Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Health Care & Wellness Committee
HB 2271
Brief Description: Promoting access to information regarding the long-term services and supports trust program.
Sponsors: Representatives Chambers, Springer, Abbarno, Walen, Jacobsen, Riccelli, Santos, Macri and Walsh.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires the Employment Security Department to issue annual program summaries to employees assessed a premium under the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Program. 
Hearing Date: 1/19/24
Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).
Background:

The Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Program (Program) provides a long-term care benefit to eligible beneficiaries in the form of benefit units the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) pays to long-term services and supports providers.  The program is funded by a 0.58 percent premium assessed to Washington employees.  A person qualifies for the program if the person has paid the premium for three years within the last six years or for a total of 10 years.  The Program is administered by the DSHS, the Employment Security Department, and the Health Care Authority.
Summary of Bill:

Beginning April 1, 2025, the Employment Security Department (ESD) must send an annual program summary statement to each employee assessed a premium under the Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Program (Program).  The summary statement must explain:

  • the amount assessed upon the employee by the ESD that is attributable to the previous calendar year and the number of hours that the employee was recorded as having worked in the previous calendar year;
  • the cumulative amount that has been assessed upon the employee by the ESD since the program began collecting premiums;
  • the number of years that the employee has been recorded to have worked the minimum number of hours required under the Program; and
  • program information, including information related to becoming a qualified individual, information related to becoming an eligible beneficiary, information about the assessment process, current assessment and benefit unit levels, information regarding verifying program information and correcting any errors, and any other relevant Program updates.

 

The ESD must enter into a data-sharing agreement with the Department of Revenue and any other relevant agency to establish a process to obtain the contact information and other information needed to send the program summary.  The ESD must make a good faith effort to send the appropriate summary statement to each employee to the extent that contact information is readily accessible.  The ESD must maintain information on its website for employees to contact the ESD to obtain the employee's program summary statement.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 11, 2024.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.