SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1220        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1406

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Kenneth J. Donnelly

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act regarding the group insurance commission.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1220        FILED ON: 1/19/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1406

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

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An Act regarding the group insurance commission.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 32A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out section 3 and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 3. There shall be established within the executive office of administration and finance, but not under its jurisdiction, a special unpaid commission, to be known as the group insurance commission, consisting of: the commissioner of administration and finance; the commissioner of insurance; the senate president or the senate president’s designee; the speaker of the house or the speaker’s designee; and 11 members to be appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a retired state employee, appointed from a list of 3 representatives nominated by the president of the Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association of Massachusetts, 1 of whom shall be a health economist, at least 3 of whom shall be full-time state employees, 1 of whom shall be a member of the Massachusetts Public Employees Council #93, AFSCME, Massachusetts State Labor Council, AFL/CIO, appointed from a list of 3 representatives nominated by the executive director of AFSCME Council #93, 1 of whom shall be a member of the Massachusetts State Employees Association, NAGE appointed from a list of 3 representatives nominated by president of the National Association of Government Employees, 1 of whom shall be a labor representative from a list of 3 representatives of public employees nominated by the president of the Massachusetts Chapter of the AFL/CIO, 1 of whom shall be a labor representative from a list of 3 representatives nominated by the President of Local 5000 SEIU/Trial Court, 1 of whom shall be a management representative appointed from a list of 3 representatives nominated by the Massachusetts Municipal Association and 1 of whom shall be a labor representative appointed from a list of 3 representatives nominated by the president of the teachers' union with the greatest amount of active and retired members enrolled in commission health plans.

In addition, upon the transfer of 45,000 subscribers from municipal governmental units to the group insurance commission pursuant to section 19 of chapter 32B, there shall be an additional management representative appointed by the governor from a list of 3 representatives nominated by the Massachusetts Municipal Association and an additional labor representative appointed by the governor from a list of 3 representatives of municipal public safety employees nominated by the president of the Massachusetts Chapter of the AFL/CIO. Whenever an organization nominates a list of representatives for appointment by the governor under this section, the organization may nominate additional candidates if the governor declines to appoint any of those originally nominated. Not more than 55 per cent of the appointive members of the commission shall be members of the same political party. No member appointed by the governor shall be an insurance agent, broker, employee or officer of an insurance company. Upon the expiration of the term of office of an appointive member, his successor shall be appointed in like manner for a term of 3 years. The commission shall be provided with suitable offices and may, subject to appropriation, incur expenses and appoint an executive director who shall be the executive and administrative head of the commission and who shall not be subject to chapter 31. The commission may authorize the executive director to appoint such employees as may be necessary to administer this chapter. There shall be paid by the commonwealth to each appointive member of the commission the necessary expenses actually incurred in the discharge of his official duties.

The commission shall adopt such reasonable rules and regulations as may be necessary for the administration of this chapter and shall make an annual report to the governor and to the general court which shall include any modifications or amendments made to contracts executed under this chapter. The rules and regulations shall be in such form as to enable employees to understand the benefits available from the insurance program, including the cost thereof.