HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-21-2011 - 5aaORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 21, 2011
Action Agenda
Item No. 5 - QQ
SUBJECT: Resolution Opposing House Bill 910 Regarding the Prohibition on Local
Governments from Providing Abortion Coverage to Employees
DEPARTMENT: County Attorney
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Resolution Opposing House Bill 910
House Bill 910
INFORMATION CONTACT:
John Roberts, 245-2318
PURPOSE: To approve a resolution opposing House Bill 910 being considered in the North
Carolina General Assembly which restricts the type of health care coverage that may be offered
to local government employees.
BACKGROUND: House Bill 910 - An Act to Limit Abortion Coverage Under the State Health
Plan for Teachers and State Employees As Well As Under Any Health Insurance Plan Offered
by a County or Municipality -has been introduced during the 2011 session of the North
Carolina General Assembly. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Rules,
Calendar, and Operations.
At the Board's June 7, 2011 regular meeting, Commissioner Barry Jacobs requested that the
Board ask the County Attorney to monitor the bill and potentially draft a resolution for the
Board's consideration. The attached resolution is proposed for Board consideration.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact for the County associated with consideration
of the resolution.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1) approve the Resolution Opposing House Bill 910;
2) authorize the Chair to sign the resolution; and
3) direct the Clerk to the Board to forward a copy of the .signed resolution to .Orange
County's legislative delegation, leaders of the North Carolina General Assembly, and the
chairs of the House and Senate committees responsible for House Bill 910.
RES-doll-o~~0 2
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION OPPOSING HOUSE BILL 910
WHEREAS, the North Carolina General Assembly is currently considering House Bill 910, a
bill entitled "A Bill to be Entitled an Act to Limit Abortion Coverage Under the State Health Plan
for Teachers and State Employees as well as Under any Health Insurance Plan Offered by a
County or Municipality"; and
WHEREAS, this bill, if enacted, will place restrictions on a County or Municipality's options for
providing quality health care to its employees; and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners is in the best position to
determine what is the most appropriate health care to offer its employees;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of County
Commissioners opposes House Bill 910 in its current format and requests the North Carolina
General Assembly remove the provision of the bill that limits the type of health care a county or
municipality may offer its employees.
This the 21St day of June, 2011.
Bernadette Pelissier, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
Attest:
Clerk to the Board of Commissioners
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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2011
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HOUSE BILL 910
Committee Substitute Favorable 6/8/11
Short Title: Gov't Health Plans/ Limited Abortion Coverage. (Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:
May 5, 2011
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO LIMIT ABORTION COVERAGE UNDER THE STATE HEALTH PLAN FOR
TEACHERS AND STATE EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS UNDER ANY HEALTH
INSURANCE PLAN OFFERED BY A COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a) Effective until January 1, 2011, G.S. 135-45.8 is amended by
adding a new subdivision to read:
"§ 135-45.8. General limitations and exclusions.
The following shall in no event be considered covered expenses nor will benefits described
in G.S. 135-45.6 through G.S. 135-45.11 be payable for:
25 Charges for medical or sur¢i, cal abortion procedures except:
a. When the pre~nancy is the result of cases of rape or incest.
b. The life of the mother would be endangered if the unborn child were
carried to term.
Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to limit medical care provided
after a spontaneous miscarriage."
SECTION 1.(b) Effective until January 1, 2011, the provisions of
G.S. 135-45.8(21) and (22) do not apply to complications or related charges from an abortion
not covered under G.S. 135-45.8(25), as enacted in subsection (a) of this section.
SECTION 1.(c) Effective January 1, 2011, G.S. 135-48.52, as enacted in Section
2.10 of S.L. 2011-85, is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"~, Charges for medical or surgical abortion procedures except:
a. When the pregn~y is the result of cases of rape or incest.
b. The life of the mother would be endangered if the unborn child were
carried to term.
Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to limit medical care provided
after a spontaneous miscarriage. The Plan shall, however, provide coverage
for subsequent complications or related charges arising from an abortion not
covered under this subdivision."
SECTION 2.(a) Effective until January 1, 2011, G.S. 153A-92(d) reads as
rewritten:
"(d) A county may purchase life insurance or health insurance or both for the benefit of
all or any class of county officers and employees as a part of their compensation. A county may
provide other fringe benefits for county officers and employees. In providing health insurance
to county officers and employees, a county shall not provide abortion coverage greater than that
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General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2011
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provided by the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees under Article 3A of
Chapter 135 of the General Statutes."
SECTION 2.(b) Effective January 1, 2012, G.S. 153A-92(d), as amended by this
act, reads as rewritten:
"(d) A county may purchase life insurance or health insurance or both for the benefit of
all or any class of county officers and employees as a part of their compensation. A county may
provide other fringe benefits for county officers and employees. In providing health insurance
to county officers and employees, a county shall not provide abortion coverage greater than that
provided by the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees under ~4rtic~~ Article
3B of Chapter 135 of the General Statutes."
SECTION 3.(a) Effective until January 1, 2011, G.S. 160A-162(b) reads as
rewritten:
"(b) The council may purchase life, health, and any other forms of insurance for the
benefit of all or any class of city employees and their dependents, and may provide other fringe
benefits for city employees. In providing health insurance to city employees, the council shall
not provide abortion coverage greater than that provided by the State Health Plan for Teachers
and State Em~loyees under Article 3A of Chapter 135 of the General Statutes."
SECTION 3.(b) Effective January 1, 2012, G.S. 160A-162(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b) The council may purchase life, health, and any other forms of insurance for the
benefit of all or any class of city employees and their dependents, and may provide other fringe
benefits for city employees. In providing health insurance to city employees, the council shall
not provide abortion coverage greater than that provided by the State Health Plan for Teachers
and State Employees under ~t~sle-~t~ Article 3B of Chapter 135 of the General Statutes."
SECTION 4. If Section 29.23 of House Bill 200 of the 2011 Regular Session
becomes law, Section 1 of this act is repealed.
SECTION 5. Except as otherwise provided, this act becomes effective. October 1,
2011, and applies to health insurance plan years beginning on or after that date.
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