H-1994.1  _______________________________________________

                    SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1741

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By House Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives Hunt, Fromhold, Alexander and Armstrong)

Read first time .  Referred to Committee on .

Providing a plan of health insurance for blind vendors.

    AN ACT Relating to health care benefits for blind vendors; amending RCW 74.18.230; and adding a new section to chapter 41.05 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 41.05 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) The board shall offer a plan of health insurance to blind licensees who are actively operating facilities and participating in the business enterprises program established in RCW 74.18.200 through 74.18.230, and maintained by the department of services for the blind.  The plan of health insurance benefits must be the same or substantially similar to the plan of health insurance benefits offered to state employees under this chapter.  Enrollment will be at the option of each individual licensee or vendor, under rules established by the board.

    (2) All costs incurred by the state or the board for providing health insurance coverage to active blind vendors, excluding family participation, under subsection (1) of this section may be paid for from net proceeds from vending machine operations in public buildings under RCW 74.18.230.

    (3) Money from the business enterprises program under the federal Randolph-Sheppard Act may not be used for family participation in the health insurance benefits provided under this section.  Family insurance benefits are the sole responsibility of the individual blind vendors.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 74.18.230 and 1993 c 369 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) There is established in the state treasury an account known as the business enterprises revolving account.

    (2) The net proceeds from any vending machine operation in a public building, other than an operation managed by a licensee, shall be made payable to the business enterprises ((revolving fund)) program, which will pay only the blind vendors' portion, at the subscriber's rate, for the purpose of funding a plan of health insurance for blind vendors, as provided in section 1 of this act.  Net proceeds, for purposes of this section, means the gross amount received less the costs of the operation, including a fair minimum return to the vending machine owner, which return shall not exceed a reasonable amount to be determined by the department.

    (3) All federal moneys in the business enterprises revolving account shall be expended only for development and expansion of locations, equipment, management services, and payments to licensees in the business enterprises program.

    (4) The business enterprises program shall be supported by the business enterprises revolving account and by income which may accrue to the department pursuant to the federal Randolph-Sheppard Act.

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