The bill amends RCW 41.05.065 to enhance the benefits provided by the public employees' benefits board, specifically targeting health care coverage, life insurance, and other insurance types for employees and their dependents. It emphasizes the importance of comprehensive health care benefits and outlines key considerations for the board when developing employee benefit plans, including cost containment, provider arrangements, wellness incentives, and effective coordination of benefits. The bill also establishes eligibility criteria for employees, including provisions for seasonal employees and faculty, ensuring that benefits are accessible based on their work circumstances. Additionally, it mandates the board to offer a health savings account option and a high deductible health plan, while removing previous provisions related to property and casualty insurance and long-term care insurance plans to streamline the board's focus on health-related benefits.

Furthermore, the bill expands the authority of the public employees' benefits board to study and potentially offer a range of new employee-paid, voluntary benefits, such as emergency transportation, identity protection, legal aid, and various types of insurance, contingent on available funding. It also grants the board the power to establish penalties for employing agencies that fail to comply with the eligibility determination criteria, ensuring adherence to the new regulations and enhancing the overall benefits structure for public employees.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 41.05.065
Bill as Passed Legislature: 41.05.065
Session Law: 41.05.065