permit technical college employees to join the state health plan.

Added a new section allowing technical colleges to join the state health plan on terms agreed upon by the human resources commissioner and the technical college president.

Established that technical college employees participating in the plan are considered plan-eligible employees and members of the plan under the chapter.

Changed contribution responsibility so that the local education agency (LEA) employing the technical college employee must contribute an amount no less than the monthly state contribution for other plan-eligible employees, instead of the state making the contribution.

Added a definition for 'technical college employee' as a permanent employee of a technical college scheduled to work twenty or more hours per week for at least six months each year.

Modified payroll deduction procedures to allow technical colleges to deduct premiums directly from employee salaries and pay them to the state treasurer, rather than the state making deductions.

Updated administrative rules to include participation by technical college employees and dependents as a required area for rulemaking.

Set the effective date of the Act to begin July 1, 2027.