HOUSE BILL 36

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2023

INTRODUCED BY

Raymundo Lara

AN ACT

RELATING TO INSURANCE; AMENDING THE GROUP INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS, CHARTER SCHOOLS AND PARTICIPATING ENTITIES IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL INSURANCE AUTHORITY; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 22-29-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1989, Chapter 373, Section 5, as amended) is amended to read:

     "22-29-10. GROUP INSURANCE CONTRIBUTIONS.--

          A. Group insurance contributions for school districts, charter schools and participating entities in the authority, [shall be made as follows:

                (1) at least seventy-five percent of the cost of the insurance of an employee whose annual salary is less than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000);

                (2) at least seventy percent of the cost of the insurance of an employee whose annual salary is fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) or more but less than twenty thousand dollars ($20,000);

                (3) at least sixty-five percent of the cost of the insurance of an employee whose annual salary is twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) or more but less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000); or

                (4) at least sixty percent of the cost of the insurance of an employee whose annual salary is twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) or more.

          B.] within available revenue, [school districts, charter schools and participating entities in the authority may contribute up to] shall be at least eighty percent of the cost of the insurance of all employees.

          [C.] B. Whenever a school district, charter school or participating entity in the authority offers to its employees alternative health plan benefit options, including health maintenance organizations, preferred provider organizations or panel doctor plans, the school district, charter school or participating entity may pay an amount on behalf of the employee and family member for the indemnity health insurance plan sufficient to result in equal employee monthly costs to the cost of the health maintenance organization plans, preferred provider organization plans or panel doctor plans, regardless of the percentage limitations in the Public School Insurance Authority Act. School districts, charter schools and participating entities in the authority may pay up to one hundred percent of the first fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) of term life insurance."

     SECTION 2. APPROPRIATION.--Seventy million two hundred forty-eight thousand nine hundred dollars ($70,248,900) is appropriated from the general fund to the public education department for expenditure in fiscal year 2024 to distribute to school districts, charter schools and participating entities in the public school insurance authority to pay for increased employer contributions for group health insurance. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2024 shall revert to the general fund.

     SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 2023.

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