FINAL BILL REPORT

                   SB 5211

                           C 35 L 97

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Authorizing public hospital districts to be self‑insurers.

Sponsors:  Senators Newhouse, Wojahn and Schow.

Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor

House Committee on Commerce & Labor

Background:  Group self-insurance was permitted by the Legislature in 1983 for school districts, educational service districts and hospitals.  One group was allowed for public hospitals and one for other hospitals.  Employees of public hospital districts that are not hospital employees may not be covered under the public hospital group self-insurance plan because public hospital districts were not included in the 1983 authorizing legislation.

Summary:  Public hospital districts may enter into an agreement to join the public hospital self-insurance group.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 47 0

House     97 0

Effective:  July 27, 1997