A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to allow the State HEALTH Plan for Teachers and State Employees to Optionally offer to pay insurance premiums for retirees for alternative coverage in LIEU of coverage under the State Health Plan.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 135‑48.30(a) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read as follows:
"§ 135‑48.30.  Powers and duties of the State Treasurer.
(a)	The State Treasurer shall have the following powers and duties:
…
(17)	Optionally offer Medicare‑related options under G.S. 135‑48.38.
(18)	Optionally offer to pay premiums to purchase alternative coverage in lieu of coverage under the Plan under G.S. 135‑48.39."
SECTION 2.  Part 3 of Article 3B of Chapter 135 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read as follows:
"§ 135‑48.39.  Premiums to purchase alternative coverage in lieu of coverage under the Plan.
(a)	The State Treasurer may offer to pay or reimburse premiums for alternative health benefit plan coverage in lieu of coverage under the State Health Plan. If the State Treasurer elects to offer premium payments in lieu of coverage, then the State Treasurer shall adopt rules and limitations for doing so.
(b)	Premium payments in lieu of coverage shall be limited to persons eligible for coverage under the following, and the State Treasurer may vary the amounts of premium payments depending on the category of eligibility:
(1)	G.S. 135‑48‑40(a)(1).
(2)	G.S. 135‑48‑40(a)(2).
(3)	G.S. 135‑48‑40(b)(3).
(4)	G.S. 135‑48‑40(b)(4).
(5)	G.S. 135‑48‑40(c)(2).
(c)	Notwithstanding the eligibility for coverage provided in Part 4 of this Article, coverage outside of the Plan shall be in lieu of coverage under the Plan during the period for which the Plan member chooses premium payments in lieu of coverage."
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.