5976-S AMS KEIS CUTL 057

SSB 5976 - S AMD TO S-2449.2 282

By Senator Keiser

    On page 3, after line 31, strike all of paragraph (ii) through "employee;" on line 34

    On page 4, on line 1, strike "must work" and insert "who works"

    On page 4, on line 2, strike "to qualify" and insert "is eligible"

    On page 4, on line 2, after "coverage" insert "and school districts may agree through local bargaining to make employees who work less than one-half of full-time eligible for coverage"

    On page 30, after "purposes." on line 28, insert "(4) If agreed to through local bargaining, school districts may provide local contributions to medical flexible spending arrangements, health savings accounts, or other similar arrangements, to the extent permitted under federal law and guidance issued by the internal revenue service, for part-time employees who are not eligible for benefits under the eligibility criteria established by the school employees’ benefits board in section 3 of this 2015 act."

EFFECT:

(1) Eliminates the requirement that employer contributions for health benefits be pro-rated for part-time employees.

(2) Makes all employees who work at least one-half time eligible for health benefits coverage, and allows school districts to agree through local bargaining to expand eligibility to employees who work less than one-half time.

(3) Permits school districts, if agreed to through local bargaining, to provide contributions to FSAs, HSAs, or similar arrangements for part-time employees who are not eligible for benefits under the SEBB program, to the extent permitted under federal law.

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