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Public commenters urge PEBP board to oppose AB 22 and SB 32, support AB 188 and HRA increase for Medicare retirees
Summary
Two public commenters representing statewide employee and retiree groups told the PEBP board April 7 that AB 22 and SB 32 would weaken board authority and that AB 188 should be adopted to restore retiree health benefits for post-2011 hires; they also urged an increase to the health reimbursement arrangement for Medicare retirees.
Kent Irvin of the Nevada Faculty Alliance and Terrillaird, executive director of ARRIL, told the Public Employees' Benefits Program board April 7 that they oppose AB 22 and SB 32 and support AB 188 and higher Medicare retiree Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) benefits.
Kent Irvin, representing the Nevada Faculty Alliance, said AB 22 would remove the board's authority over final approval of contracts and SB 32 would eliminate the quality control officer from statute. Irvin told the board, "The board may not only may take may take a position on a bill, it is your stated responsibility due to to do so on bills that affect the program," and urged members to review the board's duties, policies and procedures manual.
Terrillaird, executive director of ARRIL (a retired public employees organization with nearly 7,000 members in 17 chapters, he said), reiterated opposition to AB 22 and SB 32 and expressed support for AB 188 by Assembly member Max Carter to restore retiree health benefits for employees hired after 2011. He also urged that PEBP consider increasing the Medicare retiree HRA and inclusion of Medicare exchange support in the upcoming budget process.
Executive Officer Celestina Glover provided the board's legislative update later in the meeting and said there were no new bill updates or fiscal-note changes to report at that time. Glover noted that the Public Account Budget (PAB) budget closing was scheduled for April 15 and that she had received no information regarding changes to the budget as submitted.
Board members did not take formal action on the legislative items during the meeting. Public comment was taken under agenda item 2 and again under agenda item 6; PEBP staff said public comments would be taken under advisement and would not be answered during the meeting.
