Employee Benefits Programs Committee

Duties and Studies

Consider and report on the legislative proposals over which the committee takes jurisdiction and which fiscally impact the retirement programs of state employees or employees of any political subdivision, and health and retiree health plans of state employees or employees of any political subdivision. A majority of the members of the committee have sole authority to determine whether a legislative proposal affects a program. The committee shall make a thorough review of each proposal the committee takes under its jurisdiction, including an actuarial report. The committee shall take jurisdiction over a proposal that authorizes an automatic increase or other change in benefits beyond the ensuing biennium which would not require legislative approval. The committee shall include in the report of the committee a statement that the proposal would allow future changes without legislative involvement. The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the committee shall request an actuarial report from the program affected by a legislative measure if a measure is introduced in either house without an actuarial report, or if an amendment is made to the measure, and provide the report to the standing committee to which the measure is referred. (NDCC § 54-35-02.4)

Approve terminology adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Teachers' Fund for Retirement to comply with applicable federal statutes or rules. (NDCC § 15-39.1-35)

Approve terminology adopted by the Public Employees Retirement System Board to comply with federal requirements. (NDCC §§ 39-03.1-29, 54-52-23, 54-52.1-08.2, 54-52.6-23)

Adopt a procedure for identifying measures and proposed measures mandating health insurance coverage of services or payments for specified providers of services. (NDCC § 54-03-28(4))

Review legislative measures and proposals affecting public employees retirement programs and health and retiree health plans. (NDCC § 54-35-02.4)

(1580 § 1) Consider studying the classified state employee total rewards compensation system, including a review of the determination of pay grade, classifications, and health care benefits. The study must include a review of the history of changes to the classification and pay grade levels; comparisons among state employees across all departments and comparisons between state employee compensation levels to similar private sector jobs; use of equity funding and bonuses to retain employees; payment of prevailing wages on state projects and wage levels in awarding contracts for state projects; the impact of changes to health plan benefits; and premium rate structures for single and family coverage and the impact of proposed changes.

(2280 § 2) Consider studying prior authorization requirements imposed by Public Employees Retirement System uniform group insurance plans under Chapter 54-52.1 and the impact on patient care and health care costs. The study must include input from stakeholders, including patients, providers, and commercial insurance plans. The study must require insurance plans to submit to the Insurance Commissioner by July 1, 2025, for the immediately preceding calendar year for each commercial product the number of prior authorization requests for which an authorization was issued; the number of prior authorization requests for which an adverse determination was issued, sorted by health care service, whether the adverse determination was appealed, or whether the adverse determination was upheld or reversed on appeal; the reasons for prior authorization denial, including the patient did not meet prior authorization criteria, incomplete information was submitted by the provider to the utilization review organization, a change in treatment program, or the patient is no longer covered by the plan; and the number of denials reversed by internal appeals or external reviews. The Insurance Commissioner shall aggregate this data into a report and submit the report to the Legislative Management by November 1, 2025.

Reports

Receive notice from the Board of Trustees of the Teachers' Fund for Retirement of necessary or desirable changes in statutes relating to the administration of the Teachers' Fund for Retirement fund. (NDCC § 15-39.1-05.2)

Receive an annual report from the Board of Trustees of the Teachers' Fund for Retirement regarding the annual test of actuarial adequacy of the statutory contribution rate. (NDCC § 15-39.1-10.11)

Receive notice from the firefighters relief association of the association's intent to provide a substitution monthly service pension. (NDCC § 18-11-15)

Receive periodic reports from Human Resource Management Services on the implementation, progress, and bonuses provided by state agency programs to provide bonuses to recruit or retain employees in hard-to-fill positions. (NDCC § 54-06-31)

Receive a biennial report from the Office of Management and Budget summarizing reports of state agencies providing service awards to employees in the classified service. (NDCC § 54-06-32)

Receive a biennial report from the Office of Management and Budget summarizing reports of state agencies providing employer‑paid costs of training or educational courses to employees in the classified service. (NDCC § 54-06-33)

Receive a biennial report from the Office of Management and Budget summarizing reports of executive branch state agencies paying employee membership dues for professional organizations and membership dues for service clubs when required to do business or if the membership is primarily for the benefit of the state. (NDCC § 54-06-34)

Receive an annual report from the Retirement Board regarding the contributions necessary, as determined by the actuarial study, to maintain the retirement fund's actuarial soundness. (NDCC § 54-52-06)

Receive an annual report from the Retirement Board regarding the status of the defined contribution retirement plan under Chapter 54-52.6. (NDCC § 54‑52.6‑22)