Assembly Bill No. 222–Assemblymen Giunchigliani, Manendo, Anderson, Parks, Conklin, Arberry, Atkinson, Buckley, Chowning, Claborn, Collins, Gibbons, Goicoechea, Griffin, Horne, Leslie, McClain, McCleary, Mortenson, Oceguera, Ohrenschall, Perkins, Pierce and Williams

 

February 28, 2003

____________

 

Referred to Concurrent Committees on Government
Affairs and Ways and Means

 

SUMMARY—Revises provisions relating to Public Employees’ Benefits Program. (BDR 23‑634)

 

FISCAL NOTE:  Effect on Local Government: Yes.

                           Effect on the State: Yes.

 

~

 

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

 

AN ACT relating to the Public Employees’ Benefits Program; requiring the Board of the Program to ensure that rates established for coverage are the same for all persons who participate in the Program for that coverage; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

1-1  Section 1.  NRS 287.023 is hereby amended to read as follows:

1-2  287.023  1.  Whenever an officer or employee of the

1-3  governing body of any county, school district, municipal

1-4  corporation, political subdivision, public corporation or other public

1-5  agency of the State of Nevada retires under the conditions set forth

1-6  in NRS 1A.350 or 1A.480, or 286.510 or 286.620 and, at the time of

1-7  his retirement, was covered or had his dependents covered by any

1-8  group insurance or medical and hospital service established pursuant

1-9  to NRS 287.010 and 287.020, the officer or employee has the option

1-10  upon retirement to cancel or continue any such group insurance or

1-11  medical and hospital service coverage or join the Public Employees’

2-1  Benefits Program to the extent that such coverage is not provided to

2-2  him or a dependent by the Health Insurance for the Aged Act, 42

2-3  U.S.C. §§ 1395 et seq.

2-4  2.  A retired person who continues coverage under the Public

2-5  Employees’ Benefits Program shall assume the portion of the

2-6  premium or [membership] contribution costs for the coverage

2-7  continued which the governing body does not pay on behalf of

2-8  retired officers or employees. A person who joins the Public

2-9  Employees’ Benefits Program for the first time upon retirement

2-10  shall assume all the premium or contribution costs for the

2-11  coverage. A dependent of such a retired person has the option,

2-12  which may be exercised to the same extent and in the same manner

2-13  as the retired person, to cancel or continue coverage in effect on the

2-14  date the retired person dies. The dependent is not required to

2-15  continue to receive retirement payments from the Public

2-16  Employees’ Retirement System to continue coverage.

2-17      3.  Except as otherwise provided in NRS 287.0235, notice of

2-18  the selection of the option must be given in writing to the last public

2-19  employer of the officer or employee within 60 days after the date of

2-20  retirement or death, as the case may be. If no notice is given by that

2-21  date, the retired employee and his dependents shall be deemed to

2-22  have selected the option to cancel the coverage or not to join the

2-23  Public Employees’ Benefits Program, as the case may be.

2-24      4.  The governing body of any county, school district,

2-25  municipal corporation, political subdivision, public corporation or

2-26  other public agency of this state may pay the cost, or any part of the

2-27  cost, of group insurance and medical and hospital service coverage

2-28  for persons eligible for that coverage pursuant to subsection 1, but it

2-29  must not pay a greater portion than it does for its current officers

2-30  and employees.

2-31      Sec. 2.  NRS 287.043 is hereby amended to read as follows:

2-32      287.043  1.  The Board shall:

2-33      (a) Establish and carry out a program to be known as the Public

2-34  Employees’ Benefits Program which:

2-35          (1) Must include a program relating to group life, accident or

2-36  health insurance, or any combination of these; and

2-37          (2) May include a program to reduce taxable compensation

2-38  or other forms of compensation other than deferred

2-39  compensation,

2-40  for the benefit of all [state officers and employees and other persons

2-41  who participate] participants in the Program.

2-42      (b) Ensure that the Program is funded on an actuarially sound

2-43  basis and operated in accordance with sound insurance and business

2-44  practices.

3-1  2.  In establishing and carrying out the Program, the Board

3-2  shall:

3-3  (a) [For the purpose of establishing actuarial data to determine

3-4  rates and coverage for active and retired state officers and

3-5  employees and their dependents, commingle the claims experience

3-6  of such active and retired officers and employees and their

3-7  dependents.

3-8  (b) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, negotiate]

3-9  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, ensure that any rates

3-10  established by the Board for coverage are the same for all

3-11  participants in the Program for that coverage.

3-12      (b) Negotiate and contract with the governing body of any

3-13  public agency enumerated in NRS 287.010 that wishes to obtain

3-14  group insurance for its active and retired officers[, employees and

3-15  retired] and employees by participation in the Program. [The Board

3-16  shall establish separate rates and coverage for those officers,

3-17  employees and retired employees based on actuarial reports.]

3-18      (c) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (d), provide

3-19  public notice in writing of any proposed changes in rates or

3-20  coverage to each participating public employer . [who may be

3-21  affected by the changes.] Notice must be provided at least 30 days

3-22  before the effective date of the changes.

3-23      (d) If a proposed change is a change in the premium or

3-24  contribution charged for or coverage of health insurance, provide

3-25  written notice of the proposed change to all [state officers,

3-26  employees, retired employees and other persons who participate in

3-27  the Program who may be affected by the proposed change.]

3-28  participants in the Program. The notice must be provided at least

3-29  60 days before the date a [state officer, employee, retired employee

3-30  or other person] participant in the Program is required to select or

3-31  change his policy of health insurance.

3-32      (e) Purchase policies of life, accident or health insurance, or any

3-33  combination of these, or, if applicable, a program to reduce the

3-34  amount of taxable compensation pursuant to 26 U.S.C. § 125, from

3-35  any company qualified to do business in this state or provide similar

3-36  coverage through a plan of self-insurance established pursuant to

3-37  NRS 287.0433 for the benefit of all eligible [public officers,

3-38  employees and retired employees who participate] participants in

3-39  the Program.

3-40      (f) Except as otherwise provided in this title, develop and

3-41  establish other employee benefits as necessary.

3-42      (g) Investigate and approve or disapprove any contract proposed

3-43  pursuant to NRS 287.0479.

4-1  (h) Adopt such regulations and perform such other duties as are

4-2  necessary to carry out the provisions of NRS 287.0402 to 287.049,

4-3  inclusive, including, without limitation, the establishment of:

4-4       (1) Fees for applications for participation in the Program and

4-5  for the late payment of premiums or contributions;

4-6       (2) Conditions for entry and reentry into the Program by

4-7  public agencies enumerated in NRS 287.010;

4-8       (3) [The levels of participation in the Program required for

4-9  employees of participating public agencies;

4-10          (4)] Procedures by which a group of participants in the

4-11  Program may leave the Program pursuant to NRS 287.0479 and

4-12  conditions and procedures for reentry into the Program by those

4-13  participants; and

4-14          [(5)] (4) Specific procedures for the determination of

4-15  contested claims.

4-16      (i) Appoint an independent certified public accountant. The

4-17  accountant shall:

4-18          (1) Provide an annual audit of the Program; and

4-19          (2) Report to the Board and the Interim Retirement and

4-20  Benefits Committee of the Legislature created pursuant to

4-21  NRS 218.5373.

4-22      (j) Appoint an attorney who specializes in employee benefits.

4-23  The attorney shall:

4-24          (1) Perform a biennial review of the Program to determine

4-25  whether the Program complies with federal and state laws relating to

4-26  taxes and employee benefits; and

4-27          (2) Report to the Board and the Interim Retirement and

4-28  Benefits Committee of the Legislature created pursuant to

4-29  NRS 218.5373.

4-30      3.  The Board shall submit an annual report regarding the

4-31  administration and operation of the Program to the Director of

4-32  the Legislative Counsel Bureau not more than 6 months before the

4-33  Board establishes rates and coverage for [members] participants for

4-34  the following calendar year. The report must include, without

4-35  limitation:

4-36      (a) The amount paid by the Program in the preceding calendar

4-37  year for the claims of active and retired [state officers and

4-38  employees;] participants in the Program; and

4-39      (b) The amount paid by the Program in the preceding calendar

4-40  year for the claims of retired [members of] participants in the

4-41  Program who were provided coverage for medical or hospital

4-42  service, or both, by the Health Insurance for the Aged Act, 42

4-43  U.S.C. §§ 1395 et seq., or a plan that provides similar coverage.

4-44      4.  The Board may use any services provided to state agencies

4-45  and shall use the services of the Purchasing Division of the

5-1  Department of Administration to establish and carry out the

5-2  Program.

5-3  5.  The Board may make recommendations to the Legislature

5-4  concerning legislation that it deems necessary and appropriate

5-5  regarding the Program.

5-6  6.  The State and any other public employers that participate in

5-7  the Program are not liable for any obligation of the Program other

5-8  than indemnification of the Board and its employees against liability

5-9  relating to the administration of the Program, subject to the

5-10  limitations specified in NRS 41.0349.

5-11      7.  As used in this section, “employee benefits” includes any

5-12  form of compensation provided to a public employee except federal

5-13  benefits, wages earned, legal holidays, deferred compensation and

5-14  benefits available pursuant to chapter 286 of NRS.

5-15      Sec. 3.  NRS 287.0434 is hereby amended to read as follows:

5-16      287.0434  The Board may:

5-17      1.  Use its assets to pay the expenses of health care for its

5-18  members and covered dependents, to pay its employees’ salaries and

5-19  to pay administrative and other expenses.

5-20      2.  Enter into contracts relating to the administration of the

5-21  Program, including, without limitation, contracts with licensed

5-22  administrators and qualified actuaries. Each such contract with a

5-23  licensed administrator:

5-24      (a) Must be submitted to the Commissioner of Insurance not less

5-25  than 30 days before the date on which the contract is to become

5-26  effective for approval as to the reasonableness of administrative

5-27  charges in relation to contributions collected and benefits provided.

5-28      (b) Does not become effective unless approved by the

5-29  Commissioner.

5-30      (c) Shall be deemed to be approved if not disapproved by the

5-31  Commissioner [of Insurance] within 30 days after its submission.

5-32      3.  Enter into contracts with physicians, surgeons, hospitals,

5-33  health maintenance organizations and rehabilitative facilities for

5-34  medical, surgical and rehabilitative care and the evaluation,

5-35  treatment and nursing care of members and covered dependents.

5-36  The Board shall not enter into a contract pursuant to this subsection

5-37  unless:

5-38      (a) Provision is made by the Board to offer all the services

5-39  specified in the request for proposals, either by a health maintenance

5-40  organization or through separate action of the Board.

5-41      (b) The rates set forth in the contract are based on the

5-42  commingled claims experience of [active and retired state officers

5-43  and employees and their dependents.] all participants in the

5-44  Program.

6-1  4.  Enter into contracts for the services of other experts and

6-2  specialists as required by the Program.

6-3  5.  Charge and collect from an insurer, health maintenance

6-4  organization, organization for dental care or nonprofit medical

6-5  service corporation, a fee for the actual expenses incurred by the

6-6  Board, the State or a participating public employer in administering

6-7  a plan of insurance offered by that insurer, organization or

6-8  corporation.

6-9  Sec. 4.  NRS 287.045 is hereby amended to read as follows:

6-10      287.045  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section,

6-11  every officer or employee of the State is eligible to participate in the

6-12  Program on the first day of the month following the completion of

6-13  90 days of full-time employment.

6-14      2.  Professional employees of the University and Community

6-15  College System of Nevada who have annual employment contracts

6-16  are eligible to participate in the Program on:

6-17      (a) The effective dates of their respective employment contracts,

6-18  if those dates are on the first day of a month; or

6-19      (b) The first day of the month following the effective dates of

6-20  their respective employment contracts, if those dates are not on the

6-21  first day of a month.

6-22      3.  Every officer or employee who is employed by a

6-23  participating public agency on a permanent and full-time basis on

6-24  the date the agency enters into an agreement to participate in the

6-25  Program, and every officer or employee who commences his

6-26  employment after that date , is eligible to participate in the Program

6-27  on the first day of the month following the completion of 90 days of

6-28  full-time employment.

6-29      4.  Every Senator and Assemblyman is eligible to participate in

6-30  the Program on the first day of the month following the 90th day

6-31  after his initial term of office begins.

6-32      5.  An officer or employee of the governing body of any

6-33  county, school district, municipal corporation, political subdivision,

6-34  public corporation or other public agency of the State of Nevada

6-35  who retires under the conditions set forth in NRS 1A.350 or 1A.480,

6-36  or 286.510 or 286.620 and was not participating in the Program at

6-37  the time of his retirement is eligible to participate in the Program 60

6-38  days after notice of the selection to participate is given pursuant to

6-39  NRS 287.023 or 287.0235. [The Board shall make a separate

6-40  accounting for these retired persons. For the first year following

6-41  enrollment, the rates charged must be the full actuarial costs

6-42  determined by the actuary based upon the expected claims

6-43  experience with these retired persons. The claims experience of

6-44  these retired persons must not be commingled with the retired

6-45  persons who were members of the Program before their retirement,

7-1  nor with active employees of the State. After the first year following

7-2  enrollment, the rates charged must be the full actuarial costs

7-3  determined by the actuary based upon the past claims experience of

7-4  these retired persons since enrolling.]

7-5  6.  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections 1, 3 and 4, if

7-6  the Board does not, pursuant to NRS 689B.580, elect to exclude the

7-7  Program from compliance with NRS 689B.340 to 689B.590,

7-8  inclusive, and if the coverage under the Program is provided by a

7-9  health maintenance organization authorized to transact insurance in

7-10  this state pursuant to chapter 695C of NRS, any affiliation period

7-11  imposed by the Program may not exceed the statutory limit for an

7-12  affiliation period set forth in NRS 689B.500.

7-13      Sec. 5.  NRS 287.046 is hereby amended to read as follows:

7-14      287.046  1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6, any

7-15  state or other participating officer or employee who elects to

7-16  participate in the Program may participate, and the department,

7-17  agency, commission or public agency that employs the officer or

7-18  employee shall pay the State’s share of the cost of the premiums

7-19  or contributions for the Program from money appropriated or

7-20  authorized as provided in NRS 287.044. Employees who elect to

7-21  participate in the Program must authorize deductions from their

7-22  compensation for the payment of premiums or contributions for the

7-23  Program. Any deduction from the compensation of an employee for

7-24  the payment of a premium or contribution for health insurance must

7-25  be based on the actual [cost of providing that health insurance]

7-26  amount of the premium or contribution after deducting any amount

7-27  of the premium or contribution which is paid by the department,

7-28  agency, commission or public agency that employs the employee.

7-29  [As used in this subsection, “actual cost” includes any amount

7-30  which has been approved by the Board and which is paid by any

7-31  department, agency, commission or public agency of this state for:

7-32      (a) A program of supplemental insurance;

7-33      (b) Subsidization of premiums for health insurance for

7-34  dependents and retired participants;

7-35      (c) Administrative costs relating to the provision of the health

7-36  insurance; and

7-37      (d) Costs required to maintain adequate reserves.]

7-38      2.  The Department of Personnel shall pay a percentage of the

7-39  base amount provided by law for that fiscal year toward the cost of

7-40  the premiums or contributions for the Program for persons retired

7-41  from the service of the State who have continued to participate in

7-42  the Program. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, the

7-43  percentage to be paid must be calculated as follows:

7-44      (a) For those persons who retire before January 1, 1994, 100

7-45  percent of the base amount provided by law for that fiscal year.

8-1  (b) For those persons who retire on or after January 1, 1994,

8-2  with at least 5 years of state service, 25 percent plus an additional

8-3  7.5 percent for each year of service in excess of 5 years to a

8-4  maximum of 137.5 percent, excluding service purchased pursuant to

8-5  NRS 1A.310 or 286.300, of the base amount provided by law for

8-6  that fiscal year.

8-7  3.  If the amount calculated pursuant to subsection 2 exceeds

8-8  the actual premium or contribution for the plan of the Program that

8-9  the retired participant selects, the balance must be credited to the

8-10  Fund for the Public Employees’ Benefits Program created pursuant

8-11  to NRS 287.0435.

8-12      4.  For the purposes of subsection 2:

8-13      (a) Credit for service must be calculated in the manner provided

8-14  by chapter 286 of NRS.

8-15      (b) No proration may be made for a partial year of service.

8-16      5.  The Department shall agree through the Board with the

8-17  insurer for billing of remaining premiums or contributions for the

8-18  retired participant and his dependents to the retired participant and

8-19  to his dependents who elect to continue coverage under the Program

8-20  after his death.

8-21      6.  A Senator or Assemblyman who elects to participate in the

8-22  Program shall pay the entire premium or contribution for his

8-23  insurance.

8-24      Sec. 6.  This act becomes effective on July 1, 2003.

 

8-25  H