Assigned to GOV & BI                                                                                                               FOR COMMITTEE

 

 

 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2373

 

county employee insurance; payment

 

Purpose

 

Allows public funds to be expended for group health and accident insurance for retired county employees and their dependents, in counties with a population of more that 300,000 people.

 

Background

 

Current statute allows a county board of supervisors to adopt a system of insurance for the benefit of county elected officials and employees. The board may procure health, life, accident and disability insurance from any insurer licensed to do business in this State.  The county is allowed to pay all or any part of the premium from public funds, as long as public funds are not spent for life insurance in excess of $50,000 or the amount of the annual salary paid to the elected official or employee, whichever is more.  Public funds may also be used to procure health and accident coverage for dependents of elected officials or employees. 

 

The board may also enter into agreements to establish group health and accident coverage for former county employees who are retired and receiving income from a retirement program of this State, as well as for their dependents.  Statute prohibits the expenditure of public funds to pay for all or any part of the premium for this insurance. 

 

H.B. 2373 allows public funds to be expended for group health and accident insurance for former county employees who are retired and receiving income from a retirement program of this State, and for their dependents.  This bill limits the public fund expenditure to Maricopa and Pima counties.

 

A fiscal note prepared by Joint Legislative Budget Committee staff indicates that this legislation will have no fiscal impact on the state general fund.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Allows public funds to be expended to pay all or any part of the premium of group health and accident insurance for former county employees who are retired and receiving income from a retirement program of this State, and for their dependents.  Limits the public fund expenditure to counties with a population of more than 300,000 people.

 

2.      Makes technical changes.

 

3.      Provides for a general effective date

 

House Action

 

RGO                3/19/02            DP       8-0-1-1

CM                  3/26/02            DP       7-0-2-1

APPROP         4/2/02              DP       9-0-0-7

3rd Read           4/8/02                          50-0-10

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

April 10, 2002