverage and the social security benefits program.
2.4.1 Where applicable USNH contributions to these plans comply with federal and state laws. There are no employee contributions for workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, or liability insurance coverage.
2.5 Definition of eligibility for coverage of USNH family members. USNH definitions for coverage of spouses and/or dependents are defined in plan summary documents for each benefit. Those documents will include coverage for heterosexual partners of USNH employees if they are legally married and same gender partners of USNH employees if they meet the definition noted below.
2.5.1 A benefits-eligible USNH employee may register a same-sex domestic partner. A registered same-sex partner who meets the criteria authorized below is considered equivalent to a legally recognized spouse for the purposes of USNH policies.
2.5.2 Registration of a same-sex domestic partner requires filing an affidavit certifying that the partnership meets the following criteria:
2.5.2.1 The partners have been each other's sole partner for at least six (6) months and plan to remain so indefinitely;
2.5.2.2 The partners are of the same gender;
2.5.2.3 Neither partner is legally married, or related by blood to a degree that would prohibit marriage, nor allowed to legally marry each other in the State of New Hampshire;
2.5.2.4 The partners are each at least eighteen (18) years of age and are mentally competent to consent to contract;
2.5.2.5 The partners are responsible for each other's common welfare and financial obligations as defined in the section on procedural requirements.
2.5.3 The USNH Human Resources office shall establish a procedure to register eligible partnerships. This will include a partnership form requiring the signature of both partners which shall be notarized.
2.5.3.1 The affidavit must indicate two (2) forms of evidence of responsibility for each other's common welfare and financial obligations, from the following list (items a-e): a) a legally executed domestic partnership agreement or contract; b) joint mortgage or joint ownership of primary residence; c) two (2) items from the following: (c.1) joint title to a motor vehicle; (c.2) joint banking account; (c.3) joint credit account; (c.4) joint lease; d) designation of the same-sex domestic partner as primary beneficiary on the employee's will, retirement contract or life insurance; e) designation of partner in durable property or health care powers of attorney.
2.5.4 Submission of affidavit. The completed affidavit will be submitted at the campus Human Resources Office or System Human Resources Office.
2.5.4.1 Upon submission, the affidavit will be reviewed for accuracy and completeness, compliance with policy, for notarization of the affidavit, and for indication of evidence of responsibility for common welfare and financial obligations.
2.5.5 Termination of Same-Sex Domestic Partnership
2.5.5.1 The employee will notify the campus Human Resources Office or System Human Resources Office of the termination of a domestic partnership by completing the form "Termination of Same-Sex Domestic Partnership" within thirty (30) days of the termination of the partnership.
2.5.5.2 The written termination statement affirms that a copy of the termination statement has been mailed to the other partner.
2.5.5.3 The original is to be filed at the campus Human Resources Office or System Human Resources Office.
2.5.5.4 A same-sex domestic partner is eligible for COBRA medical and dental options upon termination of the same-sex domestic partnership.
2.5.6 Taxation. The University System will comply with all state and federal laws regarding the taxation of employee benefits.
