HB1257 Summary

• Establishes eligibility for police officer retirees from municipalities and counties to enroll in health benefit plans after retirement, with coverage extending until they become Medicare-eligible.

• Defines "eligible police officer retiree" as officers with 28 years of service at any age, or 20+ years at age 55+, or 5+ years at age 60+, or 10+ years of Arkansas Local Police and Fire Retirement System service at age 60+.

• Provides a 60-calendar-day guaranteed issue period from retirement to enroll in health benefit plans without surcharges or assessments, with no further enrollment rights after this period expires.

• Allows dependents (spouses and eligible children) of retirees to participate in health benefit plans, and permits surviving spouses and dependent children to continue coverage after the retiree's death.

• Retroactively grants police officer retirees who retired between January 1, 2017, and the act's effective date a 90-day guaranteed issue period to enroll.