MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2023 Regular Session
To: Insurance
By: Senator(s) DeBar
AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 25-15-22, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI STATE AND SCHOOL EMPLOYEES' LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN TASK FORCE TO STUDY, REPORT AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING SUCH INSURANCE PLANS; TO PROVIDE CERTAIN ITEMS FOR THE TASK FORCE TO STUDY, REPORT AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON; TO PROVIDE FOR THE MEMBERSHIP AND MEETING PROCEDURE OF THE TASK FORCE; TO REQUIRE THE TASK FORCE TO MAKE A REPORT OF ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING ANY RECOMMENDED LEGISLATION, TO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE CHAIRS OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 1, 2023, AT WHICH TIME THE TASK FORCE WILL BE DISSOLVED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 25-15-22, Mississippi Code of 1972:
25-15-22. (1) There is hereby created the "Mississippi State and School Employees' Life and Health Insurance Plan Task Force" to study, report and make recommendations on:
(a) The financial state of the State Health Plan, including current reserves and solvency;
(b) The governance structure of the State Health Plan;
(c) The plan for rate increases in the future, including the impact to employees and their families;
(d) Benefits or services for employees received through the State Health Plan;
(e) A comparison of the State Health Plan and government health insurance plans in other southeastern states, including, but not limited to, their governance structures, benefits or services offered, solvency, reserves and rate structures and increases over time; and
(f) Any other information or recommendation related to the State Health Plan which may be relevant to achieving the goal of ensuring the plan is solvent and results in rates for employees and their families which are competitive with neighboring states and provide access to necessary services.
(2) The task force shall be composed of the following members:
(a) The Chairs of the Education Committees in the House and Senate;
(b) The Chairs of the Insurance Committees in the House and Senate;
(c) The Commissioner of Insurance, or his designee;
(d) The Administrator of the State Health Plan, or his designee;
(e) The Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration, or his designee;
(f) An actuary appointed by the Governor;
(g) A public schoolteacher appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; and
(h) A retired state employee appointed by the Speaker of the House.
(3) Appointments shall be made no later than thirty (30) days after the effective date of this act. The Chairs of the Insurance Committee in the Senate and House shall convene the members of the task force for an organizational meeting within thirty (30) days after the deadline for appointing members, at which time the members of the task force shall select a chairman and a vice chairman from its membership. The vice chairman shall also serve as secretary and be responsible for keeping all records of the task force. A majority of the members of the task force constitutes a quorum. In the selection of its officers and the adoption of rules, resolutions and reports, an affirmative vote of a majority of the task force shall be required to be recorded in the official minutes of the meeting in which the vote occurred. Meetings of the task force shall be held at the State Capitol; however, if it is not feasible for the task force to hold an in-person meeting, the task force may convene utilizing an online meeting platform that is accessible for viewing by the public.
(4) The Department of Finance and Administration shall provide, using existing resources, administrative and clerical support to the task force. The Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration shall designate appropriate staff to assist the task force in carrying out its duties.
(5) Subject to appropriation, members of the task force who are not state employees may be compensated at the per diem rate authorized by Section 25-3-69 and reimbursed in accordance with Section 25-3-41 for mileage and actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. However, task force members may not incur per diem, travel or other expenses unless previously authorized by vote, at a meeting of the task force, which action must be recorded in the official minutes of the meeting. Per diem and expense payments made pursuant to this subsection may be paid from any funds made available to the task force for that purpose.
(6) The task force shall make a report of its findings and recommendations, including any recommended legislation, to the Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Chairs of the Education Committees of the House of Representatives and Senate on or before November 1, 2023, at which time the task force will be dissolved.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.