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Bill would give Public Employees Benefits Board more flexibility to study and offer employee‑paid voluntary benefits, agency supports
Summary
Senate Bill 5478 would remove some existing requirements for the Public Employees Benefits Board and instead authorize the board to study or offer employee‑paid voluntary benefits. The Health Care Authority told the committee the bill does not require funding and HCA testified in support.
Committee staff presented Senate Bill 5478, which would repeal existing statutory requirements that the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) offer property, casualty and long‑term care insurance and instead authorize the PEBB to study and, subject to available funding, offer employee‑paid voluntary benefits such as emergency transportation, identity protection, legal aid, long‑term care insurance, non‑commercial personal automobile insurance, homeowners and renters insurance, and pet insurance.
David Pringle summarized the bill and noted the Washington State Health Care Authority’s fiscal note shows no state fiscal impact. Sean O’Neil, legislative relations manager for the Health Care Authority, testified in support and said the bill aligns PEBB authority with existing authority already available to the school employee subboard and would enable offerings to both programs without requiring any appropriation.
Committee members asked no substantive questions and the hearing record contains no vote on the bill.
