2023 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

Senate Bill 87

By Senator Phillips

[Introduced January 11, 2023; referred
to the Committee on Banking and Insurance; and then to the Committee on Finance]

A BILL to amend and reenact §5-16-5a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to restoring major health care benefits to certain public employees who retired and then returned to employment.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 16. WEST VIRGINIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES INSURANCE ACT.

§5-16-5a. Retiree premium subsidy from Retiree Health Benefit Trust for hires prior to July 1, 2010.

The Finance Board may include in its financial plans a subsidy from the Retiree Health Benefit Trust Fund created by article sixteen-d of this chapter for the cost of coverage under the major health care benefits plans, only for retired employees who were hired before July 1, 2010.  Active or retired employees who were hired before July 1, 2010, but who separated from public service but returned within two years of their separation may be restored to their original (pre-July 1, 2010) hire date, and active or retired employees who separated from public service with more than 10 years of service prior to July 1, 2010, and returned within 10 years of their separation may be restored to an adjusted hire date computed by adding the period of separation to the original (pre-July 1, 2010) hire date.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to restore major health care benefits to certain public employees who retired and then returned to employment.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.