Education committee adopts $300 monthly employer contribution for school employee health insurance
April 04, 2022 | EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Arkansas
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The House and Senate Education Committee voted to incorporate a $300 employer contribution for public school employees into the state adequacy study and related budget documents, a measure staff said is required by legislation passed in the recent fiscal session.
Department of Education Secretary Johnny Key told members the committee has the authority "to set the rate or set the, rates that districts will be paying in" and that "as of January 1, that is going to be $300 per participating member." The motion to adopt the department's recommendations—moved by Representative Kozart—also included a $64 increase to per‑pupil foundation funding for the 2022–23 school year to support the change.
Representative Kozart moved that the committee "approve the recommendations of the Department of Education, division of elementary and secondary education which purposes an increase of $64 to the per pupil foundation funding" and that districts contribute "a total of 300 per month per participating employee of the public school district health insurance beginning 01/01/2023," language the motion asked to be added to the 2020 adequacy addendum in accordance with Arkansas Code 10‑3‑2104 and Act 111 (02/2022).
The chair called a voice vote and announced the motion passed by voice vote ('ayes have it'). The committee did not record a roll‑call tally in the public transcript; staff noted the action will be reflected in the amended adequacy report and the addendum to be transmitted to legislative leaders.
Members were told the Governor and General Assembly had already provided the line‑item funding in the budget and that this committee's action simply updates the adequacy study and documents the employer contribution going forward. Staff also reminded members the committee retains authority to review and modify the employer contribution in future adequacy cycles based on information from the employees benefits division.
The committee moved on to the next agenda item after the vote.
Department of Education Secretary Johnny Key told members the committee has the authority "to set the rate or set the, rates that districts will be paying in" and that "as of January 1, that is going to be $300 per participating member." The motion to adopt the department's recommendations—moved by Representative Kozart—also included a $64 increase to per‑pupil foundation funding for the 2022–23 school year to support the change.
Representative Kozart moved that the committee "approve the recommendations of the Department of Education, division of elementary and secondary education which purposes an increase of $64 to the per pupil foundation funding" and that districts contribute "a total of 300 per month per participating employee of the public school district health insurance beginning 01/01/2023," language the motion asked to be added to the 2020 adequacy addendum in accordance with Arkansas Code 10‑3‑2104 and Act 111 (02/2022).
The chair called a voice vote and announced the motion passed by voice vote ('ayes have it'). The committee did not record a roll‑call tally in the public transcript; staff noted the action will be reflected in the amended adequacy report and the addendum to be transmitted to legislative leaders.
Members were told the Governor and General Assembly had already provided the line‑item funding in the budget and that this committee's action simply updates the adequacy study and documents the employer contribution going forward. Staff also reminded members the committee retains authority to review and modify the employer contribution in future adequacy cycles based on information from the employees benefits division.
The committee moved on to the next agenda item after the vote.
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