Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 81 (2016GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Kennedy, M.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/21/2016

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Gary R. Herbert

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• provides that an employee who is not eligible for a contribution to a health savings account and is eligible for a contribution for a high deductible plan may receive that contribution in a health reimbursement account or other qualified account the employee is otherwise eligible for.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES INSURANCE OFFERINGS
AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Michael S. Kennedy
Senate Sponsor: 
Alvin B. Jackson
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill amends the Utah State Retirement and Insurance Benefit Act related to high
deductible heath insurance plans.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ provides that an employee who is not eligible for a contribution to a health savings
account and is eligible for a contribution for a high deductible plan may receive that
contribution in a health reimbursement account or other qualified account the
employee is otherwise eligible for.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
49-20-410
, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapters 310 and 319
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
49-20-410
 is amended to read:
49-20-410.
High deductible health plan -- Health savings account --
Contributions.
(1) (a) In addition to other employee benefit plans offered under Subsection
49-20-201
(1), the office shall offer at least one federally qualified high deductible health plan
with a health savings account as an optional health plan.
(b) The provisions and limitations of the plan shall be:
(i) determined by the office in accordance with federal requirements and limitations;
and
(ii) designed to promote appropriate health care utilization by consumers, including
preventive health care services.
(c) A state employee hired on or after July 1, 2011, who is offered a plan under
Subsection 
49-20-202
(1)(a), shall be enrolled in a federally qualified high deductible health
plan unless the employee chooses a different health benefit plan during the employee's open
enrollment period.
(2) The office shall:
(a) administer the high deductible health plan in coordination with a health savings
account for medical expenses for each covered individual in the high deductible health plan;
(b) offer to all employees training regarding all health plans offered to employees;
(c) prepare online training as an option for the training required by Subsections (2)(b)
and (4);
(d) ensure the training offered under Subsections (2)(b) and (c) includes information on
changing coverages to the high deductible plan with a health savings account, including
coordination of benefits with other insurances, restrictions on other insurance coverages, and
general tax implications; and
(e) coordinate annual open enrollment with the Department of Human Resource
Management to give state employees the opportunity to affirmatively select preferences from
among insurance coverage options.
(3) (a) Contributions to the health savings account may be made by the employer.
(b) The amount of the employer contributions under Subsection (3)(a) shall be
determined annually by the office, after consultation with the Department of Human Resource
Management and the Governor's Office of Management and Budget so that the annual
employer contribution amount reflects the difference in the actuarial value between the
program's health maintenance organization coverage and the federally qualified high deductible
health plan coverage, after taking into account any difference in employee premium
contribution.
(c) The office shall distribute the annual amount determined under Subsection (3)(b) to
employees in two equal amounts with a pay date in January and a pay date in July of each plan
year.
(d) An employee may also make contributions to the health savings account.
(e) If an employee is ineligible for a contribution to a health savings account under
federal law and would otherwise be eligible for the contribution under Subsection (3)(a), the
contribution shall be distributed into a health reimbursement account or other tax-advantaged
arrangement authorized under the Internal Revenue Code for the benefit of the employee.
(4) (a) An employer participating in a plan offered under Subsection 
49-20-202
(1)(a)
shall require each employee to complete training on the health plan options available to the
employee.
(b) The training required by Subsection (4)(a):
(i) shall include materials prepared by the office under Subsection (2);
(ii) may be completed online; and
(iii) shall be completed:
(A) before the end of the 2012 open enrollment period for current enrollees in the
program; and
(B) for employees hired on or after July 1, 2011, before the employee's selection of a
plan in the program.