Provides for the assessor of St. Tammany Parish to pay certain insurance premiums. (8/1/12) (OR DECREASE LF EX See Note)
Impact
The legislation is significant as it impacts the financial obligations of the St. Tammany Parish assessor's office and potentially the overall budgetary allocations for the parish. By formalizing the requirement for insurance premium payments, the bill ensures that retiring assessors and employees are not left without essential health benefits post-retirement. This aligns with similar state laws governing other parishes, thereby promoting consistency in retirement benefits across Louisiana. However, the increased obligations could also lead to budgetary strains within the parish if not adequately planned for.
Summary
Senate Bill 160 aims to amend Louisiana state law regarding the responsibilities of parish assessors, specifically focusing on St. Tammany Parish. The bill mandates that the assessor's office in St. Tammany Parish is required to pay certain insurance premiums for retired assessors and their employees. This includes group life, dental, and other medical insurance for those who have served in their roles for a specified period and meet certain age criteria. The proposed law reflects a continuation of existing provisions while extending these obligations specifically to St. Tammany, thereby ensuring compliance with the established standards for insurance coverage among assessors across the state.
Sentiment
The sentiment surrounding SB160 appears to be neutral to positive. Supporters of the bill argue that it is a necessary step to ensure fair treatment of retired assessors, as it acknowledges their service and provides them with essential benefits upon retirement. Conversely, there may be concerns regarding the financial implications for the parish budget, but these appear to be secondary in the discussions. Overall, the bill likely garners support from those advocating for public sector workers' rights and benefits.
Contention
There are minimal points of contention surrounding SB160 as the bill primarily extends existing provisions to a specific parish rather than introducing controversial changes to state law. The main area of discussion revolves around the potential financial implications for the St. Tammany Parish assessor's office and whether it could lead to further strains on local budgets. However, the consensus among supporters is that providing these benefits is essential for honoring the contributions of public service employees.
Provides relative to the payment of certain insurance premium costs for certain retired assessors and assessors' employees in Caldwell and Lincoln parishes. (8/1/12) (EN +$10,000 LF EX See Note)
Provides for the payment of certain insurance premium costs for certain retired assessors and assessors' employees in Catahoula Parish. (8/15/11) (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)
Requires the assessor in certain parishes to pay the cost of certain insurance premiums for eligible retirees from the assessor's office (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)
Extends from 20 to 25 years the length of service for the assessor of Acadia Parish to be responsible for the payment of certain insurance premiums. (7/1/10) (EG SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)
Expands eligibility for payment of certain insurance premium costs for retired assessor's and assessor's employees in the parishes of LaSalle, Rapides, Sabine, and Winn (OR +$12,360 LF EX See Note)
Requires the St. James Parish assessor to pay the cost of certain insurance premiums for certain retirees of the assessor's office (OR NO IMPACT LF EX See Note)
Requires the St. James Parish assessor to pay the cost of certain insurance premiums for certain retirees of the assessor's office (EN NO IMPACT LF EX See Note)
Authorizes the assessor in Caddo Parish to pay the cost of certain insurance premiums for eligible retirees from the assessor's office. (gov sig) (EN NO IMPACT LF EX See Note)
Increases the years of service requirement for the payment of certain insurance premiums for certain retirees of the Acadia Parish Assessor's Office (EN SEE FISC NOTE LF EX)
Transfers assets and debts of previous multiple tax assessors in Orleans Parish to office of Orleans Parish tax assessor. (gov sig) (EN NO IMPACT LF RV See Note)