Bill Summaries: H 154 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN STATE HEALTH PLAN. (NEW)

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  • Summary date: Jun 29 2015 - View Summary

    AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO ENROLL THEIR EMPLOYEES AND DEPENDENTS IN THE STATE HEALTH PLAN FOR TEACHERS AND STATE EMPLOYEES, AND TO AUTHORIZE PIONEER SPRINGS COMMUNITY SCHOOL TO ELECT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STATE HEALTH PLAN FOR TEACHERS AND STATE EMPLOYEES. Enacted June 24, 2015. Effective June 24, 2015. 


  • Summary date: Jun 11 2015 - View Summary

    Senate committee substitute makes the following changes to the 2nd edition.

    Amends GS 135-48.8(b) to declare that the state of North Carolina deems that it is in the public interest to allow local government units (was, certain local government units) to be allowed to join and participate in the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees (SHP). Deletes local government units which were specifically identified by name in the current statute and previous editions of the act.

    Amends GS 135-48.47 to provide that the employees and dependents of employees of local government units (was, certain local government units and identified those units by name) are eligible to participate in the SHP as provided in this section. Provides that the eligibility of local government employees and their dependents to participate in the SHP is contingent upon their respective local government units choosing to participate in the SHP, as well as complying with additional provisions and policies of this section and Article and the policies adopted by the SHP.

    Also amends participation requirements that govern a local government unit that chooses to participate in the SHP. Requires the local government unit to provide the SHP with at least 90 days' notice prior to entry and complete the requirements as indicated in GS 135-48.47(b)(1) at least 60 days prior to entry into the SHP. Requires the local government unit to pass a valid resolution declaring the desire to participate in the SHP. Requires the SHP to admit any local government unit that meets the administrative and legal requirements of this section, regardless of the claims experience of the local government unit group or the financial impact on the SHP. Adds a new subsection (c) to GS 135-48.47, which sets an enrollment limit that permits local governments to choose to participate until the number of employees and dependents of employees of local government units enrolled in the SHP reaches 10,000, after which time no additional local governments may join the SHP. Restricts any local government choosing to participate in the SHP to having less than 1,000 employees and dependents enrolled in health coverage at the time the local government provides notice to the SHP of its desire to participate in the plan.

    Provides that regardless of any previous session law, any action taken by the Board of Trustees of the SHP or of the predecessor plan to the current SHP or any other law, any local government that participate in the SHP as of the date this act becomes effective may choose to be subject to the new requirements in GS 135-48.47, as enacted in this act. Directs local governments choosing to participate in the SHP under GS 135-48.47 to stop making monthly contributions to the Retiree Health Benefit Fund in the month under which coverage begins under GS 135-48.47. Provides that local government units are not entitled to a refund of any prior contributions to the Retiree Health Benefit Fund. Declares that nothing in this section, nor choosing to participate in the SHP under GS 135-48.47, impacts any existing debt owed by any local government unit to the Retiree Health Benefit Fund.

    Provides that regardless of the time limits contained in GS 135-48.54, the Board of Directors of Pioneer Springs Community School, a charter school in Charlotte, may choose to become a participating employing unit in the SHP in accordance with Article 3B of GS Chapter 135. Requires that the choice authorized by this act be made no later than 30 days after the effective date of this act in accordance with all of the other requirements of GS 135-48.54.

    Amends the short and long titles of this act.

    Makes this act effective when it becomes law (was, becomes effective July 1, 2015).


  • Summary date: Apr 16 2015 - View Summary

    House committee substitute amends the 1st edition as follows. Amends GS 135-48.47(a) to also authorize the towns of Marshville and Wadesboro and the Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority to enroll their employees and their dependents in the State Health Plan for teachers and state employees.

    Amends the long title of this act.


  • Summary date: Mar 4 2015 - View Summary

    Identical to S 98, filed 2/19/15.

    Amends GS 135-48.47 to add the City of Southport to those local governments whose employees and dependents of those employees are eligible to participate in the State Health Plan. Participation is not guaranteed and is contingent on Southport complying with the statute and Article, as well as policies adopted by the State Health Plan. Effective July 1, 2015.