§ 10-2-133 — Increased cost obligations for health benefit plans - Fiscal impact statement required - Definitions

Arkansas § 10-2-133

• Jurisdiction: Arkansas
• Title: 10

Text

(a) As used in this section: (1) "Entity of the state" means any agency, board, bureau, commission, committee, council, department, division, institution of higher education, office, public school, quasi-public organization, or other political subdivision of the state; (2) "Fiscal impact statement" means a realistic written statement of the purpose of a proposed law and the estimated financial cost to an entity of the state for implementing or complying with the proposed law; and (3) "Health benefit plan" means a policy, contract, certificate, or agreement offered or issued by an entity to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of healthcare services, including pharmacy benefits, to an entity of the state. (b) (1) A bill filed in the House of Representatives or the Senate that will impose a new or increased cost obligation for health benefit plans, including pharmacy benefits, on an entity of the state shall: (A) Have a fiscal impact statement attached to the bill prepared and filed with the chair of the committee to which the bill is referred; and (B) Not be taken up by the committee to which the bill is referred until a fiscal impact statement is provided to the chair of the committee. (2) The services of actuaries may be obtained in evaluating the respective bills and preparing the fiscal impact statement. (c) (1) (A) If a House bill or Senate bill is called up for final passage in the House of Representatives or the Senate and a fiscal impact statement has not been provided by the author of the bill or by the committee to which the bill was referred, a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate may object to the bill's being called up for final passage until a fiscal impact statement is prepared and made available on the desk of each member of the House of Representatives or the Senate at least one (1) day before the bill's being called up for final passage. (B) An affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of a quorum present and voting shall override the objection. (2) If an objection is made without override, the presiding officer of the House of Representatives or the Senate shall cause the bill to be referred to an actuary for the preparation of a fiscal impact statement, which shall be filed with the presiding officer not later than five (5) days from the date of the request. (d) A fiscal impact statement required by this section shall be developed by an actuary within the guidelines adopted by the House Committee on Insurance and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Insurance and Commerce, as applicable.

Legislative History

Added by Act 2022, No. 112,§ 1, eff. 3/1/2022.