S-0716.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 5446

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Senators Eide, Zarelli, Kohl‑Welles and McAuliffe

Read first time 01/23/2001.  Referred to Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care.

Providing health care coverage for retired or disabled school employees and retired state employees.

    AN ACT Relating to health care coverage for retired or disabled school employees and retired state employees; adding a new section to chapter 41.05 RCW; and providing an effective date.

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) Retired or disabled school district and educational service district employees, or retired state employees, who are receiving a retirement allowance under chapter 41.32 or 41.40 RCW as of September 30, 1993, and their dependents may purchase health care insurance coverage from the authority under terms and conditions established by this chapter and by the board. 

    (2) Retired or disabled school district and educational service district employees, or retired state employees, who began receiving a retirement allowance under chapter 41.32, 41.35, or 41.40 RCW on or after October 1, 1993, may enroll in benefit plans under the authority during annual enrollment periods established by the board, with demonstrated continuous employer group medical coverage from the time they became retired or disabled.

    (3) Retired or disabled school district and educational service district employees, or retired state employees, and their dependents shall pay the cost of premiums for the insurance offered by the authority.  The authority shall charge as premiums, the cost to the authority of providing insurance coverage for retired or disabled school district and educational service district employees, or retired state employees, and their dependents, including any amounts necessary for reserves and administration.  However, the amount of the premium charged to retired or disabled school district and educational service district employees, or retired state employees, on the date of enrollment shall be reduced by the amount of any existing subsidy.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  This act takes effect July 1, 2002.

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