After performing one year of service for the county sheriff's office, the sheriff and each full-time paid deputy sheriff shall furnish and maintain his own uniforms or clothing as may be required to carry out the duties of a sheriff or deputy sheriff, respectively, in return for a total annual cash allowance per person, in an amount set by ordinance from time to time, to be paid from funds appropriated therefor by the county council. (Prior code § 32.05)(Amended 5/14/2001)

    The county sheriff is authorized to maintain a reserve force to be known as the sheriff's office reserves and the number of reserve officers shall be set in such number as the county council shall provide by law enforcement liability insurance for each year. (Prior code § 32.06)(Amended 5/14/2001)

    A.    The board of commissioners is authorized to recognize a representative of the detention officers of the sheriff's office for purposes of collective bargaining.

    B.    The board of commissioners recognizes the Chauffeurs, Teamsters and Helpers Local Union No. 215 as the official representative of the detention officers of the sheriff's office for purposes of collective bargaining. (Prior code § 32.07)(Amended 5/14/2001)

Section 2.08.060    Group health insurance and Medicare supplement benefits for retired personnel.

1.    Have retired from the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's office on or after the date of January 1, 1991;

    B.     A deputy or sheriff who retires from the Sheriff’s Office prior to the age of fifty (50) shall have the ability to elect coverage under this ordinance at any time between the age of fifty (50) and sixty-five (65) if said retired deputy or sheriff meets all other requirements of this ordinance.

    C.    If a determination is made that an applicant has made a false statement regarding eligibility, he/she shall be required to pay a penalty to Vanderburgh County in the amount of One Hundred Twenty-five percent (125%) of the amount that the County has paid to the health insurance carrier for the applicant's coverage.  The applicant shall also be responsible for reimbursing the health insurance carrier for any health benefits paid by said carrier for the applicant.  

    D.    Group health insurance benefits shall be available to the retiree's eligible spouse and dependents, so long as the retiree is eligible for coverage.  If, for any reason, the retiree becomes ineligible (including reaching the age of sixty-five (65) years), the retiree's spouse and dependents shall also be ineligible for coverage.

    E.    If, for any reason, the retiree becomes ineligible to continue the group health insurance coverage pursuant to this ordinance, he/she may reserve the option to receive coverage at a later date when he/she becomes eligible.  An application to reserve the option must be made at the office of the Vanderburgh County Auditor at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of retirement or no less than thirty (30) days before the applicant becomes ineligible, as the case may be.  Re-entry into the Vanderburgh County Group Health Insurance Program will be subject to eligibility requirements of the health insurance carrier, including, but not limited to, the "pre-existing conditions" and exclusions of the carrier.

    F.    The only group health insurance plan, or plans, available to retirees pursuant to this ordinance will be the plan, or plans, available to full-time Vanderburgh County employees.  Available plans are subject to change from year to year.

    G.    All retired Sheriffs or deputies eligible for group health insurance benefits pursuant to this ordinance shall also be eligible for payment for Medicare supplement insurance from the fund created by this ordinance, when said retiree becomes eligible for Medicare, if said retiree has not reached the age of sixty-five (65) before July 1, 1996.

    H.    The only insurance carriers that will be eligible to provide Medicare supplement insurance coverage, pursuant to this ordinance, will be those carriers that are qualified Medicare supplement providers.  The insurance carrier to be selected shall be determined by the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's office.

    I.     The Vanderburgh County Auditor shall establish a fund to be known as the Sheriff’s Group Insurance Fund (“Fund”).  The Vanderburgh County Auditor shall withhold an amount (“Withhold Amount”) from each salary payment to each active duty Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s deputy and shall place the Withhold Amount in the Fund.  The Withhold Amount is established at Ten Dollars ($10.00) for the calendar year 2006.  The Withhold Amount in subsequent years will be as established by the Vanderburgh County Auditor and adjusted annually as necessary to insure that the Fund remains actuarially sound with a cash balance of approximately twenty percent (20%) of the annual premiums for Medicare supplement during the previous calendar year.  Notification of the Withhold Amount will be given to the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s office each December for the next subsequent calendar year. From the Fund, the Vanderburgh County Auditor shall pay the premiums for eligible retirees’ Medicare supplement insurance.  All Medicare supplement premiums paid out of the Fund shall be limited to the cost for such premiums payable for Indiana residents.”

    J.     If an eligible retiree resides outside the state of Indiana, such retiree shall be responsible for paying the amount by which the Medicare supplement premium for the state in which such eligible retiree resides exceeds the Medicare supplement premium payable for Indiana residents.