1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to state government; providing additional 
  1.3             methods for retired state employees to pay for 
  1.4             insurance benefits; amending Minnesota Statutes 2002, 
  1.5             sections 43A.27, by adding a subdivision; 352.03, by 
  1.6             adding a subdivision.  
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 43A.27, is 
  1.9   amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.10     Subd. 3a.  [AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL.] The commissioner must 
  1.11  allow a retired employee who purchases coverage from a state 
  1.12  plan to pay for this coverage by automatic withdrawal of funds 
  1.13  from a financial institution designated by the retired employee. 
  1.14     Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 352.03, is 
  1.15  amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
  1.16     Subd. 6a.  [DEDUCTION FOR HEALTH COVERAGE.] The board must 
  1.17  allow a person who receives a benefit from the system and who 
  1.18  purchases hospital, medical, or dental coverage from a state 
  1.19  plan under chapter 43A to have the cost of this coverage 
  1.20  deducted from the benefit the person receives from the system.  
  1.21  The executive director must send the amount deducted to the 
  1.22  commissioner of employee relations, in a manner agreed to by the 
  1.23  executive director and the commissioner.