Special Session Bills Will Affect Health Benefits Costs

Strategies for the Proposed School Budget

Special Session Bills Will
Affect Health Benefits Costs

Two bills that would give school boards needed flexibility to contain the cost of health benefits are awaiting the Governor’s signature. Both measures resulted from the Legislature’s special session on property tax reform.

• A-1, the property tax cap and credit bill, would provide flexibility for boards that participate in the State Health Benefits Program. The bill would allow employee contribution to premium. It would also permit variations in levels of coverage for different classifications of employees, based on date of initial employment, salary and other factors.

• S-17 would provide districts that participate in SHBP with the ability to adopt financial waiver incentives for employees who waive health insurance coverage.

As of March 27, these bills have not been signed by the governor. Corzine has until the Legislature reconvenes in May to veto or recommend changes in the bills. He could sign the bills into law before then. If he takes no action, the bills would automatically become law.

Additional information about the labor relations impact of A-1 is available through NJSBA’s Property Tax Cap video. To view the program, visit the “What’s New” section of www.njsba.org.