POP PRESS
THE PAY OR PLAY PROGRAM
MEET THE ADMINISTRATOR
Walter Merrell II is the Pay or Play Program Administrator for the City of Houston He has overseen the administration of the program for two years and ensures compliance by managing department Liaisons and updating policies, procedures, and project schedules Mr Merrell also manages the POP management system (B2G) used for record keeping, data collection, payment information, and reporting. For more information about the program, you can contact Mr. Merrell at walter.merrell@houstontx.gov or visit POP Webpage On the website, you can access POP Liaison contact information, tutorials for the B2G system, required POP forms, information about the Client Access Program (CAP) and more
Practices for Your Business
Message from the Interim Director
P O P P R O G R A M O V E R V I E W
The Pay or Play (POP) Program was established on July 1, 2007, with Ordinance 2007-534 and governed by Executive Order 1-7. POP is important because it serves as a solution in creating a more level playing field by enhancing fairness in the bidding process between competing contractors who choose to offer health benefits to their workforce and those who do not. A City of Houston contractor of a contract valued at or above $100,000 and/or a subcontractor of a contract valued at or above $200,000 can choose to either "PAY" or "PLAY."
To “pay” means that the City of Houston contractor or subcontractor contributes $1 per covered employee per regular hour for work performed under the contract with the City to the Contractors Responsibility Fund for their uninsured employee. To “play” means the City of Houston contractor or subcontractor agree to provide their employees a minimum level of healthcare benefits.
Cylenthia Hoyrd
Director
