Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 10–Committee on
Elections, Procedures, and Ethics

 

March 24, 2003

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Referred to Committee on Elections, Procedures, and Ethics

 

SUMMARY—Directs Legislative Commission to conduct interim study of operations of Public Employees’ Benefits Program. (BDR R‑1111)

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

Assembly Concurrent RESOLUTION—Directing the Legislative Commission to conduct an interim study of the operations of the Public Employees’ Benefits Program.

 

1-1  Whereas, The Public Employees’ Benefits Program was

1-2  established in 1999 as the state agency legislatively approved to

1-3  provide group life, accident or health insurance, or any combination

1-4  of these, for state and nonstate public active and retired employees,

1-5  and surviving spouses and children of certain persons formerly

1-6  employed by a participating public agency; and

1-7  Whereas, As of January 2003, there were 22,345 active state

1-8  employees and 5,105 retired state employees who rely on the

1-9  Program for their group health insurance coverage; and

1-10      Whereas, In addition, another 1,706 active nonstate public

1-11  employees and 1,570 retired nonstate public employees, and 288

1-12  eligible survivors rely on this health insurance coverage as well; and

1-13      Whereas, In recent months, allegations have been raised

1-14  regarding the effectiveness, efficiency and efficacy of the Program;

1-15  and

1-16      Whereas, Public employees and public employers across

1-17  Nevada are experiencing cost increases for this coverage and they

1-18  recognize that larger groups have stronger buying power when

1-19  seeking coverage; and

1-20      Whereas, Many public employees are covered under collective

1-21  bargaining agreements which need to be changed if a statewide

1-22  public employee insurance plan is to be established; and

2-1  Whereas, Many of the employees and retirees and their

2-2  families who are covered under the group health insurance provided

2-3  by the Program are asking for assistance in resolving an untenable

2-4  situation which has resulted in extraordinarily high premiums for

2-5  this coverage; now, therefore, be it

2-6  Resolved by the Assembly of the State of Nevada, the

2-7  Senate Concurring, That the Legislative Commission is hereby

2-8  directed to appoint a committee composed of three members of the

2-9  Assembly and three members of the Senate to conduct an interim

2-10  study of the operations of the Public Employees’ Benefits Program

2-11  relating to the provision of group health insurance; and be it further

2-12      Resolved, That the Legislative Commission shall designate a

2-13  Chairman of the committee who shall appoint an advisory

2-14  committee of at least seven members, who are not Legislators, at

2-15  least five of whom represent public employee organizations and at

2-16  least two of whom represent public employers; and be it further

2-17      Resolved, That the study must include, without limitation:

2-18      1.  An examination of the methods used for determining

2-19  premiums and coverage for active and retired state and nonstate

2-20  public employees and their dependents;

2-21      2.  A review of the administration and solvency of the Fund for

2-22  the Public Employees’ Benefits Program;

2-23      3.  A review of the financial contributions, if any, that nonstate

2-24  public employers have made to assist their retired employees in

2-25  maintaining health insurance coverage;

2-26      4.  The feasibility of soliciting proposals for a contract that

2-27  would take over the entire operation of group health insurance

2-28  funded by public employees and public employers;

2-29      5.  An examination of relevant facts to determine whether all

2-30  members of the Public Employees’ Retirement System should be

2-31  required to participate in a statewide program of health insurance

2-32  funded by public employees and public employers;

2-33      6.  The desirability of eliminating or changing the composition

2-34  of the Board of the Public Employees’ Benefits Program;

2-35      7.  Consideration of whether it is feasible or desirable to allow

2-36  voluntary participation of public employees and public employers in

2-37  such a Program;

2-38      8.   The feasibility and desirability of establishing a plan for

2-39  minimum coverage similar to the Federal Public Employee

2-40  Insurance Plan; and

2-41      9.  Consideration of how the nonstate public employers should

2-42  contribute to the costs of insurance for employees who retire from

2-43  their service; and be it further

2-44      Resolved, That any recommended legislation proposed by the

2-45  committee must be approved by a majority of the members of the

3-1  Assembly and a majority of the members of the Senate appointed to

3-2  the committee; and be it further

3-3  Resolved, That the Legislative Commission shall submit a

3-4  progress report of the results of the study and any recommendations

3-5  for legislation to the 73rd Session of the Nevada Legislature and a

3-6  final report of the results of the study and any recommendations for

3-7  legislation to the 74th Session of the Nevada Legislature.

 

3-8  H