ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
school employees; state
health insurance
Allows community college
district governing boards, school districts with 501 or more employees, any
special taxing district, authority or any public entity organized pursuant to
the laws of this state to include employees in the state health and accident
insurance coverage. Requires the
Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) to allow these entities 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 entity 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.
A
fiscal note prepared by Joint Legislative Budget Committee staff states that
this legislation has no impact to the state general fund because each district
is required to reimburse ADOA for administrative and operational costs
associated with the district’s coverage.
1. Allows a community college district governing board, school districts with 501 or more employees, any special taxing district, authority or any public entity organized pursuant to the laws of this state to include employees, and spouses and dependents thereof, in state health and accident insurance coverage. Stipulates that if these entities choose to enter the state coverage, the state coverage will be the sole option offered to the entities’ employees.
2. Requires ADOA to allow any community college district, school districts with 501 or more employees, any special taxing district, authority or any public entity organized pursuant to the laws of this state to participate in state health and accident insurance coverage. Stipulates that these entities must pay the premium for their employees directly to the benefits provider.
3. Contains conforming changes that subject community college 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.
Amendments
Adopted by the Government Committee
Makes a technical change.
3rd
Read 3/7/01 58-0-2-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
March 28, 2001