Bill > HB1279

This bill allows employees of technical colleges in South Dakota to join the state health plan, which is a benefits plan established by the bureau that can be self-funded or a group health insurance program providing coverage for medical expenses. Technical colleges can join this plan under terms agreed upon by the human resources commissioner and the college president, and participating technical college employees will be considered eligible for the plan. The local education agency (LEA), which is the entity that employs the technical college employee, will be responsible for contributing to the plan an amount at least equal to the state's monthly contribution for other eligible employees, and the technical college itself can deduct premiums from employee salaries to pay the state treasurer. The bill also clarifies that "technical college employee" refers to permanent employees of a technical college scheduled to work at least twenty hours per week for at least six months a year, and it amends existing laws to reflect these changes, including how state contributions and payroll deductions are handled for these employees, and explicitly includes technical college employees in the rules for plan participation. This Act will take effect on July 1, 2027.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://sdlegislature.gov/#/Session/Bill/27139