Legislative Report #06-14

Report 06-14
July 28, 2006

GENERAL ASSEMBLY ADJOURNS

The General Assembly completed the work of this Session on shortly after 1:00 A.M. this morning and adjourned. The 2007 Session of the General Assembly will convene on January 27, 2007.

One bill pertaining to the State Health Plan received approval on the last day of this Session. The provisions of this bill are summarized below.

House Bill 1059: State Health Plan Changes

The bill authorizes the following changes to state statutes governing the operation of the State Health Plan:

• The Executive Administrator and the Board of Trustees are authorized to provided coverage for over-the-counter medications as recommended by the Plan’s pharmacy committee,
• The Administrator and the Board may adopt programs that provide incentives to members who achieve and maintain healthy lifestyles,
• The Plan may establish procedures to require prior medical approvals for Bone Anchored Hearing Aids surgically implanted to treat hearing loss,
• The Plan may establish a total of eight new staff positions and may spend up to $563,106 to support these positions,
• The Administrator and the Board may admit up to four units of local government to participate in the Plan in addition to the three units that were participating members on July 1, 2006.

The bill was ratified by the Senate and the House on Thursday. It has been sent to the Governor for his signature.

FUTURE REPORTS

This is the last regular weekly Legislative Report for this Session. We will keep you informed of any interim Legislative and Executive Branch activities in Raleigh that affect the retirement systems and the State Health Plan through periodic Special Reports. Thanks to all of you for your support during this Session.