Bill > SB5478

This bill modifies the authorities and responsibilities of the Public Employees' Benefits Board (PEBB) by expanding the types of voluntary, employee-paid benefits that can be offered. Specifically, the bill removes existing language related to property and long-term care insurance review and replaces it with a broader provision allowing PEBB to study, evaluate, and potentially offer a range of new voluntary benefits, including emergency transportation, identity protection, legal aid, long-term care insurance, personal automobile and homeowner's insurance, pet insurance, specified disease insurance, and travel insurance. These benefits would be paid for entirely by employees and would be optional. The bill maintains PEBB's existing core responsibilities of developing comprehensive health care benefits for employees, considering cost containment, wellness incentives, and establishing eligibility criteria for benefit participation. The change aims to provide state employees with more flexible and diverse insurance and protection options that they can choose to purchase through their employer, while ensuring these additions do not impact the state's direct financial obligations.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5478&Year=2025&Initiative=false