HB1240
To Expand Eligibility For Coverage Under The State And Public School Life And Health Insurance Program To Certain Volunteer Firefighters.
AI-Generated Summary
This bill proposes to amend Arkansas law to expand eligibility for the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program. Specifically, it seeks to include certain volunteer firefighters in this program. The bill defines "fire department" as an organization established for fire prevention or extinguishment that employs a volunteer firefighter. A "volunteer firefighter" is defined as a member of a fire department who actively engages in firefighting activities and receives less than $5,000 in compensation annually from their department. The bill amends the section of law detailing program eligibility to add volunteer firefighters as a category. It also specifies that these volunteer firefighters will be responsible for paying their own premiums, or these premiums may be paid in full or in part by the fire department employing them. The payment options for volunteer firefighters include bank account deductions or direct payment by the fire department.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries of this bill are volunteer firefighters in Arkansas who meet the specified criteria. By expanding eligibility to the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program, these individuals would gain access to health and life insurance coverage that they may not have previously had. Additionally, fire departments that employ these volunteer firefighters could potentially benefit, as the bill allows for these departments to pay all or part of the insurance premiums, which could serve as an incentive for recruitment and retention of volunteer personnel.
Who Might Suffer?
The groups most directly negatively impacted by this bill, if enacted, are likely the State of Arkansas and the fire departments that choose to cover the premiums for their volunteer firefighters. For the state, there is a potential, though not explicitly stated in the bill as a state-funded benefit, for increased administrative costs associated with managing the expanded eligibility and processing premium payments. For fire departments, there is a direct financial impact if they choose to pay the premiums for their volunteer firefighters, as this represents an additional operational expense. The volunteer firefighters themselves, while gaining access to insurance, are responsible for paying the premiums, which could be a financial burden if they are unable to afford the cost of coverage.