Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 21 - PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES (§§ 21-1-101 — 21-15-113) › Chapter 5 - COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS (§§ 21-5-101 — 21-5-1418) › Subchapter 4 - STATE AND PUBLIC SCHOOL LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE BOARD (§§ 21-5-401 — 21-5-424) › Section 21-5-424 - State Employee Health Benefit Advisory Commission - Creation - Members - Expense reimbursement

(a)
(1)
The State Employee Health Benefit Advisory Commission is created, to be composed of the following voting members:
(A)
(i)
Three (3) members appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by the Senate, who have a minimum of five (5) years of professional experience or fiscal expertise in the industry of health insurance, actuarial services, or financial or banking services.
(ii)
Members appointed by the Governor shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor;
(B)
(i)
One (1) member who shall have five (5) years consecutive participation in the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program.
(ii)
A member under subdivision (a)(1)(B)(i) of this section may be:
(a)
Selected from a list of three (3) names submitted by the Executive Director of the Arkansas State Employees Association, Inc., to the appointing authority under subdivision (a)(1)(B)(iii) of this section; or
(b)
An individual not on the list submitted under subdivision (a)(1)(B)(ii)
(a)
of this section who otherwise meets the qualifications under subdivision (a)(1)(B)(i) of this section.
(iii)
The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall make the initial appointment under this subdivision (a)(1)(B), and every three (3) years the authority to make the appointment shall alternate between the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and
(C)
(i)
One (1) member who:
(a)
Is a retired state employee; and
(b)
Has participated in the program for:
(1)
Five (5) consecutive years as an active employee; and
(2)
Two (2) years as a retired state employee.
(ii)
The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall make the initial appointment under this subdivision (a)(1)(C), and every three (3) years the authority to make the appointment shall alternate between the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(2)
An appointee under this section who has a conflict of interest as described in §
19-11-718
is disqualified from serving on the commission.
(b)
(1)
Members shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years but may be reappointed for unlimited additional three-year terms.
(2)
A vacancy in a position shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the unexpired term.
(c)
(1)
A chair and vice chair of the commission shall be selected annually by and from the membership of the commission.
(2)
(A)
The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the Director of the Employee Benefits Division.
(B)
The commission shall have an initial meeting by July 1, 2022.
(3)
The commission shall meet monthly and have a minimum of twelve (12) meetings annually.
(4)
The commission shall meet at a central location in Arkansas as provided by the Employee Benefits Division.
(5)
(A)
If a member misses two (2) consecutive meetings or four (4) meetings in a calendar year, the commission shall report the member's absence to the appointing authority for review.
(B)
The appointing authority shall determine whether or not the member shall continue to serve on the commission.
(C)
If the member is removed due to absences under subdivision (c)(5)(B) of this section, the appointing authority shall appoint a new member to serve the remainder of the unexpired term of the member who is removed from the commission.
(d)
Each appointed member shall be paid a stipend of five hundred dollars ($500) per month plus mileage.
(e)
The duties of the commission shall include without limitation to:
(1)
Review and confirm the financial information and the potential viability of funding for state employees for purposes of the program;
(2)
Review and comment on proposed policies, guidance, and directives to the program offered by the division;
(3)
Provide input and recommendations to the State Board of Finance for decisions concerning the health benefit options available under the program;
(4)
Review drugs for formulary management;
(5)
Evaluate the financial impact of the commission's recommendations for formulary management;
(6)
Review and evaluate medical management and medical management policies;
(7)
Make recommendations to the board on the evaluation of medical management and medical management policies;
(8)
Review and analyze the actuarial soundness of the program in coordination with an actuary of the division;
(9)
Project:
(A)
Annual premium adjustments; and
(B)
Annual monthly contribution adjustments for participating entities; and
(10)
Make initial recommendations to the board by January 31, 2023, and by January 31 of each year thereafter.
(f)
The division shall provide staff support for the activities of the commission.
(g)
The Arkansas State Employees Association, Inc., or a designee of the Arkansas State Employees Association, Inc., that develops and administers a cafeteria plan under §
21-5-904(d)
shall provide the commission with an annual report of voluntary products to be offered to state employees during open enrollment.
Amended by Act 2023, No. 533,§ 6, eff. 8/1/2023.
Added by Act 2022, No. 114,§ 3, eff. 3/1/2022.