HF 992

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 01:43am

A bill for an act
relating to insurance; permitting local school districts to choose to provide
health coverage to their employees through the state employee group insurance
plan; specifying the procedure a school district must use to make that choice;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 43A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [43A.241] SCHOOL DISTRICTS PERMITTED TO JOIN STATE
EMPLOYEE HEALTH PLAN.
new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, "eligible person" means an employee, retiree, or
other person eligible for health coverage under the school district's eligibility rules.
"Eligible person" does not include a person who is eligible for coverage only as a
dependent of an eligible person.
new text end

new text begin (b) A school district located in this state may choose to enroll its eligible persons in
the hospital, medical, and dental plans made available to state employees under section
43A.23. The commissioner must charge the school district a premium equal to that
charged for coverage of state employees.
new text end

new text begin (c) A school district that wishes to enroll under this section must do so only upon:
new text end

new text begin (1) obtaining a binding premium quotation from the commissioner;
new text end

new text begin (2) a majority vote in favor by the school board; and
new text end

new text begin (3) a majority vote in favor by the eligible persons. A majority of those who vote is
required for approval. This vote shall be conducted only after a majority vote in favor
by the school board.
new text end

new text begin (d) The school district must provide eligible persons with a 30-day voting period
within which to vote by paper ballot, either in person or by mail, at the option of the
individual eligible person. No later than the first day of the 30-day voting period, the
school district shall mail to each eligible person written materials that describe the plans
available under section 43A.23, the premium costs that would be charged by the state to
the school district for individual and family coverage, and the amount of those premium
costs that the eligible person would have to pay. The written materials must also provide
information on the options that would be available to eligible persons within the state
plans. The mailing must also include a ballot that the eligible person may use to vote for or
against the proposal that the school district obtain coverage under the state plans, together
with instructions for using the ballot to vote, either in person or by mail. The instructions
and the ballot must state conspicuously that the ballot will count only if received by the
school district or postmarked within the 30-day balloting period.
new text end

new text begin (e) A school district that has decided to obtain coverage under this section must
notify the commissioner no later than 90 days prior to the beginning of the month for
which the district wishes coverage to begin. The school district must remain in the plans
for at least two years.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end