OLYMPIA…Sen. Dale Brandland, R-Whatcom County, is proposing legislation that would reduce health care costs for school districts and educational service districts and their employees by requiring them to purchase health plans offered by the Public Employees Benefits Board. 

Washington state employees outside of K-12 education purchase their health coverage through PEBB, which provides medical coverage including vision and dental, prescription drug assistance, and retiree life insurance.  

Under Senate Bill 5491, school employees would be enrolled in PEBB by Jan. 1, 2010. Each district would be charged the same composite rate per employee as is charged to state agencies. 

Brandland believes this legislation would free funds for local school districts, which spend a significant portion of locally generated funds on health benefits for their employees. It also means employees should be able to choose from benefit plan options that are generally more affordable, he said. 

State government as a whole should also experience savings, Brandland added, because such a large increase in the pool of enrollees should drive down the overall per-employee cost and increase the state’s negotiating leverage in procuring bids. 

“Since the budget forecast came out in November we have been talking about finding ways to save money for the state and for citizens,” said Brandland. “It is a dire situation and we have to look at everything to find saving options.  This is one that should definitely be on the table.”  

Schools with collective bargaining agreements extending beyond Jan. 1, 2010 would be exempt from enrolling in PEBB until after their contracts run out. 

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