(a) There is hereby established a State Employee Benefits Committee (“Committee”). The Committee shall be comprised of the Lieutenant Governor, the Insurance Commissioner, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the State Treasurer, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Controller General, the Secretary of the Department of Human Resources and the Secretary of Health and Social Services, or their designees. In addition, the Governor shall appoint 1 Committee member from the following persons:
(b) The State Employee Benefits Committee shall have the following powers, duties and functions:
(1) With the exception of deferred compensation pursuant to Chapter 60A of this title, and any other investment or retirement savings plan, control and management of all employee benefit coverages including health-care insurance and blood bank, pursuant to Chapters 51 and 52 of this title; state employees group life insurance pursuant to Chapter 32 of Title 18; and all other currently existing and future employee benefits coverages, including but not limited to all forms of flexible benefits, dental, vision, prescription, long-term care and disability coverages.
(2) Selection of all carriers or third-party administrators necessary to provide coverages to State employees.
(3) Authority to contract on an insured or self insured basis.
(4) Authority to adopt rules and regulations for the general administration of the employee benefit coverages.
(5) Authority to make and enter into any and all contracts with any agency of the State, or any outside agency, for the purpose of assisting in the general administration of this section.
(c) All members of the Committee and all legal, actuarial and administrative personnel shall be entitled to reimbursement for those travel and other expenses made necessary by their official duties that are approved by the Director of Statewide Benefits.
(d) The Committee shall hold regular meetings at least once every 6 months, which meetings shall be open to the public in accordance with § 10004 of this title.