2009 House Bill 4194

End post-retirement health coverage for new legislators

Introduced in the House

Feb. 6, 2009

Introduced by Rep. Dian Slavens (D-21)

To end the post-retirement health care insurance coverage provided to legislators, but only for those who were elected after 2006. (That is, only for the "freshman" and all future legislators.) Under current law, former legislators who have been in office for six years get full health coverage beginning at age 55.

Referred to the Committee on Government Operations

Feb. 2, 2010

Substitute offered by Rep. Marty Knollenberg (R-41)

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that only ends the post-retirement health care insurance coverage for future legislators, not for any current ones.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 103 to 1 (details)

To end the post-retirement health care insurance coverage provided to future legislators (those first elected after Nov. 1, 2010), but not for any current legislators. Under current law, former legislators who have been in office for six years get full health coverage beginning at age 55.

Received in the Senate

Feb. 3, 2010

Referred to the Committee on Reforms, Restructuring, and Reinventing

Feb. 24, 2010

Reported without amendment

Amendment offered

To clarify that the bill only applies to future legislators (ones first elected on or after Nov. 1, 2010), and to tie-bar it to Senate Bill 132, meaning this bill cannot become law unless that one does also. SB 132 would also end these benefits to future Supreme Court and Appeals Court judges, Governors, Lieutenant Governors, Secretaries of State, Attorney Generals, Auditor Generals, and State Court Administrators (ones first elected or appointed after Nov. 1, 2010).

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Sen. Michael Switalski (D-10)

To tie-bar the bill to Senate Bill 133, meaning this bill cannot become law unless that one does also. SB 133 would establish a graduated post-retirement health insurance benefit for legislators elected starting in 2008, in which the size of the benefit depends on how many years they were on the government payroll.

The amendment failed 16 to 22 (details)

Passed in the Senate 28 to 10 (details)

To end the post-retirement health care insurance coverage provided to future legislators (those first elected after Nov. 1, 2010), but not for any current legislators. Under current law, former legislators who have been in office for five years get full health coverage beginning at age 55. The bill is tie-barred to Senate Bill 132 (both must pass for either to go into law), which would also end post-retirement health benefits for future Supreme Court and Appeals Court judges, Governors, Lieutenant Governors, Secretaries of State, Attorney Generals, Auditor Generals, and State Court Administrators.

Received in the House

Feb. 24, 2010