Okla. Stat. tit. 74, § 74-1308.1

life insurance plans.

(1) An educational entity may extend the benefits of the health

insurance plan, the dental insurance plan, and the life insurance

plan to education employees employed by the entity. The benefits of

the plans for an education employee shall be the same and shall

include the same plan options as would be made available to a state

employee participating in the plan that resided at the same

location. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1308.2 of this

title, a period shall exist for enrolling education entities from

April 1, 1989 through October 1, 1991, whereby education employees

of a participating education entity may be enrolled, pursuant to

this act, during the entities' initial enrollment period, regardless

of preexisting conditions. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority shall

adopt rules and regulations for enrollment by which education

entities may apply to participate in the insurance plans. Once an

education entity becomes a participant in the health and dental

insurance plans offered through the Oklahoma Employees Insurance and

Benefits Act, the education entity may withdraw from participation,

in a manner prescribed by the Authority. If a school district is

participating in the health and dental insurance plans pursuant to

the Oklahoma Employees Insurance and Benefits Act, Sections 1301

through 1329 of this title, the employees of the school district who

are eligible to participate in the health and dental plans, at such

time as the school district may withdraw from such participation,

may require the board of education of the school district to call an

election to allow the employees to vote as to whether the school

district shall continue participation in the health and dental

insurance plans offered through the Oklahoma Employees Insurance and

Benefits Act. Upon the filing with the board of education of a

petition calling for such an election which is signed by no less

than thirty percent (30%) of the eligible employees of the school

district, the board of education shall call an election for the

purpose of determining whether the school district shall continue

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government Page 796

participation in the health and dental insurance plans offered

through the Oklahoma Employees Insurance and Benefits Act. The

election shall be held within thirty (30) days of the filing of the

petition. If a majority of those eligible employees voting at the

election vote to continue participation in the health and dental

insurance plans offered through the Oklahoma Employees Insurance and

Benefits Act, the board of education shall be prohibited from

withdrawing the school district from such participation. If a

majority of those eligible employees voting at the election vote

against continued participation in the health and dental insurance

plans offered through the Oklahoma Employees Insurance and Benefits

Act, the board of education of the school district shall apply to

discontinue such participation within thirty (30) days of the

election and within the times the school district is authorized to

withdraw from participation in accordance with rules established for

withdrawal by the Authority.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, when an

education entity participates in the health and dental insurance

plans offered through the Oklahoma Employees Insurance and Benefits

Act, all employees shall be advised of health maintenance

organizations (HMO) prepaid plans available as an alternative to the

state self-insured health insurance plan. Eligible part-time

education employees, at the option of the employee, may enroll in

the plans either at the time the education entity begins

participation in the plans or, if later, upon a showing of

insurability to the satisfaction of the Authority.
e advised of health maintenance

organizations (HMO) prepaid plans available as an alternative to the

state self-insured health insurance plan. Eligible part-time

education employees, at the option of the employee, may enroll in

the plans either at the time the education entity begins

participation in the plans or, if later, upon a showing of

insurability to the satisfaction of the Authority.

(3) Any employee of an education entity participating in the

health and dental insurance plans offered through the Oklahoma

Employees Insurance and Benefits Act who is employed after the

education entity began said participation may be enrolled in the

health and dental insurance plans or HMO plans approved by the

Authority on the first day of the second month of employment.

(4) Upon initial enrollment of an institution of higher

education to participate in the health and dental insurance plans

offered through the Oklahoma Employees Insurance and Benefits Act,

all individuals presently insured by said institution's present

group health insurance plan shall become enrolled in said state

plans for the remaining period of said institution's contractual

liabilities.

(5) Education employees who shall be absent from the teaching

service because of election or appointment as a local, state, or

national education association officer shall be allowed to retain

coverage pursuant to the Oklahoma Employees Insurance and Benefits

Act upon the payment of the full cost of the coverage at the rate

and under such terms and conditions established by the Authority.

(6) Except as otherwise provided by law, an educational entity

may cease to participate in the Oklahoma Employees Insurance and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 74. State Government Page 797

Benefits Act but provide health insurance coverage through another

insurance carrier. The subsequent carrier shall provide coverage to

the employees of the educational entity who terminated employment

with a retirement benefit, with a vested benefit, or who have ten

(10) or more years of service with a participating educational

entity but did not have a vested benefit through the retirement

system of the educational entity, if the election to retain health

insurance coverage was made within thirty (30) days of termination

of employment. Coverage shall also be provided to the eligible

dependents of the employees if an election to retain coverage is

made within thirty (30) days of termination of employment.