KRS 161.158: Group insurance -- Board's termination of participation in state health

plan -- Employees offered coverage in state health plan under federal law

eligible for state-funded contribution -- Deductions from salaries.

(1) (a) Each district board of education may form its employees into a group or

groups or recognize existing groups for the purpose of obtaining the

advantages of group life, disability, medical, and dental insurance, or any

group insurance plans to aid its employees including the state employee health

insurance group as described in KRS 18A.225 to 18A.2287, as long as the

employees continue to be employed by the board of education. Medical and

dental group insurance plans obtained under authority of this section may

include insurance benefits for the families of the insured group or groups of

employees. Any district board of education may pay all or part of the

premium on the policies, and may deduct from the salaries of the employees

that part of the premium which is to be paid by th em and may contract with

the insurer to provide the above benefits. As permitted in KRS 160.280(4),

board members shall be eligible to participate in any group medical or dental

insurance provided by the district for employees.

(b) If a district board of e ducation participates in the state employee health

insurance program, as described in KRS 18A.225 to 18A.2287, for its active

employees and terminates participation and there is a state appropriation

approved by the General Assembly for the employer's cont ribution for active

employees' health insurance coverage, neither the board of education nor the

employees shall receive the state -funded contribution after termination from

the state employee health insurance program.

(c) If a district board of education participates in the state employee health

insurance program as described in KRS 18A.225 to 18A.2287 for its active

employees, all district employees who are required to be offered health

insurance coverage for purposes of, and in accordance with, the feder al

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, Pub. L. No. 111 -148,

shall be eligible for the state -funded contribution appropriated by the General

Assembly for the employer's contribution for active employees' health

insurance coverage, including reimbursements for the cost of retiree health

insurance as required by KRS 61.637(17)(b)4. and 78.5540(4)(b)4.

(2) (a) Each district board of education shall adopt policies or regulations which will

provide for:

1. a. Deductions from salaries of its employ ees or groups of employees

whenever a request is presented to the board by said employees or

groups thereof.

b. The deductions shall be made from salaries earned in at least eight

(8) different pay periods.

c. The deductions may be made for, but are not li mited to,

membership dues, tax -sheltered annuities, and group insurance

premiums.

d. The district board is prohibited from deducting membership dues

of an employee organization, membership organization, or labor

organization. This provision shall apply to contracts entered into,

opted in, extended or renewed on or after January 9, 2017.

e. With the exception of membership dues, the board shall not be

required to make more than one (1) remittance of amounts

deducted during a pay period for a separate type of deduction; and

2. Deductions from payments for the per diem and actual expenses

provided under KRS 160.280(1) to members of the district board of

education whenever a request is presented by a board member to the

board. The deductions may be made for but not be limited to

membership dues, health insurance purchases, scholarship funds, and

contributions to a political action committee.

(b) The deductions under paragraph (a)1. and 2. of this subsection shall be

remitted to the appropriate organization or association as specified by the

employees within thirty (30) days following the deductio n, provided the

district has received appropriate invoices or necessary documentation.

(c) Health insurance, life insurance, and tax -sheltered annuities shall be

interpreted as separate types of deductions. When amounts have been

correctly deducted and rem itted by the board, the board shall bear no further

responsibility or liability for subsequent transaction.

(3) Payments and deductions made by the board of education under the authority of this

section are presumed to be for services rendered and for the benefit of the common

schools, and the payments and deductions shall not affect the eligibility of any

school system to participate in the public school funding program as established in

KRS Chapter 157.