SR 3 — TO AUTHORIZE A NONAPPROPRIATION BILL TO REQUIRE A FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR ANY PROPOSED LEGISLATION IMPOSING A NEW OR INCREASED COST OBLIGATION FOR HEALTH BENEFIT PLANS, INCLUDING PHARMACY BENEFITS, ON AN ENTITY OF THE STATE.

Bill Text

• SR 3 View text Current pdf

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

This bill introduces a requirement for a fiscal impact statement for proposed legislation that adds or increases costs for health benefit plans on state entities.

• Arkansas Code Title 10, Chapter 2, Subchapter 1

  10-2-133. Increased cost obligations for health benefit plans — Fiscal impact statement required — Definitions. (a) As used in this section: (1) "Entity of the state" means any agency, board, bureau, commission, committee, council, department, division, institution of higher education, office, public school, quasi-public organization, or other political subdivision of the state; (2) "Fiscal impact statement" means a realistic written statement of the purpose of a proposed law and the estimated financial cost to an entity of the state of implementing or complying with the proposed law; and (3) "Health benefit plan" means a policy, contract, certificate, or agreement offered or issued by an entity to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of healthcare services, including pharmacy benefits, to an entity of the state. (b)(1) A bill filed in the House of Representatives or the Senate that will impose a new or increased cost obligation for health benefit plans, including pharmacy benefits, on an entity of the state shall: (A) Have a fiscal impact statement attached to the bill prepared and filed with the chair of the committee to which the bill is referred; and (B) Not be taken up by the committee to which the bill is referred until a fiscal impact statement is provided to the chair of the committee. (2) The services of actuaries may be obtained in evaluating the respective bills and preparing the fiscal impact statement. (c)(1)(A) If a House bill or Senate bill is called up for final passage in the House of Representatives or the Senate and a fiscal impact statement has not been provided by the author of the bill or by the committee to which the bill was referred, a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate may object to the bill's being called up for final passage until a fiscal impact statement is prepared and made available on the desk of each member of the House of Representatives or the Senate at least one (1) day before the bill's being called up for final passage. (B) An affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of a quorum present and voting shall override the objection. (2) If an objection is made without override, the presiding officer of the House of Representatives or the Senate shall cause the bill to be referred to an actuary for the preparation of a fiscal impact statement, which shall be filed with the presiding officer not later than five (5) days from the date of the request. (d) A fiscal impact statement required by this section shall be developed by an actuary within the guidelines adopted by the House Committee on Insurance and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Insurance and Commerce, as applicable.

  This establishes a new requirement for a fiscal impact statement on relevant proposed legislation.

• Arkansas Code Title 21, Chapter 5, Subchapter 4

  21-5-419. Introduction of bills affecting State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program — Definitions. (a) As used in this section: (1) "Entity of the state" means any agency, board, bureau, commission, committee, council, department, division, institution of higher education, office, public school, quasi-public organization, or other political subdivision of the state; and (2) "Health benefit plan" means a policy, contract, certificate, or agreement offered or issued by an entity to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of healthcare services, including pharmacy benefits, to an entity of the state. (b) A bill affecting the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program or that imposes a new or increased cost obligation for health benefit plans, including pharmacy benefits, on an entity of the state to be considered by the General Assembly at a regular session shall be introduced in the General Assembly during the first fifteen (15) calendar days of a regular session. (c)(1) A bill as described in subsection (b) of this section shall not be introduced after the fifteenth day of a regular session unless the introduction of the bill is first approved by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the full membership of each house of the General Assembly. (2) If the General Assembly recesses for longer than three (3) consecutive days during the first fifteen (15) days of a regular session, the fifteen-day introduction deadline shall be extended for a time period equal to the recess. (d) A bill affecting the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program or that imposes a new or increased cost obligation for health benefit plans, including pharmacy benefits, on an entity of the state shall not be introduced or considered at a fiscal session or an extraordinary session of the General Assembly unless the introduction and consideration of the bill is first approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the full membership of each house of the General Assembly.

  This mandates specific procedures for introducing certain bills relating to health benefit plans during legislative sessions.

Action History

1. March 15, 2022

   Sine Die adjournment

2. February 15, 2022

   Read the third time and adopted.

3. February 14, 2022

   Read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and placed on the calendar.

4. February 10, 2022

   Filed

Sponsors

• Ricky Hill · Cosponsor
• Greg Leding · Cosponsor
• Ben Gilmore · Cosponsor
• Scott Flippo · Cosponsor
• Jane English · Cosponsor
• Elliott · Cosponsor
• Jonathan Dismang · Cosponsor
• Beckham · Cosponsor
• Missy Irvin · Cosponsor
• Terry Rice · Primary
• Jr Jimmy Hickey · Cosponsor
• L. Chesterfield · Cosponsor
• K. Ingram · Cosponsor
• B. Sample · Cosponsor

Votes

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