House Engrossed

 

insurance; existing actions; technical correction

(now:  workers' compensation; firefighters; rate deviation)

 

 

 

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

2023

 

 

 

CHAPTER 149

 

HOUSE BILL 2431

 

 

An Act

 

providing for the charge and collection of additional premiums from public employers to commercial workers' compensation insurers that cover firefighters.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Commercial workers' compensation; firefighters; rate deviations; experience modifications; Covid-19; intent; delayed repeal

A. Commercial workers' compensation insurers that cover firefighters and fire investigators may charge and collect additional premiums from fire districts to offset and recover Covid-19-related claims costs paid by the insurer before July 1, 2023 to the extent the fire district is able to obtain reimbursement for such additional premium charges from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. This additional premium is in addition to the rate deviations prescribed in section 20-359, Arizona Revised Statutes, and any experience modifications prescribed in section 23-963.01, Arizona Revised Statutes. A commercial workers' compensation insurer may charge a premium only if the insurance policy includes a provision that would allow the insurer to charge an additional premium.

B. The maximum amount of the additional premium each commercial workers' compensation insurer may charge and collect pursuant to subsection A of this section is $800,000. Notwithstanding subsection A of this section, a commercial workers' compensation insurer may not include any Covid-19-related claims costs for which the insurer charges and collects additional premiums pursuant to subsection A of this section in any experience modification charged to the fire district.

C. The legislature intends that this section not delay payment of fire districts’ eligible COVID-19-related expenses by the industrial commission of Arizona using American Rescue Plan Act monies allocated as part of the fiscal year 2022-2023 budget.

D. This section is repealed from and after December 31, 2024.

 

 

 

APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR MAY 16, 2023.

 

FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE MAY 16, 2023.