Louisiana SB 116: GROUP BENEFITS PROGRAM: Abolishes the Group Benefits Estimating Conference. (8/1/20) (OR NO IMPACT See Note)

Bill Text

SLS 20RS-409 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 116
BY SENATOR TALBOT
GROUP BENEFITS PROGRAM. Abolishes the Group Benefits Estimating Conference.
(8/1/20)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 42:881 and R.S. 46:802(B)(7) and to repeal R.S. 39:21.3(G),
3 relative to the Group Benefits Estimating Conference; to abolish the Group Benefits
4 Estimating Conference; to repeal the duties and membership of the Group Benefits
5 Estimating Conference; to remove references to the Group Benefits Estimating
6 Conference; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 42:881 is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
9 §881. Establishment of the Group Benefits Policy and Planning Board
10 A. There is hereby established the Group Benefits Policy and Planning Board
11 within the Office of Group Benefits. The board shall review and recommend life and
12 health benefit programs offered to eligible employees, including the proposed rate
13 structure which that will support the life and health benefit plan. At least annually,
14 the chief executive officer shall submit any proposed changes to the rate structure
15 and the associated life and health benefits programs to the board to review and
16 recommend prior to the final adoption of the plan. The plan submitted by the chief
17 executive officer shall include an estimate of the costs and an estimated rate structure
Page 1 of 3
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SB NO. 116
SLS 20RS-409 ORIGINAL
1 for a three-year period. The board shall submit a written report to the commissioner
2 of administration, the chief executive officer of the Office of Group Benefits, and the
3 appropriate legislative oversight committees, including any comments and
4 recommendations regarding modifications to such proposed benefit plans and the
5 associated rates.
6 B. The Group Benefits Policy and Planning Board shall use any official
7 information provided by the Group Benefits Estimating Conference as may be
8 necessary in the review of benefits plans and proposed rate structures required by
9 this Section.
10 Section 2. R.S. 46:802(B)(7) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
11 §802. Powers and duties; Office of Group Benefits
12 * * *
13 B. In addition, the office shall have the following powers and duties:
14 * * *
15 (7) Subject to the board's review and recommendation, to establish premium
16 rates, under the direction of the commissioner of administration and in consultation
17 with actuaries for the life, health, and other benefit programs offered through the
18 office. The commissioner of administration, the chief executive officer of the Office
19 of Group Benefits, and the Policy and Planning Board shall also use any official
20 information developed, gathered, and presented to the parties by the Group Benefits
21 Estimating Conference in the development of premium rates.
22 * * *
23 Section 3. R.S. 39:21.3(G) is hereby repealed in its entirety.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Curry Lann.
DIGEST
SB 116 Original 2020 Regular Session Talbot
Present law (R.S. 39:21.3) creates the Group Benefits Estimating Conference for the purpose
of developing or gathering official information relating to group health and life insurance
planning, premium rates, and budgeting as is determined by the conference principals to be
needed for the state planning and budgeting system. Present law further provides for the
principals of the Group Benefits Estimating Conference as follows:
Page 2 of 3
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SB NO. 116
SLS 20RS-409 ORIGINAL
(1) A member of the professional staff of the office of the governor to be appointed by
the governor.
(2) A member of the professional staff of the division of administration to be appointed
by the commissioner of administration.
(3) A member of the professional staff of the legislature with fiscal expertise to be
appointed by the president of the Senate.
(4) A member of the professional staff of the legislature with fiscal experience to be
appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.
(5) A member of the professional staff of the Office of Group Benefits with fiscal
experience to be appointed by the commissioner of administration.
(6) An individual with a minimum of five years professional experience or fiscal
expertise in the industries of health insurance, actuarial services, financial services,
or banking to be selected by the other principals from a list of no more than two
names submitted by each of the following: the commissioner of insurance, the
commissioner of financial institutions, and the legislative auditor.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Present law requires the