2012 Wyoming Statutes
TITLE 9 - ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER 3 - COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
9-3-201. Group prepaid plans authorized; agreements with insurance companies authorized; limitation on authorized plans and companies; payroll deductions; self-insurance programs; optional school district participation in plan.

(a) The state of Wyoming and its political subdivisions and school districts may obtain group prepaid plans or insurance for life, health, accident or hospitalization for their employees and for elected officials, except for members of the legislature, and enter into agreements with prepaid plans or insurance companies to provide this coverage. On and after July 1, 2010, insurance coverage for school district employees meeting the definition of employee under W.S. 9-3-203(a)(iv), shall, if elected by the district under subsection (e) of this section, be provided through the state employees' and officials' group insurance plan in accordance with W.S. 9-3-202 through 9-3-218. On and after July 1, 2010, insurance coverage for retired school district employees shall, if elected by the district under subsection (e) of this section and if the retired employee was continuously covered under the school district's insurance plan prior to the election, be provided through the state employees' and officials' group insurance plan in accordance with W.S. 9-3-202 through 9-3-218. If a school district elects to cease participation in the group insurance plan pursuant to subsection (f) of this section, the election shall apply to retired employees of that school district who are receiving coverage under this subsection.

(b) Prepaid plans or insurance shall be procured only from prepaid plans authorized to do business in the state of Wyoming or from insurance companies authorized to do business in the state of Wyoming and under the full jurisdiction of the Wyoming insurance commissioner.

(c) Upon a request in writing from any employee of the state of Wyoming, any covered political subdivision thereof or a participating school district, the state treasurer or the proper officer in any political subdivision or school district may deduct from the wages of the employee the amount of the premium which the employee has agreed to pay for the prepaid plans or insurance, and to pay or remit the payment directly to the prepaid plan or insurance company issuing the group plan or insurance.

(d) The state and any political subdivision are authorized to utilize a self-insurance program, provided that a defined plan with proper funding is first adopted and the cost of the plan is included in the annual budget and provided the self-insurance program includes any coverage mandated by Wyoming insurance law. Any self-insurance program, including the Wyoming state employees' and officials' group insurance plan, adopted pursuant to this section shall be within the jurisdiction of the insurance commissioner under the provisions of title 26, Wyoming statutes.

(e) Any school district may elect to participate in the state employees' and officials' group insurance plan by filing notification of election with the department of administration and information on a form and in a manner as prescribed by the department. Participation in the plan for any electing district shall commence not less than one hundred twenty (120) days following the date on which the district filed notification under this subsection and shall be identical to plans and coverage provided other enrollees under this act. The department shall notify the electing district of the date on which the district is eligible to participate in the state group insurance plan. An election by a district to participate in the state group insurance plan under this subsection is irrevocable for a period of five (5) years from the date on which plan participation originally commenced. A district may renew its initial participation in the state group insurance plan without interruption upon submitting notification of renewal to the department prior to expiration of the initial five (5) year participation period. Renewal of plan participation shall be irrevocable for an additional period of not less than five (5) years.

(f) Any school district which has elected to participate in the state employees' and officials' group insurance plan under subsection (e) of this section may, upon expiration of the initial five (5) years of plan participation required under subsection (e) of this section, elect to cease participation in the state group insurance plan by filing notification of the election to the department on a form and in a manner prescribed by the department. An election under this subsection shall prohibit the school district from participation in the state group insurance plan for a period of five (5) years commencing on the date plan participation ceased. Participation in the plan for any district electing to cease plan participation under this subsection shall be discontinued on a date determined by the department in consultation with the school district, but in no event later than one hundred twenty (120) days following the date on which the district filed notification under this subsection.