Read the full stored bill text
23LSO-0316
2023
STATE OF WYOMING
23LSO-0316
Numbered
2.0
SENATE FILE NO. SF0062
Legislator health care-2.
Sponsored by: Management Council
A BILL
for
AN ACT relating to state employees and officials group insurance; providing for enrollment by legislators and their dependents in the state employees and officials group insurance plan; providing a definition; granting rulemaking authority; and providing for an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
Section 1.
W.S. 9
‑
3
‑
201(a), 9
‑
3
‑
203(a)(ix), by creating a new paragraph (xvii) and by renumbering (xvii) as (xviii) and 9
‑
3
‑
207 by creating a new subsection (f) are amended to read:
9
‑
3
‑
201
.
Group prepaid plans authorized; agreements with insurance companies authorized; limitation on authorized plans and companies; payroll deductions; self
‑
insurance programs; optional school district participation in plan.
(a)
The state of Wyoming and its political subdivisions and school districts may obtain group prepaid plans or insurance for life, health, accident or hospitalization for their employees and for elected officials,
except for
including
members of the legislature, and enter into agreements with prepaid plans or insurance companies to provide this coverage.
Insurance coverage for school district or board of cooperative educational services employees meeting the definition of employee under W.S. 9
‑
3
‑
203(a)(iv), shall, if elected by the district or board under subsection (e) of this section, be provided through the state employees' and officials' group insurance plan in accordance with W.S. 9
‑
3
‑
202 through 9
‑
3
‑
218. Insurance coverage for retired school district or board of cooperative educational services employees shall, if elected by the board or district under subsection (e) of this section and if the retired employee was continuously covered under the board's or district's insurance plan prior to the election, be provided through the state employees' and officials' group insurance plan in accordance with W.S. 9
‑
3
‑
202 through 9
‑
3
‑
218.
If a school district or board of cooperative educational services elects to cease participation in the group insurance plan pursuant to subsection (f) of this section, the election shall apply to retired employees of that board or district who are receiving coverage under this subsection.
9
‑
3
‑
203.
Definitions.
(a)
As used in this act:
(ix)
"Official" means any elected or appointed state official who receives compensation other than expense reimbursement from state funds
, except for
including
members of the legislature
and
but not including other
officials serving on an intermittent, irregular or less than halftime basis;
(xvii)
"Member of the legislature" means a duly elected or appointed member of the Wyoming senate or house of representatives as of the date on which the member is first sworn into office and until the member is removed from office, resigns, is deceased or a new member is sworn in for that person's seat in the legislature.
(xvii)
(xviii)
"This act" means W.S. 9
‑
3
‑
202 through 9
‑
3
‑
219.
9
‑
3
‑
207.
Eligibility for membership in plan; state employees; 31 day period to elect enrollment; new employees; later enrollment.
(f)
A member of the legislature shall be deemed as a person employed on a regular, halftime basis for purposes of obtaining and maintaining coverage under the group insurance plan administered by the department. The legislative service office shall act as the enrolling agency for all legislators and their dependents who participate in the group insurance plan. The legislative service office shall pay the employer share for all legislators electing to participate in the plan.
Section 2.
(a)
Any member of the legislature eligible for membership in the group insurance plan on January 7, 2025 shall have thirty
‑
one (31) days after that date to either elect to be enrolled or not be enrolled in the plan.
The department shall establish the procedure by which eligible legislators shall notify the department of their decision within the prescribed thirty
‑
one (31) day period
.
(b)
The department of administration and information shall promulgate all rules necessary to effectuate the purpose of this act.
The department shall adopt procedures for deductions and remittances to cover a legislator's monthly contributions for enrollment in the group insurance plan for the legislator and any covered dependents pursuant to W.S. 9
‑
3
‑
211(a).
These procedures may include deductions from the enrolled legislator's monthly state pay or from the enrolled legislator's checking or savings account if the legislator's monthly state pay is insufficient to cover the full cost of the legislator's monthly contribution.
Section 3
.
This act is effective July 1, 2023
.
(END)
1
SF0062