WEST virginia legislature

2019 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 2213

By Delegate Wilson

[Introduced January 10, 2019; Referred
to the Committee on Finance.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §5-16-27, relating to establishing the “Mountain State Employee Compensation Realignment Act”; providing a sunset provision for the Public Employees Insurance Agency; and transferring all responsibilities after the expiration of the Public Employees Insurance Agency to the Insurance Commissioner.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 16. WEST VIRGINIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES INSURANCE ACT.

§5-16-27. Establishing the “Mountain State Employee Compensation Realignment Act”; providing for planned expiration of Public Employees Insurance Agency; and transferring responsibilities to the Insurance Commissioner.

(a) This section shall be referred to as the “Mountain State Employee Compensation Realignment Act.”

(b) Planned expiration of the Public Employees Insurance Agency – Beginning on July 1, 2019, an employee insured by the Public Employees Insurance Agency may elect to receive compensation in the amount of money the state pays, or would pay if this option is elected, for his or her insurance as an alternate to receiving insurance coverage.

(c) When an employee elects to receive compensation under §5-16-27(a) of this code, the Public Employees Insurance Agency, or the Insurance Commissioner as provided in §5-16-27(d) of this code, shall include the appropriate portion of savings incurred as a result of the reduction in administrative costs; annually review the average market rates for health insurance; and recommend adjustments to the Legislature concerning the amount the employee is provided in elected compensation under §5-16-27(b) of this code. The amounts set forth in this article shall appear separately on any eNODS or similar statement.

(d) The Public Employees Insurance Agency, as established in this article, will expire and cease to provide insurance on July 1, 2024. Any continuing responsibilities of the Public Employees Insurance Agency on or after July 1, 2024, shall be conferred to the Insurance Commissioner.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to allow employees to elect to receive compensation in the amount of the premium the State would otherwise pay for their health insurance under the Public Employees Insurance Agency and to sunset the Public Employees Insurance Agency.

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