SB 350-FN - AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE
02/08/2024 0260s
04/05/2024 1270s
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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
02/08/2024 0260s
04/05/2024 1270s 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 applies:
I. The employer 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
Amended 4/9/24
SB 350-FN- FISCAL NOTE
AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE (AMENDMENT #2024-1270s)
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 | ||
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.
The New Hampshire Municipal Association indicates it is not able to determine the fiscal impact of this bill as it does not have access to the data needed to make a determination.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Departments of Labor, Administrative Services, New Hampshire Association of Counties and New Hampshire Municipal Association
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| Jan. 24, 2024 | 2024-0260s |
| March 20, 2024 | 2024-1270s |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 24, 2024 | Senate | Hearing |
| Feb. 8, 2024 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| April 4, 2024 | Senate | Floor Vote |
| April 24, 2024 | House | Hearing |
April 15, 2024: Public Hearing: 04/24/2024 01:00 pm LOB 307
April 10, 2024: Introduced (in recess of) 03/28/2024 and referred to Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services HJ 11
April 5, 2024: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2024-1270s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 04/05/2024; SJ 8
April 5, 2024: Committee Amendment # 2024-1270s, AA, VV; 04/05/2024; SJ 8
March 21, 2024: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2024-1270s, 04/05/2024, Vote 7-0; SC 13
Feb. 8, 2024: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2024-0260s, MA, VV; Refer to Finance Rule 4-5; 02/08/2024; SJ 3
Feb. 8, 2024: Committee Amendment # 2024-0260s, AA, VV; 02/08/2024; SJ 3
Jan. 24, 2024: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2024-0260s, 02/08/2024; Vote 5-0; CC; SC 6
Jan. 18, 2024: Hearing: 01/24/2024, Room 101, LOB, 09:00 am; SC 4
Dec. 11, 2023: To Be Introduced 01/03/2024 and Referred to Health and Human Services; SJ 1