The News Service of Florida: Panel Backs School Insurance Consortium
Dec 5, 2011
The following article was published by The News Service of Florida on December 5, 2011:
Panel Backs School Insurance Consortium
With its sponsor saying the bill would save a “substantial amount of money,” a Senate committee Monday approved a proposal that would create a consortium for school districts to buy health insurance.
SB 366 would require school districts to enter the consortium, though they could choose not to participate if they can show such a move would be “financially advantageous.” Sponsor Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican who is a former Okaloosa County schools superintendent, said small and medium-sized districts often have difficulty getting good prices for insurance.
He said buying in a consortium would lead to savings that could be used in classrooms. The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee voted 9-0 to approve the bill, which has one more committee stop. The House version, HB 453, is scheduled to be heard Thursday in the State Affairs Committee.