HOUSE BILL REPORT
HB 1644
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in
their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a
statement of legislative intent.
As Reported by House Committee On:
Higher Education
Title: An act relating to health care eligibility for part-time academic employees of community and technical colleges.
Brief Description: Modifying health care eligibility provisions for part-time academic employees of community and technical colleges.
Sponsors: Representatives Kenney, Sells, Anderson, Appleton, Morrell, Linville, Roberts, Ormsby, McDermott, Conway, Schual-Berke and Haigh; by request of Health Care Authority.
Brief History:
Higher Education: 2/14/07, 2/21/07 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Wallace, Chair; Sells, Vice Chair; Anderson, Ranking Minority Member; Buri, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Hasegawa, McIntire and Sommers.
Staff: Andrew Colvin (786-7304).
Background:
Part-time academic employees at community and technical colleges, who are employed on a
quarter/semester to quarter/semester basis, are eligible for health benefits beginning the
second consecutive quarter of half-time or greater employment. Prior to 2006, they were also
eligible for health benefits during the summer, regardless of summer quarter workload, if
they worked half-time or more in three of the four quarters preceding the summer quarter.
However, part-time academic employees who worked less than half-time in a quarter lost
benefits for that quarter as well as the following summer quarter.
Legislation enacted in 2006 provides continued eligibility for health benefits through the
summer for part-time academic employees who work at least half-time, on average, in each
of the two preceding academic years. Once that requirement is met, benefits continue as long
as the employee works half-time or more for at least three of the four quarters of the
academic year. Benefits continue through the end of the academic year if eligibility ceases
during the academic year.
Summary of Bill:
Summer quarter is removed from the definition of academic year. Therefore, part-time
employees are eligible for benefits during the summer, regardless of the summer quarter
workload, if they have worked an average of half-time or more for three quarters in each of
the preceding two years. Benefits continue as long as the employee works half-time or more
in two of the three quarters of the academic year (instead of the current three of the four
quarters). Benefits cease as soon as the employee no longer meets eligibility requirements.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:
(In support) This is a clean-up bill to a bill passed last year. It reflects the agreement reached
on a Senate amendment that did not get into the final bill because time ran out in the session.
(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying: (In support) Representative Kenney, prime sponsor; Dennis Martin, Health Care Authority; Wendy Rader-Konafalski, Washington Education Association; and John Boesenberg, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.