1 State of Arkansas
2 93rd General Assembly
3 Fiscal Session, 2022 SR 7
4
5 By: Senators Rice, Hickey, Irvin, Beckham, L. Chesterfield, J. Dismang, Elliott, J. English, Flippo,
6 Gilmore, Hill, K. Ingram, G. Leding, B. Sample
7
8 SENATE RESOLUTION
9 TO AUTHORIZE THE INTRODUCTION OF A NONAPPROPRIATION
10 BILL TO MODIFY THE STATE CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATE
11 AND PUBLIC SCHOOL LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM.
12
13
14 Subtitle
15 TO AUTHORIZE THE INTRODUCTION OF A
16 NONAPPROPRIATION BILL TO MODIFY THE STATE
17 CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATE AND PUBLIC
18 SCHOOL LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM.
19
20
21 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE
22 STATE OF ARKANSAS:
23
24 THAT Senator Rice or Senator Irvin is authorized to introduce a bill
25 which as introduced will read substantially as follows:
26
27 "Title
28 AN ACT TO MODIFY THE STATE CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATE AND PUBLIC SCHOOL LIFE
29 AND HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM; TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER
30 PURPOSES.
31
32 Subtitle
33 TO MODIFY THE STATE CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATE AND PUBLIC SCHOOL LIFE AND
34 HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
35
36 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
*MBM209* 2/10/2022 4:40:25 PM MBM209
SR7
1
2 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code 21-5-414(b), concerning state contributions
3 to the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program and partial
4 state contribution of employee premiums, is amended to read as follows:
5 (b) Participating entities shall make a monthly contribution equal to
6 the number of budgeted state employee positions multiplied by the monthly
7 contribution authorized by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, not to
8 exceed five hundred fifty dollars ($550) monthly for each state employee
9 budgeted position into a fund designated for state employee health benefits
10 to partially defray the cost of life and health benefits for state employees
11 and retirees participating in the program.
12
13 SECTION 2. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the
14 General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the State and Public School
15 Life and Health Insurance Program is inadequate to provide sustainable
16 affordable health benefits for public school employees and state employees;
17 that an urgent need exists to address the state's funding and administration
18 of benefits for public school employees and state employees in order for the
19 program to remain viable and to avoid severe financial hardship to plan
20 participants; and that this act is immediately necessary to provide
21 affordable health benefit options in a timely manner to the state's public
22 school employees participating in the program and state employees
23 participating in the program. Therefore, an emergency is declared to exist,
24 and this act being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public
25 peace, health, and safety shall become effective on:
26 (1) The date of its approval by the Governor;
27 (2) If the bill is neither approved nor vetoed by the Governor,
28 the expiration of the period of time during which the Governor may veto the
29 bill; or
30 (3) If the bill is vetoed by the Governor and the veto is
31 overridden, the date the last house overrides the veto."
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Statutes affected: SR 7: 21-5-414(b)