1 State of Arkansas
2 93rd General Assembly
3 Fiscal Session, 2022 HR 1006
4
5 By: Representatives Wardlaw, Shepherd, M. Berry, Eubanks, Beaty Jr., Beck, Bragg, Brown, C. Cooper,
6 Crawford, Dalby, M. Davis, Dotson, Ennett, C. Fite, D. Garner, Godfrey, Hawks, M. Hodges, Hollowell,
7 Hudson, Jett, Love, Maddox, McCullough, S. Meeks, Nicks, Perry, Scott, S. Smith, Speaks, Vaught,
8 Warren, D. Whitaker, Wing, Wooten
9
10 HOUSE RESOLUTION
11 TO AUTHORIZE THE INTRODUCTION OF A NONAPPROPRIATION
12 BILL TO MODIFY THE STATE CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATE
13 AND PUBLIC SCHOOL LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM.
14
15
16 Subtitle
17 TO AUTHORIZE THE INTRODUCTION OF A
18 NONAPPROPRIATION BILL TO MODIFY THE STATE
19 CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATE AND PUBLIC
20 SCHOOL LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM.
21
22
23 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL
24 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
25
26 THAT Senator Rice or Senator Irvin is authorized to introduce a bill
27 which as introduced will read substantially as follows:
28
29 "Title
30 AN ACT TO MODIFY THE STATE CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATE AND PUBLIC SCHOOL LIFE
31 AND HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM; TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER
32 PURPOSES.
33
34 Subtitle
35 TO MODIFY THE STATE CONTRIBUTION TO THE STATE AND PUBLIC SCHOOL LIFE AND
36 HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM; AND TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY.
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 HR1006
1
2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
3
4 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code 21-5-414(b), concerning state contributions
5 to the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program and partial
6 state contribution of employee premiums, is amended to read as follows:
7 (b) Participating entities shall make a monthly contribution equal to
8 the number of budgeted state employee positions multiplied by the monthly
9 contribution authorized by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State, not to
10 exceed five hundred fifty dollars ($550) monthly for each state employee
11 budgeted position into a fund designated for state employee health benefits
12 to partially defray the cost of life and health benefits for state employees
13 and retirees participating in the program.
14
15 SECTION 2. EMERGENCY CLAUSE. It is found and determined by the
16 General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that the State and Public School
17 Life and Health Insurance Program is inadequate to provide sustainable
18 affordable health benefits for public school employees and state employees;
19 that an urgent need exists to address the state's funding and administration
20 of benefits for public school employees and state employees in order for the
21 program to remain viable and to avoid severe financial hardship to plan
22 participants; and that this act is immediately necessary to provide
23 affordable health benefit options in a timely manner to the state's public
24 school employees participating in the program and state employees
25 participating in the program. Therefore, an emergency is declared to exist,
26 and this act being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public
27 peace, health, and safety shall become effective on:
28 (1) The date of its approval by the Governor;
29 (2) If the bill is neither approved nor vetoed by the Governor,
30 the expiration of the period of time during which the Governor may veto the
31 bill; or
32 (3) If the bill is vetoed by the Governor and the veto is
33 overridden, the date the last house overrides the veto."
34
35
36
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Statutes affected:
HR 1006: 21-5-414(b)