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92_SB1859gms
State of Illinois
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Springfield, Illinois 62706
George H. Ryan
GOVERNOR
June 28, 2002
To the Honorable Members of
The Illinois Senate
92nd General Assembly
Pursuant to Article IV, Section 9(b) of the Illinois
Constitution of 1970, I hereby veto Senate Bill 1859 entitled
"AN ACT concerning health benefits."
Senate Bill 1859 would amend the State Employees Group
Insurance Act of 1971 by providing that beginning with Fiscal
Year 2003 and subsequent years, eligible employees may elect
not to participate in the program of health benefits as
defined in this Act.
Senate Bill 1859 was introduced as a potential cost
saving measure for the State during the present budgetary
hardship as well as in the future. However, this legislation
only allows current State employees to opt out. I have
signed into law House Bill 5686, which contains virtually
identical language with the exception that it includes both
current employees and retirees. Allowing both employees and
retirees to opt out of the State health insurance program
would result in a higher estimated savings for the State.
The Department of Central Management Services estimates that
for every 1% of employees and retirees who opt out, the
approximate savings would be $8.6 million.
I believe that every effort should be made to save the
State money during the current fiscal crisis. House Bill
5686 is more inclusive that Senate Bill 1859 and potentially
will result in greater savings for the State.
For these reasons, I hereby veto and return Senate Bill
1859.
Sincerely,
George H. Ryan
GOVERNOR