Senate Bill 551

Provides that part-time faculty member at public institution of higher education <b>qualifies for employee-only health care benefits if part-time faculty member works at level equal to at least half of full-time equivalent employee during at least three of four previous academic terms.</b> <i>who qualifies for health care benefits will</i>]<b> Requires part-time faculty member to </b>pay 10 percent of insurance premiums for employee coverage. <b>Requires part-time faculty member to select home public institution of higher education. Requires selected institution to determine whether part-time faculty member is eligible to receive health benefit plans, collect premiums for health benefit plans, pay full cost of insurance premiums for health benefit plans and to administer and provide health benefit plans to party-time faculty member. Requires Higher Education Coordinating Commission to reimburse selected institution for cost of paying insurance premiums.</b> <i>Requires state to pay for remaining costs of insurance premiums out of moneys appropriated to Oregon Educators Benefit Board.</i>] Permits institution to agree through either institution policy or collective bargaining to pay portion of health care benefits paid for by employee. Provides that unless otherwise agreed through collective bargaining, employees who are eligible to receive health care benefits in manner specified may receive health care benefits from institution only in manner specified. Provides that any savings realized by institution are subject to collective bargaining. <i>Directs board to determine prior to open enrollment period whether it has received sufficient funds to cover required premium payments. Provides that if board has not received sufficient funds, board may require employee share to increase and that institution is not responsible for paying insurance premiums.</i>] Requires legacy health benefit coverage to be maintained for part-time faculty at institutions who are not eligible for health care benefits under provisions. Establishes Part-Time Faculty Insurance Fund and continuously appropriates moneys in fund to<b> commission</b> <i>board</i>]. Declares emergency, effective on passage.

In the Senate

• Michael Dembrow

  Sponsor

• Kate Lieber, Rob Wagner

  Chief co-sponsors

In the House of Representatives

• Susan McLain

  Sponsor

• Senate, third reading20–9

  Passed · Jun 24 · 1 present

• House of Representatives, third reading50–5

  Passed · Jun 25 · 4 present

• Senate committee amendmentAdopted

  Adopted Jun 23

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the Senate Jan 11 – Jun 24

1. Jan 11Introduced
2. Jan 19Sent to Education
3. Feb 22Heard in Education
4. Mar 1Heard in Education
5. Mar 4Education recommended it, and that it go to Ways and Means
6. Sent to Ways and Means
7. Jun 5Sent to Education Subcommittee
8. Jun 17Heard in Education Subcommittee
9. Returned to Ways and Means
10. Jun 21Heard in Ways and Means
11. Jun 23Ways and Means recommended it as amended
12. Jun 24Read a second time
13. Passed the Senate, 20 to 9

In the House of Representatives Jun 24 – Jun 25

1. Jun 24Arrived in the House of Representatives
2. Sent to Ways and Means
3. Jun 25Ways and Means recommended it
4. Read a second time
5. Passed the House of Representatives, 50 to 5

To the Governor Jun 29 – Aug 20

1. Jun 29Signed in the Senate
2. Jul 1Signed in the House of Representatives
3. Jul 19Signed by the Governor
4. Aug 20Became chapter 583 of Oregon Laws 2021
5. In force from July 19, 2021