Title: An act relating to medical coverage for elected officials and commissioners.

Brief Description: Giving authority to municipalities and political subdivisions to provide medical coverage to their elected officials and commissioners.

Sponsors: Senators Johnson, Prentice and Kastama.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 1/30/06.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Staff: Diane Smith (786-7410)

Background: Any general or special purpose local government may, whenever funds are available, provide health insurance to its employees and their dependents. If provided, a choice of at least two insurance carriers must be offered.

Counties may provide health insurance to their elected officials and their dependents as they do for all other county employees.

The costs of these policies are not considered additional compensation to the employee or elected official.

Summary of Bill: Any general or special purpose local government may provide health insurance coverage to its elected commissioners and their dependents as they do for all other of their employees. The costs of these policies for elected commissioners are not considered additional compensation.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This bill comes from a drainage district. Providing coverage is permissible with the district. Some cities thought their council members could be covered and are covering them. This bill lets cities do what counties have done for a long time.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Senator Johnson, prime sponsor; Victoria Lincoln, Association of Washington Cities.