Technical college employees could join the state health plan

The human resources commissioner and a technical college president would set the terms for a technical college employee to join the state health plan. A covered employee must be a permanent employee of a South Dakota technical college who works at least 20 hours a week for at least six months each year. The technical college or employing local education agency may not stop a covered employee from joining the plan. An employee who joins would be treated as eligible for the plan, except where this section provides different rules. The provisions would take effect beginning July 1, 2027.

The local education agency employing an enrolled technical college employee would pay at least the monthly amount the state provides for other plan-eligible employees, while the employee would pay required premiums or contributions through payroll deductions. These payment rules would apply to technical college employees enrolled in the state health plan and to the local education agencies that employ them. The local education agency's payment would replace the monthly state contribution described in the referenced law. The employee would pay any premium or contribution required by the human resources commissioner. The state would not make the regular monthly contribution or payroll deduction for a technical college employee covered by these provisions. These payment rules would apply beginning July 1, 2027, when the Act is scheduled to take effect.