The purposes of this chapter are to:
(1) provide uniformity in life, accident, and health benefit coverages for all state officers and employees and their dependents;
(2) enable the state to attract and retain competent and able employees by providing employees and their dependents with life, accident, and health benefit coverages at least equal to those commonly provided in private industry;
(3) foster, promote, and encourage employment by and service to the state as a career profession for individuals of high standards of competence and ability;
(4) recognize and protect the state’s investment in each permanent employee by promoting and preserving economic security and good health among employees and their dependents;
(5) foster and develop high standards of employer-employee relationships between the state and its employees;
(6) recognize the long and faithful service and dedication of state officers and employees and encourage them to remain in state service until eligible for retirement by providing health benefits for them and their dependents; and
(7) recognize the service to the state by employees and retired employees of community supervision and corrections departments by extending to them and their dependents the same life, accident, and health benefit coverages as those provided under this chapter to state employees, retired state employees, and their dependents.