By Michae R. Wickline, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
December 18, 2021
The Legislative Council voted Friday to extend by one month the contract of a consultant that it hired in May to recommend changes to the state’s health insurance plans for public school and state employees and retirees.
On Thursday, the council’s executive committee had recommended approval of an amendment to the Bureau of Legislative Research’s contract with The Segal Group to extend the contract until Jan. 31 for up to $57,500 more.
The bureau’s original consulting contract with The Segal Group was for up to $575,000 through Dec. 31, so the amended contract is for up to $632,500. That contract includes an option to renew for six months.
Bureau Director Marty Garrity told the subcommittee Thursday that the contract needs to be extended for continued work on proposed legislation and different parts of the consultant’s report.
Rep. Jeff Wardlaw, R-Hermitage, said he has been meeting with officials at the state’s Employee Benefits Division and he doesn’t want the division to pursue contracts and issue requests for proposals that conflict with the consultant’s recommendations and proposed legislation for the health insurance plans that could be considered in the upcoming fiscal session.
The Segal Group will work with the Employee Benefits Division to make sure the division’s requests for proposals are in line with the consultant’s recommendations and proposed legislation, he said.
Asked whether he plans to call a special legislative session to consider bills regarding the insurance plans or have the measures considered in the fiscal session that starts Feb. 14, Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Thursday, “We’ll look at whether there’s a need for a special session around that time and so we’ll just have to wait and see, so it’s a possibility but nothing firm yet.”
It takes a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate to consider non-appropriation bills during a fiscal session. In calling a special session, the governor sets the agenda.
In November, the Legislative Council approved The Segal Group’s recommendations aimed at stabilizing funding and cutting costs for the insurance plans.
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