Brief Description: Authorizing tribal governments to participate in public employees' benefits board programs.

Sponsors: Senators Kauffman, Fairley, Prentice, Swecker, Rockefeller, Fraser, Kohl-Welles, Shin, Rasmussen and Kline; by request of Health Care Authority.

Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections
House Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs

Background: The state of Washington, through the Public Employees Benefit Board (PEBB) program, provides medical, dental, life, and long-term disability coverage through private health insurance plans to eligible state and higher-education employees as a benefit of employment. Counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions, known as employer groups, may also choose to provide PEBB coverage to their employees. Eligibility requirements are established by PEBB, which also approves employee premium contributions and the benefits of all participating health care organizations. Employer groups seeking to participate in the PEBB program must apply to the Health Care Authority, and if approved, are charged a premium that covers the full cost of providing PEBB benefits to its employees.

Summary: Tribal governments may apply to participate in PEBB health care and other benefits under the same conditions and requirements as political subdivisions.

Tribal government means an Indian tribal government as defined by federal law.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      45   2
House      59   37

Effective:   January 1, 2009.