SB 5158 would allow public universities in Washington to provide health insurance for student athletes and was voted out of the Senate floor unanimously on Wednesday.
The proposed legislation would remove state law prohibiting universities from covering the cost of health care premiums for students. The bill was introduced by WSU and UW to help reduce costs in athletic departments. A companion bill, House Bill 1298, has been introduced in the lower chamber and has unanimously passed its policy committing and is awaiting floor action.
Currently, institutions pay out-of-pocket expenses for necessary operations and services and it is believed that providing health insurance will be more cost effective in the long term. The Senate bill is making its way through the opposite chamber’s policy committee, well ahead of an April 2ndpolicy deadline.