North Dakota 2025 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Dakota House Bill HB1248 Engrossed / Bill

Filed 02/10/2025

                    25.0740.02000
Sixty-ninth
Legislative Assembly
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Representatives Weisz, Frelich, McLeod, M. Ruby
Senators Lee, Dever
A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact sections 26.1-36-09.12 and 54-35-02.4 of the North 
Dakota Century Code, relating to medical services related to suicide and the powers and duties 
of the employee benefits programs committee; and to repeal section 54-03-28 of the North 
Dakota Century Code, relating to the cost-benefit analysis requirement for health insurance 
mandated coverage of services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
SECTION 1. AMENDMENT. Section 26.1-36-09.12 of the North Dakota Century Code is 
amended and reenacted as follows:
26.1-36-09.12. Medical services related to suicide.
An insurance company, nonprofit health service corporation, or health maintenance 
organization may not deliver, issue, execute, or renew anya hospital, surgical, medical, or major 
medical benefit policy on an individual, group, blanket, franchise, or association basis unless 
the policy, contract, or evidence of coverage provides benefits, of the same type offered under 
the policy or contract for illnesses, for health services to any individual covered under the policy 
or contract for injury or illness resulting from suicide, attempted suicide, or self-inflicted injury. 
The medical benefits provided for in this section are exempt from section 54-03-28.
SECTION 2. AMENDMENT. Section 54-35-02.4 of the North Dakota Century Code is 
amended and reenacted as follows:
54-35-02.4. Employee benefits programs committee - Powers and duties.
1.During each interim, the employee benefits programs committee shall consider:
a.Consider and report on the legislative proposals over which the committee takes 
jurisdiction and which fiscally impact the retirement programs of state employees 
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ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO. 1248
FIRST ENGROSSMENT
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or employees of any political subdivision, and health and retiree health plans of 
state employees or employees of any political subdivision. A majority of the 
members of the committee has sole authority to determine whether a legislative 
proposal affects a program. The committee shall make
b.Make a thorough review of each proposal the committee takes under its 
jurisdiction, including an actuarial report. The committee shall take
c.Take jurisdiction over a proposal that authorizes an automatic increase or other 
change in benefits beyond the ensuing biennium which would not require 
legislative approval. The committee shall include
d.Include in the report of the committee a statement that the proposal would allow 
future changes without legislative involvement. The committee shall report
e.Report the findings and recommendations of the committee, along with any 
necessary legislation, to the legislative management and to the legislative 
assembly.
2.To carry out the responsibilities of the committee, the committee, or the designee of 
the committee, may:
a.Enter contracts, including retainer agreements, with an actuary or actuarial firm 
for expert assistance and consultation. Each retirement, insurance, or retiree 
insurance program shall pay, from the program's retirement, insurance, or retiree 
health benefits fund, as appropriate, and without the need for a prior 
appropriation, the cost of an actuarial report required under this section which 
relates to that program.
b.Call on personnel from state agencies or political subdivisions to furnish such 
information and render such assistance as the committee from time to time may 
request.
c.Establish rules for the operation of the committee, including the submission and 
review of proposals and the establishing of standards for actuarial reports.
3.The committee may solicit draft measures and proposals from interested persons 
during the interim between legislative sessions, and also may study measures and 
proposals referred to the committee by the legislative assembly or the legislative 
management.
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4.A copy of the committee's report concerning a legislative measure, if that measure is 
introduced for consideration by a legislative assembly, must be appended to the copy 
of that measure.
5.If a legislative measure affecting a public employees retirement program, public 
employees health insurance program, or public employee retiree health insurance 
program is introduced in either house without a report from the committee, the 
chairman and vice chairman of the employee benefits programs committee shall 
request an actuarial report from the program affected and shall provide the report to 
the standing committee to which the measure is referred. During the legislative 
session, the employee benefits programs committee chairman and vice chairman, 
working together, have sole authority to determine whether a legislative measure or 
amendment affects a program under this subsection and subsection 6.
6.During a legislative session, if an amendment is made to a legislative measure which 
fiscally impacts a public employees retirement program, public employees health 
insurance program, or public employee retiree health insurance program, the 
employee benefits programs committee chairman and vice chairman shall request 
from the affected program an actuarial report on the amendment and shall provide the 
report to the standing committee to which the bill is referred.
7.A committee of the legislative assembly may not act on a legislative measure the 
legislative management or committee determines mandates health insurance 
coverage of services or payment for specified providers of services for the health and 
retiree health plans of state employees or employees of any political subdivision 
unless the measure as recommended by the committee provides:
a.The measure is effective through June thirtieth of the second odd 	- numbered year 
following the year in which the legislative assembly enacted the measure, and 
after that date the measure is ineffective.
b.The application of the mandate begins with the contract for health insurance 
which becomes effective after June thirtieth of the year in which the measure 
becomes effective.
c.For the second legislative assembly following the year in which the legislative 
assembly enacted the measure, the public employees retirement system may 
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prepare and request introduction of a bill to repeal the expiration date and to 
extend the mandated coverage or payment on the system's health insurance 
programs.
d.If the public employees retirement system introduces a bill to repeal the 
expiration date under subdivision   c, the public employees retirement system shall  
append to the bill a report regarding the effect of the mandated coverage or 
payment on the system's health insurance programs. The report must include 
information on the utilization and costs relating to the mandated coverage or 
payment.
8.Legislation enacted in contravention of this section is invalid, and any benefits 
provided under the legislation must be reduced to the level current before enactment 
of the legislation.
SECTION 3. REPEAL. Section 54-03-28 of the North Dakota Century Code is repealed.
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