School employees; Larry Dickerson Education Flexible Benefits Allowance Act; expanding coverage to dependents; linking flexible benefit allowance amounts to state employee amounts; effective date; emergency.

HB 3485 expands health benefit coverage under Oklahoma's Larry Dickerson Education Flexible Benefits Allowance Act to include more dependents of school district employees, such as unmarried children under 25 (regardless of residence) or dependents with pre-25 disabilities. It links the flexible benefit allowance amounts to the state employee benefit rates and updates funding mechanisms to ensure school districts receive state funds based on employee and dependent counts. The bill requires school districts to offer cafeteria plans covering health insurance options, with allowances credited directly to employees for purchasing coverage or received as taxable pay. This affects certified and support personnel (e.g., teachers, bus drivers, janitors) and their eligible dependents across Oklahoma public and technology school districts.