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Committee introduces RS 32,037 to allow cities to join state employee insurance pool
Summary
Representative Rick Cheatham introduced RS 32,037 to permit cities (voluntarily) to join the state employee insurance pool; the bill would require cities to pay actuarial and buy‑in costs, not the state. The committee voted to introduce the RS after debate about adding counties.
BOISE — Representative Rick Cheatham, sponsor of RS 32,037, asked the House State Affairs Committee to introduce a bill that would allow municipalities to opt into the state employee health insurance pool.
Cheatham said the measure simply adds the word “city” to the statute that defines who may join the state pool. He told the committee the change is voluntary and cities choosing to join would pay for the actuarial study and the buy‑in costs; the state would not be required to appropriate funds to cover initial actuarial costs as was done when school districts joined the pool.
Cheatham, who said he also serves on the Pocatello City Council and cited a municipal example in which his city paid a larger-than-expected premium increase, argued that allowing cities to join could lower premiums through larger risk pooling. He said the counties are excluded because many counties belong to a separate GEM plan and that counties could pursue their own legislation.
Committee members debated whether to add the word “counties” to the RS. A substitute motion to insert counties on three lines failed. After returning to the original motion, the committee voted to introduce RS 32,037.
Action
- Motion to introduce RS 32,037: Carried (voice vote).
