Arkansas 2022 Regular Session

Arkansas Senate Bill SR4

Introduced
2/10/22  

Caption

To Authorize A Nonappropriation Bill To Provide For Legislative Oversight Of The State And Public School Life And Health Insurance Program And Establish The Employee Benefits Division Oversight Subcommittee.

Impact

The introduction of the Employee Benefits Division Oversight Subcommittee is expected to provide a structured method of monitoring the program's decisions, which are crucial for ensuring that state and public school employees receive adequate health benefits. The move comes in light of increasing concerns regarding the financial and operational challenges faced by the health insurance program. The bill recognizes the growing diabetes epidemic in Arkansas, which imposes significant medical expenditures and stresses the necessity for effective management programs to control related complications. This aspect highlights an effort to promote healthier outcomes among employees covered by this program.

Summary

Senate Resolution 4 (SR4) aims to enhance the legislative oversight of the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program in Arkansas. To that end, it establishes the Employee Benefits Division Oversight Subcommittee, which is tasked with overseeing key decisions made by the State Board of Finance regarding the program. This oversight specifically extends to matters such as cost-containment measures, changes in plan options, funding alterations, and eligibility modifications for the health insurance program that services state and public school employees. The bill emphasizes transparency and accountability within the program's operations to ensure that it remains viable and sustainable for its beneficiaries.

Contention

While SR4 is aimed at regulatory improvements and establishing overseers for the health insurance program, it may evoke differing opinions amongst stakeholders regarding efficiency and oversight burdens. Proponents argue that such a measure is essential to provide better services to those covered and to keep the program financially stable. On the other hand, there may be concerns about the subcommittee's potential to entangle operations in additional layers of bureaucracy, possibly delaying critical decisions that affect employee benefits. Overall, the bill's passage showcases a proactive attempt to address public health insurance challenges, especially amid rising health crises.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

AR SR10

To Authorize The Introduction Of A Nonappropriation Bill To Amend The Uniform Classification And Compensation Act.

AR HR1013

To Authorize The Introduction Of A Nonappropriation Bill To Amend The Uniform Classification And Compensation Act.

AR HB1041

An Act For The Department Of Education - Division Of Elementary And Secondary Education - Public School Fund Appropriation For The 2024-2025 Fiscal Year.

AR SR17

To Authorize The Introduction Of A Nonappropriation Bill To Amend The Arkansas Data Centers Acts Of 2023, To Regulate Digital Asset Mining Businesses And Businesses Utilizing A Blockchain Network, And To Declare An Emergency.

AR HR1020

To Authorize The Introduction Of A Nonappropriation Bill To Amend The Arkansas Data Centers Acts Of 2023, To Regulate Digital Asset Mining Businesses And Businesses Utilizing A Blockchain Network, And To Declare An Emergency.

AR SR11

To Authorize The Introduction Of A Nonappropriation Bill To Require A Digital Asset Mining Business To Pay A Fee For Extraordinary Electrical Energy Usage.

AR HR1019

To Authorize The Introduction Of A Nonappropriation Bill To Require A Digital Asset Mining Business To Pay A Fee For Extraordinary Electrical Energy Usage.

AR HR1010

To Authorize The Introduction Of A Nonappropriation Bill To Amend The Revenue Stabilization Law, To Create Funds, To Repeal Funds, And To Make Transfers To And From Funds And Fund Accounts.

AR SR1

To Authorize The Introduction Of A Nonappropriation Bill To Amend The Revenue Stabilization Law, To Create Funds, To Repeal Funds, And To Make Transfers To And From Funds And Fund Accounts.

AR HR1011

To Authorize The Introduction Of A Nonappropriation Bill Amending The Revenue Stabilization Law, Creating Funds, Repealing Funds, And Making Transfers To And From Funds And Fund Accounts.

Similar Bills

AR HR1007

To Authorize A Nonappropriation Bill To Provide For Legislative Oversight Of The State And Public School Life And Health Insurance Program And Establish The Employee Benefits Division Oversight Subcommittee.

LA HB221

Provides relative to rulemaking and oversight pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act

AR HB1099

To Provide For Legislative Oversight Of The State And Public School Life And Health Insurance Program; To Establish The Employee Benefits Division Oversight Subcommittee; And To Declare An Emergency.

LA HB180

Requires legislative oversight committees to hold hearings on proposed rules

LA SCR117

Affirms actions taken by certain legislative committees as the sovereign action of Louisiana and the Louisiana Legislature.

NH HB478

Establishing a foster care oversight subcommittee within the oversight commission on children's services.

LA HB390

Provides relative to rules adopted under the Administrative Procedure Act (OR INCREASE GF EX See Note)

VA SJR24

Unified gaming commission; joint subcommittee to study necessity for and feasibility of creation.