Fiscal impact reports (FIRs) are prepared by the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) for standing finance committees of the NM Legislature. The LFC does not assume responsibility for the accuracy of these reports if they are used for other purposes.

 

Current FIRs (in HTML & Adobe PDF formats) are available on the NM Legislative Website (legis.state.nm.us).  Adobe PDF versions include all attachments, whereas HTML versions may not.  Previously issued FIRs and attachments may also be obtained from the LFC in Suite 101 of the State Capitol Building North.

 

 

F I S C A L    I M P A C T    R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR

Gorham

DATE TYPED

02/05/04

HB

 

 

SHORT TITLE

State Employee Health Care Task Force

SB

530

 

 

ANALYST

Geisler

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY04

FY05

FY04

FY05

 

25.0

 

 

Non-Recurring

General Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Relates to:  SB 538, HB 561,  SB 373, HB 451, HB 283, SB 305

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

LFC Files

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis of Bill

 

This Bill creates a state employee health care task force that shall examine the statutes, constitutional provisions, rules and court decisions governing health care coverage for state employees and shall recommend legislation or changes, if any are found, to the legislature.

 

The task force will have 11 members:  three from the House of Representatives, three from the Senate, 2 governor’s appointees, and 3 state employees.  Staff will be provided by the legislative council service.  The task force will meet monthly and the report is due to legislative health and human services committee and the legislative finance committee by November 1, 2004.

 

Significant Issues

 

The bill requires a comparison of what other states have done to:

 

1)      provide appropriate health care coverage to their employees;

2)      offer options, including varying levels of coverage;

3)      determine state and employee contributions based on the employee’s income;

 

4)      offer incentives for wellness programs or initiatives; and

5)      control the costs of  health care.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The bill contains an appropriation of $25,000 from the general fund in FY 05 to the legislative council service to assist to task force in carrying out its duties.

 

RELATIONSHIP

 

SB 530 relates to SB 538 and HB 561 which propose to create a Health Care Purchasing Authority; and SB 373, HB 451, HB 283, and SB 305 which propose changing the employer contribution percentage for employee health benefit programs.

 

QUESTION

 

The bill does not contain an emergency clause or FY 04 funding.  If the task force waits until the start of FY 05 (July 1, 2004) to begin its work, will four months be enough time to complete the report?

 

AMENDMENT

 

Suggest replacing “teacher merit task force” with “state employee health care task force” in

Section 5 of the bill.

 

GGG/njw:lg