What's happening
This bill allows New York state employees to choose whether to cover their spouse and/or dependent children under their health insurance.
Why it matters
Gives state employees more control over their health insurance costs. by allowing them to opt out of covering a spouse or dependent children, which could lower their premiums if they do not need family coverage.
Recognizes diverse family and financial situations. , letting employees tailor health benefits to their specific needs (for example, covering only a spouse, only children, both, or just themselves).
May impact state insurance risk pools and budgeting. , as employees who previously had to cover all dependents under one plan can now choose more limited (and potentially less costly) coverage options.
Could influence employee decision-making about family coverage. for instance, if a spouse has better or more affordable coverage through another employer, state employees can decline spousal coverage, potentially saving money.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Employees Choose Dependent Coverage
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to civil service and pensions
- Referred to civil service and pensions
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
613
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BOYLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Civil Service and Pensions
AN ACT to amend the civil service law, in relation to granting employee's discretion over coverage for dependants
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 164 of the civil service law, as amended by chapter 617 of the laws of 1967, and as designated by section 1 of part W of chapter 56 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
1. Each employee shall be entitled to have his or her spouse [and] and/or dependent children, at such employee's discretion, as defined by the regulations of the president, included in the coverage upon agreeing to pay his or her contribution, if any, to the cost of such coverage for such dependents. Each employee shall have the option of selecting coverage solely for him or herself and his or her spouse. The president shall adopt regulations governing the discontinuance and resumption by employees of coverage for dependents.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04336-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Purpose
To allow state employees the option of selecting health coverage for solely him or herself and his or her spouse.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. This bill amends Section 164 of the civil service law to allow state employees the option of selecting health insurance coverage for solely him or herself and his or her spouse.
Section 2. Effective date.
Justification
Currently state employees covered for health insurance under the Empire plan are limited to coverage for either themselves as an individual or a family plan covering both spouses and dependents. In order for employees to obtain coverage for a spouse, they must select the family plan which includes all dependents. This bill will provide employees an option to obtain coverage for a two person household, the employee and his or her spouse.
State employees' health insurance coverage is paid through contributions by New York State and the employee him or herself. The creation of a coverage option that's limited to an employee and his or her spouse will save the State and the employees money by the reduced cost of insurance.
Legislative history
01/04/17 REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS
01/03/18 REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS
Fiscal implications
04/08/16 REFERRED TO CIVIL SERVICE AND PENSIONS
Local fiscal implications
EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become law.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
Immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.