ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
Allows multi-county water
conservation district governing boards to include employees in the state health
and accident insurance coverage.
Requires the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) to allow any
multi-county water conservation district to participate in state health and
accident insurance coverage.
At the present time, the
governing body of a city, town or a county board of supervisors may opt to
provide for the inclusion of its employees in the state’s health and accident
insurance coverage. The governing board
must notify ADOA of its intention to do so by January 15 prior to the year in
which the coverage would begin, must participate for a minimum of two years,
must agree to accept the details of the plan and must reimburse ADOA for
administrative and operational costs associated with the participation in the
state health and accident insurance coverage.
Statute also requires ADOA to allow any qualified school district,
charter school, city, town or county to participate in the state health and
accident insurance coverage and requires the entities to pay the premium for
its employees directly to the benefits provider. Insurance providers contracting with the state must separately
maintain records that delineate claims and other expenses attributable to each
entity. Insurance providers are
required to report this information to ADOA.
Finally, ADOA is required to issue a report to the President of the
Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives that details the
information provided by the insurance providers to ADOA and any recommendations
for possible legislative action.
At the present time, one
multi-county water conservation district exists: the Central Arizona Water Conservation District.
While future costs are
possible, there is no immediate fiscal impact to the state general fund.
1. Allows a multi-county water conservation district governing board to include employees, and spouses and dependents thereof, in state health and accident insurance coverage. Stipulates that if a multi-county water conservation district governing board chooses to enter the state coverage, the state coverage will be the sole option offered to the district’s employees.
2. Requires the ADOA to allow any multi-county water conservation district to participate in state health and accident insurance coverage. Stipulates that the multi-county water conservation must pay the premium for its employees directly to the benefits provider.
3. Contains conforming changes that subject multi-county water conservation districts to the same safeguards and policies presently required for school districts, charter schools, cities, towns and counties.
4. Provides for a general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Staff
January 4, 2001