SB 350-FN - AS INTRODUCED
2024 SESSION
24-2828
10/05
SENATE BILL 350-FN
SPONSORS: Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Chandley, Dist 11; Rep. Goley, Hills. 21; Rep. O'Brien, Hills. 10; Rep. Soucy, Merr. 21
COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services
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ANALYSIS
This bill requires that emergency response/public safety workers denied workers' compensation claims related to any claim of injury to which a prima facie presumption applies shall maintain their health insurance benefit until a final determination is made.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
24-2828
10/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Four
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; Workers' Compensation; Emergency Responders; Health Insurance. Amend RSA 281-A by inserting after section 17-e the following new section:
281-A:17-f Emergency Response/Public Safety Worker; Insurance Coverage. If an emergency response/public safety worker, as defined in RSA 281-A:2, V-c, petitions for hearing in response to a memorandum of denial filed under RSA 281-A:42, I(b) related to any claim of injury to which a prima facie presumption under RSA 281-A:17-c applies:
I. The employer or its insurance provider shall maintain any health insurance benefit at the value of a single employee insurance premium until such time that the commissioner makes a final determination, including any appeal.
II. Once claimed, the period for which this benefit is payable shall not exceed 18 months.
III. The employee shall be eligible for this benefit starting at the beginning of his or her employment and for a period of 20 years from the effective date of separation from service.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
24-2828
Revised 12/28/23
SB 350-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ X ] County [ X ] Local [ ] None
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Estimated State Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Revenue Fund(s) | None
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Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | ||
Funding Source(s) | Various Government Funds
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Appropriations | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Funding Source(s) | None
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• Does this bill provide sufficient funding to cover estimated expenditures? [X] No • Does this bill authorize new positions to implement this bill? [X] No | ||||||
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Estimated Political Subdivision Impact - Increase / (Decrease) | ||||||
| FY 2024 | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | FY 2027 | ||
County Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
County Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | ||
Local Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | ||
Local Expenditures | $0 | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase | Indeterminable Increase |
The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant is unable to complete a fiscal note for this bill, as introduced, as it is awaiting information from the New Hampshire Municipal Association. The Municipal Association was contacted on November 22, 2023 for a fiscal note worksheet, which they have not provided as of December 27, 2023. When completed, the fiscal note will be forwarded to the Senate Clerk's Office.
METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires that emergency response/public safety workers denied workers' compensation claims related to any claim of injury to which a prima facie presumption applies shall maintain their health insurance benefit until a final determination is made.
The Department of Administrative Services indicates the fiscal impact to the State Employee and Retiree Health Benefit Plan (HBP) is indeterminable because it cannot predict the number of emergency response/public safety workers that may become eligible for this benefit or how long the covered period for such workers will last. The Department is also unable to predict the healthcare services eligible employees may utilize and the impact on overall plan costs. The active employee 2024 monthly premium for single HMO plan coverage is $905.
The Department of Labor states it is unlikely that the bill would have significant impact on expenditures at the state, county or local level. It is possible that some state, county or local employers will incur the cost providing for ongoing health insurance benefit in some circumstances but quantification of the cost is difficult to determine. It is possible that some public employers may violate the law resulting in civil penalty but such impact is presumed to be minimal.
The New Hampshire Association of Counties states the bill is unclear as to how this change would work with existing polices and it does not designate who pays for these services.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Departments of Labor, Administrative Services, New Hampshire Association of Counties and New Hampshire Municipal Association