HOUSE FILE 2118

BY  J. TAYLOR

A BILL FOR

An Act concerning health and pension benefits for members and full-time employees of the general assembly.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 2.40, subsection 1, paragraph a, subparagraph (2), Code 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   (2)  The member shall pay the premium for the plan selected on the same basis as a full-time state employee excluded from collective bargaining as provided in chapter 20. 
 
However, the member shall pay a portion of the total premium for the plan selected in an amount as determined by the legislative council. The payment amount as determined by the legislative council shall be at least one hundred dollars per month.
    Sec. 2.  Section 2.40, Code 2011, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
   NEW SUBSECTION.  3.  A full-time employee of the general assembly who elects to become a member of a state group insurance plan for employees of the state established under chapter 509A shall pay a portion of the total premium for the plan selected in an amount as determined by the legislative council. The payment amount as determined by the legislative council shall be at least one hundred dollars per month.
    Sec. 3.  Section 97B.1A, subsection 26, paragraph a, subparagraph (1), subparagraph division (d), Code Supplement 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   (d)  For a member of the general assembly, the total compensation received by a member of the general assembly, whether paid in the form of per diem or annual salary, exclusive of expense
 
expenses, per diem, and travel allowances paid to a member of the general assembly except as otherwise provided in this subparagraph division. Wages includes per diem payments paid to members of the general assembly during interim periods between sessions of the general assembly. Wages also includes daily allowances to members of the general assembly for nontravel expenses of office during a session of the general assembly, but does not include the portion of the daily allowance which exceeds the maximum established by law for members from Polk county.
    Sec. 4.  Section 97B.1A, subsection 26, paragraph a, subparagraph (2), subparagraph divisions (h) and (i), Code Supplement 2011, are amended to read as follows:
   (h)  Reimbursements of employee business expenses except for those expenses included as wages for a member of the general assembly.
   (i)  Payments for allowances except for those allowances included as wages for a member of the general assembly.
EXPLANATION
   This bill concerns the health and pension benefits provided for members and full-time employees of the general assembly.
   Code section 2.40, concerning membership in state insurance plans relative to members and employees of the general assembly, is amended to provide that if members or full-time employees of the general assembly elect coverage in the state group health plan, members and employees shall pay a portion of the total premium for the plan selected in an amount determined by the legislative council. The bill provides that the amount determined by the legislative council shall be at least $100 per month.
   Code section 97B.1A(26), concerning the definition of wages for purposes of the Iowa public employees’ retirement system (IPERS), is amended to provide that per diem payments and daily allowance paid to members of the general assembly are not considered wages for purposes of IPERS.