Florida Senate - 2017                                     SB 470
       
       
        
       By Senator Grimsley
       
       26-00293-17                                            2017470__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to benefits for water management
    3         district employees and retirees; amending s. 373.605,
    4         F.S.; authorizing the governing board of a water
    5         management district to enroll the district’s employees
    6         and retirees in the state group insurance program and
    7         the state employees’ prescription drug program;
    8         requiring the Department of Management Services and
    9         the Legislature to determine the contribution rate and
   10         level of financial responsibility of a participating
   11         district and the district’s employees and retirees
   12         each fiscal year; specifying terms and conditions
   13         governing a district’s participation in the programs;
   14         providing for applicability; providing an effective
   15         date.
   16          
   17  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   18  
   19         Section 1. Section 373.605, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   20  read:
   21         373.605 Group insurance for water management districts.—
   22         (1) The governing board of a water management district may
   23  provide group insurance for its employees, and the employees of
   24  another water management district, in the same manner and with
   25  the same provisions and limitations authorized for other public
   26  employees under ss. 112.08, 112.09, 112.10, 112.11, and 112.14.
   27         (2) The governing board of a water management district may
   28  enroll its employees and retirees in the state group insurance
   29  program authorized under s. 110.123 and the state employees’
   30  prescription drug program authorized under s. 110.12315, subject
   31  to the same provisions and limitations applicable to other
   32  enrollees in those respective programs.
   33         (a) For each fiscal year, the Department of Management
   34  Services and the Legislature shall determine the contribution
   35  rate and level of financial responsibility required of a water
   36  management district that has exercised its option under this
   37  subsection, and of the district’s employees and retirees, which
   38  must be at parity with those of state agencies and their
   39  employees and retirees.
   40         (b) If the governing board of a water management district
   41  enrolls its employees and retirees in the state group insurance
   42  program and state employees’ prescription drug program, the
   43  water management district must agree to the following terms and
   44  conditions:
   45         1. The minimum enrollment or contractual period must be 3
   46  years.
   47         2. Termination of participation of the district requires
   48  written notice 1 year before the termination date.
   49         3. If participation is terminated, the district may not
   50  reapply for participation for a period of 2 years.
   51         Section 2. This act applies to a water management
   52  district’s enrollment in the state group insurance program and
   53  the state employees’ prescription drug program beginning with
   54  the 2018 insurance plan year and thereafter.
   55         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.