Bill Text: NJ A623 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Limits eligibility of certain public employees for health care benefits coverage; prohibits those limited from receiving payments for waiving such coverage.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-27 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee [A623 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-A623-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
217th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOSEPH A. LAGANA
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Limits eligibility of certain public employees for health care benefits coverage; prohibits those limited from receiving payments for waiving such coverage.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning eligibility of certain public employees for health care benefits provided by public employers and amending various parts of the statutory law.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 3 of P.L.1979, c.391 (C.18A:16-14) is amended to read as follows:
3. a. The contract shall exclude from eligibility:
(a) Employees and dependents, active or retired, who are otherwise eligible for coverage but who, although they meet the age eligibility requirement of the Federal Medicare Program, are not covered by the complete Federal program; and
(b) Any class or classes of employees who are eligible for like or similar coverage under another group contract covering such class or classes of employees.
b. Commencing 90 days after the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), if an employee eligible for health care benefits coverage while holding a position, office, or employment with a local board of education also is eligible for health care benefits coverage under a health care benefits plan or program because of service in any other public position, office, or employment, the employee shall select coverage under only one such plan or program. If an employee eligible for health care benefits coverage while holding a position, office, or employment with a local board of education also is eligible for health care benefits coverage under a health care benefits plan or program because of service by the employee's spouse in any public position, office, or employment, the employee and spouse shall select coverage together only under one such plan or program. This subsection shall apply also when the health care benefits coverage is provided through an insurance fund or joint insurance fund or in any other manner. This subsection shall apply to any agency, board, commission, authority, or instrumentality of a local board of education.
(cf: P.L.1979, c.391, s.3)
2. Section 1 of P.L.1979, c.230 (C.40A:10-18) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. The contract shall exclude from eligibility:
(a) Employees and dependents, active or retired, who are otherwise eligible for coverage but who, although they meet the age eligibility requirement of the Federal Medicare Program, are not covered by the complete Federal program; and
(b) Any class or classes of employees who are eligible for like or similar coverage under another group contract covering the class or classes of employees.
b. Commencing 90 days after the effective date of P.L. , c (pending before the Legislature as this bill), if an employee eligible for health care benefits coverage while holding a position, office, or employment with a local unit or agency thereof also is eligible for health care benefits coverage under a health care benefits plan or program because of service in any other public position, office, or employment, the employee shall select coverage under only one such plan or program. If an employee eligible for health care benefits coverage while holding a position, office, or employment with a local unit or agency thereof also is eligible for health care benefits coverage under a health care benefits plan or program because of service by the employee's spouse in any public position, office, or employment, the employee and spouse shall select coverage together only under one such plan or program. This subsection shall apply also when the health care benefits coverage is provided through an insurance fund or joint insurance fund or in any other manner. This subsection shall apply to any agency, board, commission, or instrumentality of a local unit.
(cf: P.L.1979, c.230, s.1)
3. Section 37 P.L.1995, c.259 (C.40A:10-17.1) is amended to read as follows:
37. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, a county, municipality or any contracting unit as defined in section 2 of P.L.1971, c.198 (C.40A:11-2) which enters into a contract providing group health care benefits to its employees pursuant to N.J.S.40A:10-16 et seq., may allow any employee who is eligible for other health care coverage to waive coverage under the county's, municipality's or contracting unit's plan to which the employee is entitled by virtue of employment with the county, municipality or contracting unit. Commencing 90 days after the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), an employee described in subsection b. of section 1 of P.L.1979, c.230 (C.40A:10-18) shall not be eligible for a payment pursuant to this section.
The waiver shall be in such form as the county, municipality or contracting unit shall prescribe and shall be filed with the county, municipality or contracting unit. In consideration of filing such a waiver, a county, municipality or contracting unit may pay to the employee annually an amount, to be established in the sole discretion of the county, municipality or contracting unit, which shall not exceed 50% of the amount saved by the county, municipality or contracting unit because of the employee's waiver of coverage, and, for a waiver filed on or after the effective date of P.L.2010, c.2, which shall not exceed 25%, or $5,000, whichever is less, of the amount saved by the county, municipality or contracting unit because of the employee's waiver of coverage. An employee who waives coverage shall be permitted to resume coverage under the same terms and conditions as apply to initial coverage if the employee ceases to be covered through the employee's spouse for any reason, including, but not limited to, the retirement or death of the spouse or divorce. An employee who resumes coverage shall repay, on a pro rata basis, any amount received which represents an advance payment for a period of time during which coverage is resumed. An employee who wishes to resume coverage shall file a declaration with the county, municipality or contracting unit, in such form as the county, municipality or contracting unit shall prescribe, that the waiver is revoked. The decision of a county, municipality or contracting unit to allow its employees to waive coverage and the amount of consideration to be paid therefor shall not be subject to the collective bargaining process.
(cf: P.L.2010, c.2, s.18)
4. Section 7 of P.L.1961, c.49 (C.52:14-17.31) is amended to read as follows:
7. a. The coverage provided solely for employees shall, subject to the provisions below, automatically become effective for all eligible employees from the first day on or after the effective date of the program on which they satisfy the definition of "employee" contained in this act. The commission shall establish the rules and regulations governing the enrollment and effective dates of coverage of dependents of employees it deems necessary or desirable. The rules and regulations shall not defer coverage with respect to any qualified dependent an employee has on the date the employee's employer becomes a participating employer, provided the employee was, immediately prior to the date, insured with respect to the dependent under a group insurance plan of the employer which was in effect immediately prior to the date. Under the rules and regulations established by the commission, each employee shall be given the opportunity to enroll for coverage for dependents as of the earliest date the employee becomes eligible for enrollment. With respect to the traditional plan, an employee may elect to enroll dependents for both basic coverage and major medical expense coverage but may not enroll for either coverage alone.
b. In the event that the group health plan which covered an employee or dependents immediately prior to the date the employee's employer becomes a participating employer provides, after termination of coverage thereunder, any continuation of benefits, or would so provide in the absence of coverage pursuant to this act, no coverage shall be afforded pursuant to this act for any such expenses (i) which are covered, or which would be covered in the absence of coverage pursuant to this act, in whole or in part, by the prior insurance plan or (ii) which may be used in satisfaction of any deductible requirement under the prior insurance plan to establish entitlement to the continuation of benefits.
c. Each employee shall furnish the Division of Pensions and Benefits, in the prescribed form, the information necessary on account of the employee's own coverage and necessary to enroll dependents. Any employee not desiring coverage at the time the employee first becomes eligible, shall give the division written notice of that fact in the form prescribed by the division. The employee may not enroll thereafter except at the times and under the conditions prescribed by the commission.
d. Any person employed as a substitute teacher by a school district and who provides evidence of coverage under another health benefits program may waive coverage for the current school year on or after the date on which the person becomes an employee eligible for coverage.
e. Multiple coverage in the program as an employee, dependent, or retiree shall be prohibited and the prohibition shall be implemented in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the commission. The provisions of this paragraph shall be applicable to the State Health Benefits Program and to the School Employees' Health Benefits Program to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of sections 31 through 41 of P.L.2007, c.103 (C.52:14-17.46.1 et seq.).
f. Commencing 90 days after the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), if an employee eligible for health care benefits coverage under the State Health Benefits Program or the School Employees' Health Benefits Program while holding a position, office, or employment with the State or a participating public employer also is eligible for health care benefits coverage under a health care benefits plan or program because of service in any other public position, office, or employment, the employee shall select coverage under only one such plan or program. If an employee eligible for health care benefits coverage under the State Health Benefits Program or the School Employees' Health Benefits Program while holding a position, office, or employment with the State or a participating public employer also is eligible for health care benefits coverage under a health care benefits plan or program because of service by the employee's spouse in any public position, office, or employment, the employee and spouse shall select coverage together only under one such plan or program. This subsection shall be applicable to the State Health Benefits Program and to the School Employees' Health Benefits Program to the extent not inconsistent with the provisions of sections 31 through 41 of P.L.2007, c.103 (C.52:14-17.46.1 et seq.).
(cf: P.L.2010, c.2, s.12)
5. Section 36 of P.L.1995, c.259 (C.52:14-17.31a) is amended to read as follows:
36. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, an employer other than the State which participates in the State Health Benefits Program, established pursuant to P.L.1961, c.49 (C.52:14-17.25 et seq.), may allow any employee who is eligible for other health care coverage to waive coverage under the State Health Benefits Program to which the employee is entitled by virtue of employment with the employer. Commencing 90 days after the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), an employee described in subsection f. of section 7 of P.L.1961, c.49 (C.52:14-17.31) shall not be eligible for a payment pursuant to this section.
The waiver shall be in such form as the Director of the Division of Pensions and Benefits shall prescribe and shall be filed with the division. After such waiver has been filed and for so long as that waiver remains in effect, no premium shall be required to be paid by the employer for the employee or the employee's dependents. Not later than the 180th day after the date on which the waiver is filed, the division shall refund to the employer the amount of any premium previously paid by the employer with respect to any period of coverage which followed the filing date.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, the State as an employer, or an employer that is an independent authority, commission, board, or instrumentality of the State which participates in the State Health Benefits Program, may allow any employee who is eligible for other health care coverage that is not under the State Health Benefits Program to waive the coverage under the State Health Benefits Program to which the employee is entitled by virtue of employment with the employer. Commencing 90 days after the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), an employee described in subsection f. of section 7 of P.L.1961, c.49 (C.52:14-17.31) shall not be eligible for a payment pursuant to this section.
The waiver shall be in such form as the Director of the Division of Pensions and Benefits shall prescribe and shall be filed with the division.
c. In consideration of filing a waiver as permitted in subsections a. and b. of this section, an employer may pay to the employee annually an amount, to be established in the sole discretion of the employer, which shall not exceed 50% of the amount saved by the employer because of the employee's waiver of coverage, and, for a waiver filed on or after the effective date of P.L.2010, c.2, which shall not exceed 25%, or $5,000, whichever is less, of the amount saved by the employer because of the employee's waiver of coverage. An employee who waives coverage shall be permitted to immediately resume coverage if the employee ceases to be eligible for other health care coverage for any reason, including, but not limited to, the retirement or death of the spouse or divorce. An employee who resumes coverage shall repay, on a pro rata basis, any amount received from the employer which represents an advance payment for a period of time during which coverage is resumed. An employee who wishes to resume coverage shall notify the employer in writing and file a declaration with the division, in such form as the director of the division shall prescribe, that the waiver is revoked. The decision of an employer to allow its employees to waive coverage and the amount of consideration to be paid therefor shall not be subject to the collective bargaining process.
(cf: P.L.2010, c.2, s.1l)
6. Section 43 of P.L.2011, c.78 (C.52:14-17.34a) is amended to read as follows:
43. a. As used in this section, "independent State authority" means a public authority, board, commission, corporation, or other agency or instrumentality of the State allocated, in but not of, a principal department of State government pursuant to Article V, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, or which is not subject to supervision or control by the department in which it is allocated, and a regional authority, but shall not include a college or university.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, public employees of an independent State authority who are not subject to the provisions of section 40 of P.L.2011, c.78 (C.52:14-17.28d) shall contribute, through the withholding of the contribution from the pay, salary, or other compensation or from the monthly retirement allowance, toward the cost of health care benefits coverage for the employee and any dependent provided by the authority during active service and in retirement in an amount that shall be determined as closely as possible in accordance with sections 39 and 40 of P.L.2011, c.78 (C.52:14-17.28c and C.52:14-17.28d).
Once those employees are subjected to the contribution requirements set forth in this section, the public employers and public employees shall be bound by this act, P.L.2011, c.78, to apply the contribution levels set forth in section 39 of this act until all affected employees are contributing the full amount of the contribution, as determined by the implementation schedule set forth in subsection a. of section 40 of this act. Notwithstanding the expiration date set forth in section 83 of this act, P.L.2011, c.78, or the expiration date of any successor agreements, the parties shall be bound to apply the requirements of this paragraph until they have reached the full implementation of the schedule set forth in subsection a. of section 40 of this act.
c. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, commencing 90 days after the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), if an employee eligible for health care benefits coverage while holding a position, office, or employment with a State authority also is eligible for health care benefits coverage under a health care benefits plan or program because of service in any other public position, office, or employment, the employee shall select coverage under only one such plan or program. If an employee eligible for health care benefits coverage while holding a position, office, or employment with a State authority also is eligible for health care benefits coverage under a health care benefits plan or program because of service by the employee's spouse in any public position, office, or employment, the employee and spouse shall select coverage together only under one such plan or program. This subsection shall apply also when the health care benefits coverage is provided through an insurance fund or joint insurance fund or in any other manner. This subsection shall apply to a State authority that is not covered by the provisions of subsection f. of section 7 of P.L.1961, c.49 (C.52:14-17.31) or section 36 of P.L.1995, c.259 (C.52:14-17.31a),
(cf: P.L.2011, c.78, c.43)
7. Section 44 of P.L.2011, c.78 (C.40A:5A-11.1) is amended to read as follows:
44. a. As used in this section, "local authority" means an "authority" as defined under the "Local Authorities Fiscal Control Law," P.L.1983, c.313 (C.40A:5A-1 et seq.).
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, public employees of a local authority who are not subject to the provisions of sections 40 and 42 of P.L.2011, c.78 (C.52:14-17.28d and C.40A:10-21.1) shall contribute, through the withholding of the contribution from the pay, salary, or other compensation or from the monthly retirement allowance, toward the cost of health care benefits coverage for the employee and any dependent provided by the local authority during active service and in retirement in an amount that shall be determined as closely as possible in accordance with sections 39 and 42 of P.L.2011, c.78 (C.52:14-17.28c and C.40A:10-21.1).
Once those employees are subjected to the contribution requirements set forth in this section, the public employers and public employees shall be bound by this act, P.L.2011, c.78, to apply the contribution levels set forth in section 39 of this act until all affected employees are contributing the full amount of the contribution, as determined by the implementation schedule set forth in subsection a. of section 42 of this act. Notwithstanding the expiration date set forth in section 83 of this act, P.L.2011, c.78, or the expiration date of any successor agreements, the parties shall be bound to apply the requirements of this paragraph until they have reached the full implementation of the schedule set forth in subsection a. of section 40 of this act.
c. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, commencing 90 days after the effective date of P.L. , c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill), if an employee eligible for health care benefits coverage while holding a position, office, or employment with a local authority also is eligible for health care benefits coverage under a health care benefits plan or program because of service in any other public position, office, or employment, the employee shall select coverage under only one such plan or program. If an employee eligible for health care benefits coverage while holding a position, office, or employment with a local authority also is eligible for health care benefits coverage under a health care benefits plan or program because of service by the employee's spouse in any public position, office, or employment, the employee and spouse shall select coverage together only under one such plan or program. This subsection shall apply also when the health care benefits coverage is provided through an insurance fund or joint insurance fund or in any other manner. This subsection shall apply to a local authority that is not covered by the provisions of subsection c. of section 1 of P.L.1979, c.230 (C.40A:10-18) or section 37 P.L.1995, c.259 (C.40A:10-17.1),
(cf: P.L.2011, c.78, s.44)
8. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all public employees employed on or after the effective date, but shall not be deemed to impair the obligations in a collective negotiations agreement in effect on that date.
STATEMENT
This bill would limit a public employee of the State, a local government, or a local board of education, or agency or authority thereof, to receiving health care benefits coverage from only one public employer if the employee holds more than one public position simultaneously. If the employee has a spouse who is also a public employee eligible for health care benefits coverage from the spouse's employer, the employee and spouse would be required to select coverage together under only one plan or program.
The bill also prohibits a public employee so limited from receiving a payment from the employee's public employer for waiving the health care benefits overage provided by the employer.
waiving such coverage.
