AZ Legislative Update – April 28, 2022
Posted by [email protected] on Apr. 28, 2022 / AZ Legislative Update / Subscribe 0
AZ Legislative Update – April 28, 2022
Today marks the 109th day of the Arizona 55th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session. Of the 1,780 bills introduced this year, the Legislature has now passed 220 bills with Governor Ducey signing 196 and vetoing 0.
Once again, both legislative chambers had an abbreviated work schedule this week. The Senate adjourned early on Wednesday afternoon while the House only worked on Monday and Wednesday. Both chambers will reconvene on Monday, May 2nd; however, for the next two weeks, the House will only be working on Mondays and Thursdays.
The House and Senate are still nowhere close to a deal on the FY 2023 budget. Both leadership and rank and file members are becoming rather impatient with the process and each other. As each day passes, it appears to be more and more likely that session will go well into June. That being said, the situation remains fluid and things can certainly change quickly.
In the meantime, there are still a number of bills that are awaiting floor action. Below, please find a few bills that we would like to highlight. Additionally, attached you will find your full tracking list of bills.
As always, we are continuing to engage members, staff, and the Governor’s Office on your top legislative priorities. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Health Insurance
HB 2144 Health Insurance Coverage; Biomarker Testing (Cobb): HB 2144 passed out of the Senate on Monday, 25-2. HB 2144 requires hospital and medical service corporations, health care service organizations, disability insurers and group or blanket disability insurers to provide coverage for biomarker testing. HB 2144 directs the AHCCS and its contractors to provide biomarker testing for its members and describes procedures for usage and coverage of biomarker testing. The bill was slightly improved by establishing some additional guardrails, adding in a definition for “clinical utility.” HB 2144 is awaiting a Final Read in the House.
Insurance Operations
HB 2599 Administrative Hearing; GRRC (Grantham): HB 2599 failed to pass out of the Senate on Tuesday, 11-15, after a floor amendment was added by Senator Mesnard to address an issue encountered by the Arizona Farm Bureau. If Senator Mesnard is unable to secure the necessary 16 votes to pass the bill on reconsideration, the plan will be to take the bill to a Sit Committee of the Whole and have the amendment stripped off. The bill, sans the Mesnard amendment, updates the Office of Administrative Hearing (OAH) process by eliminating the unfair unilateral authority for state agencies to overrule an administrative law judge’s decision and allows businesses to recover attorney fees and costs if successful at OAH. The bill also streamlines the appeals process when the third parties are appealing an agency decision. Additionally, it makes several modifications to the GRRC appeal process by modernizing procedures and leveling the playfield for the business community.
SB 1375 Retirement Savings Program; State Treasurer (Gray): HB 1375 passed out of the Senate, 24-3, on Final Reading, Tuesday. The bill establishes a 10-member study committee on Public-Private Partnerships Retirement Savings Programs to research the operation of a public-private partnership individual retirement program and related regulations and issues. Under the bill, the committee is required to submit a report of its activities and recommendations to the Legislature by December 31, 2022, and self-repeals January 1, 2024. The bill, as originally drafted, established the Arizona Work and Save Program, administered by the State Treasurer, for eligible individuals and covered employers to begin contributing to an IRA under the program by July 1, 2024. It required the State Board of Investment to serve as trustee and appropriates $400,000 in FY 2023 to the State Treasurer to implement the program. SB 1375 is awaiting the Governor’s signature.
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