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Arkansas Code Title 6. Education § 6-17-1117. Public school employees’ health insurance programs

Current as of March 28, 2024 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a)(1) Beginning January 1, 2023, a school district shall pay each month for each eligible employee electing to participate in the public school employees' health insurance program the health insurance contribution rate enacted by the General Assembly.

(2) The House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education through the biennial adequacy review process required by § 10-3-2102 shall provide a health contribution rate recommendation to the General Assembly.

(b)(1)(A) The Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall pay the Employee Benefits Division the amount enacted by the General Assembly.

(B) The amount provided for under subdivision (b)(1)(A) of this section shall take into consideration the recommendation of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education through the biennial adequacy review process required by § 10-3-2102, which may be factored according to the medical component of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, for each eligible employee electing to participate in the public school employees' health insurance program administered by the State Board of Finance.

(C) In addition to the amount paid by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education for eligible employees electing to participate in the public school employees' health insurance program, the amount paid by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education to the Employee Benefits Division under this section shall include amounts appropriated to be used to provide contributions for insurance premiums for employees of the following who are participating in the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program:

(i) An education service cooperative;

(ii) A vocational center; and

(iii) The Arkansas Correctional School District.

(2) The funds provided to the Employee Benefits Division under this subsection shall be administered by the board for the benefit of the employee participants of the public school employees' health insurance program.

(3)(A) In the event that appropriation or funding is not provided, the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall not be responsible for the increased payments for the public school employees' health insurance program as established by this section.

(B) If funding and appropriation are provided but are inadequate for the total number of employees electing to participate in the public school employees' health insurance program, the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall pay a proportional share on behalf of each participant.

(C) If funding and appropriation are provided and exceed the amount needed to make the minimum contribution under subdivision (b)(1)(A) of this section, the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall pay a proportional share of the excess on behalf of each participant.

(c)(1) A school district shall:

(A) Provide the same employer-provided health insurance benefits for all full-time school district employees; and

(B) Pay the same employer contribution rate for each eligible employee electing to participate in the public school employees' health insurance program.

(2) If a school district entered into a contract with a superintendent, teacher, or other employee before April 11, 2006, and the contract provides for a higher employer contribution rate than is paid for a majority of the licensed personnel in the school district, then the school district may continue to pay the higher contribution rate as provided under the existing contract but not under extensions, addendums, or new contracts created after April 11, 2006, without increasing all other employees to the same rate.

(3) Any school district that entered into contracts with classified personnel before July 31, 2007, and the contracts provided for a higher employer contribution funding amount than is paid for licensed personnel in the school district shall freeze the employer contribution funding amount for classified employees until such time as the funding amount contributed for licensed personnel equals or exceeds the funding amount provided for classified employees.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Arkansas Code Title 6. Education § 6-17-1117. Public school employees’ health insurance programs - last updated March 28, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ar/title-6-education/ar-code-sect-6-17-1117/

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