SLS 21RS-17 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 3
BY SENATOR MILLIGAN
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
HEALTH/ACC INSURANCE. Requires certain employing agencies to provide health
insurance coverage from date of hire under certain circumstances. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 42:851(E)(2) and to enact R.S. 42:851(V), relative to group
3 health insurance for public employees; to provide relative to effective dates of
4 coverage for certain public employees under certain circumstances; to provide for
5 application and rules promulgation; to provide for an effective date; and to provide
6 for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 42:851(E)(2) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 42:851(V)
9 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 ยง851. Authority for employee benefit programs; payroll deduction for payment of
11 premiums
12 * * *
13 E.(1) * * *
14 (2) The Office of Group Benefits shall promulgate all rules necessary to carry
15 out the provisions of Subsections A through E and U and V of this Section.
16 * * *
17 V.(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or any rule or
Page 1 of 3
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 3
SLS 21RS-17 ORIGINAL
1 regulation to the contrary, health insurance coverage shall begin concurrent
2 with employment if all of the following apply on the employee's first date of
3 employment with the employing agency:
4 (a) The employee is assigned duties that must be performed in an area
5 that is the subject of a gubernatorially or presidentially declared disaster or
6 emergency.
7 (b) The declaration of disaster or emergency specifies that the disaster
8 or emergency involves risks to the health or well-being of any individual who
9 engages in certain activities.
10 (c) Among the activities posing a risk to an individual's health or
11 well-being are activities integral to duties that the employee is required to
12 perform.
13 (2) The premium for the first month's insurance shall be paid
14 immediately. The employing agency shall pay the employer contribution. The
15 employee contribution may be paid by the employing agency or the employee.
16 If the employing agency pays the employee contribution, the employing agency
17 shall be reimbursed by a deduction from the employee's wages.
18 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
19 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
20 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
21 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
22 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by LG Sullivan.
DIGEST
SB 3 Original 2021 Regular Session Milligan
Present law provides for the Office of Group Benefits (OGB). Authorizes La. state agencies,
public higher education entities, and public elementary and secondary school systems to
provide group health insurance for their employees and the employees' dependents. Allows
this authorized group health insurance to be provided through private contracts or
self-funded programs, subject to OGB approval if the premiums are paid with state funds.
Proposed law retains present law.
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 3
SLS 21RS-17 ORIGINAL
Proposed law, applicable only if certain criteria are met, requires the employing agency to
provide health insurance coverage beginning on the first date of employment.
Proposed law first-day coverage applies only if, on that date:
(1)The employee is assigned duties that must be performed in a gubernatorially or
presidentially declared disaster area.
(2)The declaration of emergency specifies that the emergency involves risks to health
or well-being of individuals engaged in certain activities.
(3)Among the risky activities are activities integral to the duties of the employee.
Present law requires OGB to promulgate rules to carry out the provisions of present law.
Proposed law retains present law and applies to require rules promulgation to carry out the
provisions of proposed law.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 42:851(E)(2); adds R.S. 42:851(V))
Page 3 of 3
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.