RALEIGH -- For the third time, the state's Program Evaluation Committee took on the issue of supplemental insurance options for state employees on Monday. Right now, there is a central location, known as NC Flex, where all state employees can go for insurance options. But many agencies have also created in house committees with their own set of options.

“This is a complex issue,” said Rep. Craig Horn, a Union County Republican.

A proposal before the watchdog group would put an end to those agency committees and completely centralize the effort.

“For obtaining proposals, seeking competitive bids, designating which carriers will have the group policies the supplemental,” said John Turcotte with the Program Evaluation Division.

But the State Employees Association of North Carolina, and its tens of thousands of members, say it wants a say in what is available and that means continuing these committees within the agencies, where peers would help decide what options are on the table.

“What I'm curious about today is why the General Assembly is considering big government taking individual choice away from citizens who happen to be employees,” said Artis Watkins with SEANC.

But for those working at the central level in Raleigh, they don't think these committees are necessary.

"I guarantee you that we would put the service to the employees before anything else,” said Ray Scerri with NC Department of Human Resources.  “We're not going to harm the employees if they go to a central committee and adopt the recommendations.”

Some lawmakers want to wait until audits of NC Flex are complete before any changes are made. Others say this system is broken, and they want centralization to happen sooner rather than later.

 “I just think there is mistrust in centralization and that we don't have all of the information we need to go forward with legislation in that direction,” said Rep. Rena Turner, a Iredell County Republican.

“I can't see the logic where state law is clearly not being followed, where there is an opportunity to take advantage of state employees, that we feel like we shouldn't do something to resolve that,” said Sen. Ralph Hise, a Mitchell County Republican.

Lawmakers have asked staff to work on multiple pieces of legislation to consider. One would centralize the effort, one would not.