Louisiana Senate Bill SB414

Louisiana 2020 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/28/20
• Refer: 2/28/20
• Refer: 3/9/20
• Report Pass: 5/11/20
• Engrossed: 5/13/20
• Report Pass: 5/20/20
• Enrolled: 5/29/20
• Chaptered: 6/4/20
• Passed: 6/4/20

Caption

Provides relative to the authority of the Insurance Committee of the Assessors' Insurance Fund to contract for group insurance. (8/1/20) (EN NO IMPACT LF EX See Note)

Impact

The adjustments proposed in SB 414 are designed to grant the Insurance Committee more autonomy in managing insurance contracts. This change could lead to quicker and potentially more cost-effective agreements for group health and life coverage, directly benefiting assessors and their employees. With the reduced bureaucratic constraints on decision-making, it is expected that the committee will more effectively navigate the insurance landscape, securing better deals and services for those under its purview.

Summary

Senate Bill 414 aims to amend the existing provisions regarding the Insurance Committee of the Assessors' Insurance Fund in Louisiana. The bill primarily focuses on modifying the authority of this committee to contract for group insurance. By eliminating the requirement that final approvals for such contracts must come from a majority vote of the Louisiana Assessors' Association membership, the bill seeks to streamline the process of obtaining insurance coverage for assessors and their employees.

Sentiment

The sentiment regarding SB 414 appears to be largely positive among legislators, as indicated by its final passage in the House with a unanimous vote of 99-0. This strong support suggests that members of the legislature recognize the need for efficiency and flexibility in managing the insurance needs of assessors. As such, the bill has been viewed as a beneficial reform that aligns with the interests of local governmental bodies and their employees.

Contention

While there are no notable points of contention mentioned in the voting summaries, the changes brought about by SB 414 could potentially raise concerns among some stakeholders about the loss of oversight by the Louisiana Assessors' Association. By removing the voting requirement for final approval of insurance contracts, there might be worries regarding accountability and the adequacy of the insurance plans selected. However, the aggregate legislative support suggests that the perceived benefits of increased efficiency outweigh these concerns.