A.  With respect to the Office of Group Benefits, La. Rev. Stat. 42:801 et seq., the office shall collect applicable insurance premiums by deduction from retirement benefits relative to those retirees, or their eligible surviving spouses or children, of the system who are eligible to participate in the Office of Group Benefits programs as provided for in La. Rev. Stat. 42:821 and La. Rev. Stat. 42:851 and transmit these premiums to the Office of Group Benefits; however, only those retirees, or their eligible surviving spouses or children, who were last employed prior to retirement by employing agencies which are not participating in or seeking state funds from the Office of Group Benefits may so participate in the program through the board of trustees.  All other eligible retirees, or their eligible surviving spouses or children shall participate throughout the agency from which the retiree was last employed prior to retirement, except as provided in Subsection B hereof.

B.  The board of trustees is authorized and empowered, in its discretion, to collect insurance premiums and similar charges by deductions from retirement benefits relative to those retirees, or their eligible surviving spouses or children, of the system who are not covered by Subsection A hereof, who are eligible to participate in the Office of Group Benefits programs as provided for in La. Rev. Stat. 42:821 and La. Rev. Stat. 42:851 and to transmit these premiums to the Office of Group Benefits or other appropriate authority.

C.  Retirees who are not participating in the Office of Group Benefits programs as provided for in La. Rev. Stat. 42:821 and La. Rev. Stat. 42:851 shall be eligible for participation, without limitation, in the insurance program or self-insurance or self-funded program of the agency from which the retiree was last employed prior to retirement.

D.  The board of trustees shall be responsible only for making the deductions authorized by the retirees, or their eligible surviving spouses or children, in writing, and transmitting same to the appropriate authority; the agency from which the retiree was last employed prior to retirement shall be responsible for all other aspects of the implementation of this Section.

E.  The board of trustees shall establish such rules and procedures necessary for the collection and transmittal of premiums as specified by this Section.

Added by Acts 1980, No. 397, §1, eff. July 18, 1980; Redesignated from La. Rev. Stat. 17:655.1 by Acts 1991, No. 74, §3, eff. June 25, 1991; Acts 2001, No. 1178, §1, eff. June 29, 2001.