AB108: Bill Text

LRB-1413/2

RAC:lmk:rs

2005 - 2006 LEGISLATURE

2005 Assembly BILL 108

February 17, 2005 - Introduced by Representatives Nelson, Benedict, Sheridan, Pocan, Vruwink, Shilling, Turner, Staskunas, Seidel, Parisi, Black, Pope-Roberts, Fields, Grigsby, Hubler, Richards, Boyle, Zepnick, Schneider, Ainsworth, Gronemus, Molepske, Kreuser, Van Akkeren and Hebl, cosponsored by Senators Taylor, Decker, Hansen, A. Lasee, Plale and Lassa. Referred to Committee on Government Operations and Spending Limitations.

AB108,1,4 An Act to amend 40.51 (1); and to create 20.515 (1) (g) and 40.515 of the statutes; relating to: covering certain private sector employers and their employees under the health care coverage plan for the state and its employees and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the Group Insurance Board (GIB), which is attached to the Department of Employee Trust Funds, is required to contract on behalf of the state for the purpose of providing health care coverage to state employees. Many other public sector employers may also participate in programs offered by GIB to provide health care coverage for their employees.

This bill provides that, beginning on the January 1 that first occurs after the bill's effective date, any small employer located in this state whose average annual receipts, calculated over the most recent 3-year period, are less than $30,000,000, including receipts of any affiliate or subsidiary elect to have its employees receive coverage under any health care coverage plan offered to state employees. The small employer may elect such coverage during any applicable enrollment period and subject to any conditions specified in the contract between GIB and the insurer and in rules promulgated for the administration of the state employee health care coverage program.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB108, s. 1 Section 1. 20.515 (1) (g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB108,2,5 20.515 (1) (g) Benefit and coverage payments; small employer health care coverage. All moneys received from small employers under s. 40.515 who elect to provide coverage for their employees in a health care coverage plan under s. 40.51 (6), for the payment of benefits and the cost of administering benefits under s. 40.515.

AB108, s. 2 Section 2. 40.51 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB108,2,10 40.51 (1) The procedures and provisions pertaining to enrollment, premium transmitted and coverage of eligible employees and employees eligible for health care coverage under s. 40.515 for health care benefits shall be established by contract or rule except as otherwise specifically provided by this chapter.

AB108, s. 3 Section 3. 40.515 of the statutes is created to read:

AB108,2,16 40.515 Health care coverage for individuals employed by small employers. (1) In this section, "small employer" means any person who is not an employer, as defined in s. 40.02 (28) and whose average annual receipts, calculated over the most recent 3-year period, are less than $30,000,000, including receipts of any affiliate or subsidiary.

AB108,3,2 (2) Beginning on the January 1 that first occurs after the effective date of this subsection .... [revisor inserts date], any small employer located in this state may elect coverage for its employees under any health care coverage plan offered to state employees under s. 40.51 (6), during any applicable enrollment period, subject to any conditions established by contract or by rule under s. 40.51 (1).

AB108,3,3 (End)