HB53 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

James E. Buskey

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

State Employees' Health Insurance Plan, definition of retiree to include retired employees of U.S.S. Alabama Battleship Commission, State Employees' Insurance Board authorized to determine creditable service as an employee including non-Merit service, Sec. 36-29-1 am'd.

Summary

HB53 would add USS Alabama Battleship Commission employees to the retiree definition and let the State Employees' Insurance Board count creditable service including non-Merit periods for health insurance premium calculations.

What This Bill Does

It expands who is considered a retiree under the state health insurance plan to include USS Alabama Battleship Commission retirees. It authorizes the State Employees' Insurance Board to determine creditable service years for periods when USS Commission employees were non-Merit System employees. It requires the calculation of years of service for USS Port Authority and USS Alabama Battleship Commission employees to include both Merit-system and non-Merit periods when determining eligibility and premiums.

Who It Affects

• Retiring or retired employees of the USS Alabama Battleship Commission and their beneficiaries would become eligible as retirees for the State Employees' Health Insurance Plan, with potential adjustments to their years of service used to calculate premiums.
• Employees of the Alabama State Port Authority and USS Alabama Battleship Commission who served in non-Merit positions would have their creditable service years determined by the board, combining Merit and non-Merit service for health insurance purposes.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 36-29-1 to add USS Alabama Battleship Commission employees to the definition of 'retiree' in the State Employees' Health Insurance Plan.
• Revises 'years of service' to authorize the State Employees' Insurance Board to determine creditable service for periods when USS Alabama Battleship Commission employees were non-Merit System employees.
• For USS Port Authority and USS Alabama Battleship Commission employees, defines 'years of service' as the sum of merit-service years (as determined by ERS/TRS/JRS) and creditable non-Merit service (as determined by the SEIB).
• Keeps the board’s authority to classify retirees and determine health insurance premium costs (employee and employer contributions) within the plan, including categories for Medicare and non-Medicare retirees.
• Allows the Board to derive an alternate federal poverty level if the federal poverty level changes, to carry out obligations under the chapter.
• Establishes effective date as the first day of the third month following passage and approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Retirement