Section 21-5-421 - Introduction of bills affecting State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program - Definitions(a) As used in this section: (1) "Entity of the state" means any agency, board, bureau, commission, committee, council, department, division, institution of higher education, office, public school, quasi-public organization, or other political subdivision of the state; and(2) "Health benefit plan" means a policy, contract, certificate, or agreement offered or issued by an entity to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of healthcare services, including pharmacy benefits, to an entity of the state.(b) A bill affecting the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program or that imposes a new or increased cost obligation for health benefit plans, including pharmacy benefits, on an entity of the state to be considered by the General Assembly at a regular session shall be introduced in the General Assembly during the first fifteen (15) calendar days of a regular session.(c)(1) A bill as described in subsection (b) of this section shall not be introduced after the fifteenth day of a regular session unless the introduction of the bill is first approved by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the full membership of each house of the General Assembly.(2) If the General Assembly recesses for longer than three (3) consecutive days during the first fifteen (15) days of a regular session, the fifteen-day introduction deadline shall be extended for a time period equal to the recess.(d) A bill affecting the State and Public School Life and Health Insurance Program or that imposes a new or increased cost obligation for health benefit plans, including pharmacy benefits, on an entity of the state shall not be introduced or considered at a fiscal session or an extraordinary session of the General Assembly unless the introduction and consideration of the bill is first approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the full membership of each house of the General Assembly.Added by Act 2022, No. 112,§ 2, eff. 3/1/2022.