Multiple Employer Health Trust Funding

      Joint Budget Committee. Current law requires the state treasurer to transfer $2.5 million to the firefighter benefits cash fund from the general fund on July 1, 2028, and on each July 1 thereafter, sufficient funds, subject to annual appropriation, to reimburse employers for the direct costs of providing certain benefits to firefighters and volunteer firefighters. Current law also requires the general assembly to appropriate $650,000 from the general fund to the department of local affairs (department) on July 1, 2026, $1 million from the general fund to the department on July 1, 2027, to reduce participating employer contributions to a multiple employer health trust (trust) for volunteer firefighters and part-time firefighters. The bill repeals the required transfers and required appropriations.

     Current law requires the general assembly to appropriate money from the general fund to the division of criminal justice in the department of public safety for the purpose of reimbursing a multiple employer health trust for the direct costs of providing cardiac and other health screenings for peace officers as follows:

• $350,000 for the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026;
• $500,000 for the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2027;
• $1 million for the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 2028; and
• On each July 1 thereafter, sufficient funds.

The bill repeals these required appropriations.


(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)