House Bill 1324

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-15-303, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE STATE AND SCHOOL EMPLOYEES HEALTH INSURANCE MANAGEMENT BOARD; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 25-15-303, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-15-303. (1) There is created the State and School Employees Health Insurance Management Board, which shall administer the State and School Employees Life and Health Insurance Plan provided for under Section 25-15-3 et seq. The State and School Employees Health Insurance Management Board, hereafter referred to as the "board," shall also be responsible for administering all procedures for selecting third-party administrators provided for in Section 25-15-301.

(2) The board shall consist of the following:

(a) The Chairman of the Workers' Compensation Commission;

(b) The State Personnel Director;

(d) The Commissioner of Higher Education;

(e) The State Superintendent of Education;

(f) The Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration;

(g) Two (2) appointees of the Governor whose terms shall be concurrent with that of the Governor, one (1) of whom shall have experience in providing actuarial advice to companies that provide health insurance to large groups and one (1) of whom shall have experience in the day-to-day management and administration of a large self-funded health insurance group;

(h) The Chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee, or his designee;

(i) The Chairman of the House of Representatives Insurance Committee, or his designee;

(j) The Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, or his designee; and

(k) The Chairman of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, or his designee.

The legislators, or their designees, shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of the board.

The Executive Director of the Department of Finance and Administration shall be the chairman of the board.

(3) The board shall meet at least monthly and maintain minutes of such meetings. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the authorized voting membership of the board. The board shall have the sole authority to promulgate rules and regulations governing the operations of the insurance plans and shall be vested with all legal authority necessary and proper to perform this function including, but not limited to:

(a) Defining the scope and coverages provided by the insurance plan;

(b) Seeking proposals for services or insurance through competitive processes where required by law and selecting service providers or insurers under procedures provided for by law; and

The department shall employ a State Insurance Administrator, who shall be responsible for the day-to-day management and administration of the insurance plan. The board shall employ a Deputy State Insurance Administrator who shall be an actuary and a member of the American Academy of Actuaries. The Deputy State Insurance Administrator shall have experience in providing actuarial services to companies which provide health insurance to large groups. The deputy administrator shall receive a salary set by the board and shall not be subject to the authority of the State Personnel Board for any purpose. The Department of Finance and Administration shall provide to the board on a full-time basis personnel and technical support necessary and sufficient to effectively and efficiently carry out the requirements of this section.

(4) Members of the board shall not receive any compensation or per diem, but may receive travel reimbursement provided for under Section 25-3-41 except that the legislators shall receive per diem and expenses which shall be paid from the contingent expense funds of their respective houses in the same amounts as provided for committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session; however, no per diem and expenses for attending meetings of the board shall be paid while the Legislature is in session.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2005.