Senate Bill No. 1526 seeks to expand health insurance benefits to state marshals by allowing them to participate in the group hospitalization and medical insurance plans managed by the Comptroller. The bill repeals subsections (a) to (l) of section 5-259 of the general statutes and replaces them with new provisions that specifically include state marshals as eligible participants, marked by the insertion of the phrase "(9) state marshals, as provided in subdivision (2) of subsection (l) of this section." Additionally, the bill removes the previous provision that allowed surviving spouses and dependent children of municipal employees who died in the line of duty to receive these benefits, as indicated by the deletion of the phrase "and" before the new insertion. The bill also clarifies definitions of "employee" and "municipality" to align with the new provisions, ensuring that state marshals receive comparable benefits to other state employees.

Furthermore, the bill introduces provisions for adoptive and foster parents to obtain group hospitalization and medical insurance coverage for themselves and their dependents, requiring them to pay 100% of the premium directly to the insurer. It outlines eligibility criteria for probate judges and court employees regarding their insurance coverage and allows the Comptroller to provide health insurance coverage for employees of municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and small employers. The bill establishes the "Municipal Employee Health Insurance Plan" as an option for these groups, ensuring no group is denied entry based on health care costs or claims experience. Additionally, it amends the effective date for state marshals' participation eligibility from December 1, 2000, to October 1, 2025, and mandates an annual review of coverage by the Comptroller. The estimated fiscal impact of the bill is significant, with costs projected at approximately $1.5 million for partial year coverage in FY 26 and $2.6 million annually thereafter.