S 0472 General Bill, By Reese
 A BILL TO ESTABLISH A STATE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN FOR NONSTATE EMPLOYEE
 INDIVIDUALS AND TO PROVIDE THAT EVERY RESIDENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA WHO FILES A
 STATE TAX RETURN IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PLAN; TO REQUIRE THE BUDGET
 AND CONTROL BOARD TO ADMINISTER THE PLAN AND TO ESTABLISH RATES FOR THE
 PREMIUMS; PREMIUMS PAID INTO THIS PLAN MUST NOT BE COMINGLED WITH STATE
 EMPLOYEES' HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS, AND TO REQUIRE BOTH PLANS TO OPERATE
 INDEPENDENTLY OF EACH OTHER; TO AUTHORIZE PARTICIPANTS TO OPT OUT OR IN EACH
 CALENDAR YEAR; AND TO REQUIRE PARTICIPANTS TO PAY INTO THE SYSTEM THE FIRST
 YEAR BUT NOT RECEIVE INSURANCE BENEFITS IN ORDER TO COLLECT PREMIUMS AND
 CREATE AN ESCROW ACCOUNT FROM WHICH TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM.

   02/10/05  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-8
   02/10/05  Senate Referred to Committee on Finance SJ-8
   02/07/06  Senate Referred to Subcommittee: J.V.Smith (ch),
                     Patterson, O'Dell, Alexander

TO ESTABLISH A STATE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN FOR NONSTATE EMPLOYEE INDIVIDUALS AND TO PROVIDE THAT EVERY RESIDENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA WHO FILES A STATE TAX RETURN IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PLAN; TO REQUIRE THE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD TO ADMINISTER THE PLAN AND TO ESTABLISH RATES FOR THE PREMIUMS; PREMIUMS PAID INTO THIS PLAN MUST NOT BE COMINGLED WITH STATE EMPLOYEES' HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS, AND TO REQUIRE BOTH PLANS TO OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY OF EACH OTHER; TO AUTHORIZE PARTICIPANTS TO OPT OUT OR IN EACH CALENDAR YEAR; AND TO REQUIRE PARTICIPANTS TO PAY INTO THE SYSTEM THE FIRST YEAR BUT NOT RECEIVE INSURANCE BENEFITS IN ORDER TO COLLECT PREMIUMS AND CREATE AN ESCROW ACCOUNT FROM WHICH TO ADMINISTER THE PROGRAM.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    (A)    There is established the State Health Insurance Plan for Nonstate Employees. A resident of this State who files a state income tax return is eligible to participate in the plan, which must be administered by the Budget and Control Board and which must include, but is not limited to, establishing rates for premiums. Premiums paid into this plan must not be comingled with premiums paid into the State Employees Health Insurance Plan, and both plans must be operated independently of each other.

(B)    Participants in the plan may opt out or in each calendar year and shall pay into the system the first year but not receive insurance benefits in order to collect premiums and to create an escrow account from which to administer the program.

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.