(a)        There is established the Board of Trustees of the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees.

(b)        The Board of Trustees of the State Health Plan for Teachers and State Employees shall consist of 10 members.

(c)        The State Treasurer shall be an ex officio member of the Board and shall serve as its Chair, but shall only vote in order to break a tie vote.

(d)       The Director of the Office of State Budget and Management shall be an ex officio nonvoting member of the Board.

(e)        Two members shall be appointed by the Governor. Terms shall be for two years. Vacancies shall be filled by the Governor.

(f)        Two members shall be appointed by the State Treasurer. Terms shall be for two years. Vacancies shall be filled by the State Treasurer.

(g)        Two members shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 120-121 Terms shall be for two years. Vacancies shall be filled in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 120-122

(h)        Two members shall be appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 120-121 Terms shall be for two years. Vacancies shall be filled in accordance with N.C. Gen. Stat. § 120-122

(i)         In making appointments, the appointing authorities shall ensure that one of the appointees under subsection (e) of this section, one of the appointees under subsection (f) of this section, and one of the appointees under subsection (g) of this section, and one of the appointees under subsection (h) of this section are one of the following:

(1)        An employee of a State department, agency, or institution;

(2)        A teacher employed by a North Carolina public school system;

(3)        A retired employee of a State department, agency, or institution; or

(4)        A retired teacher from a North Carolina public school system.

In making appointments to the Board under this section, each appointing authority shall consult with all other appointing authorities prior to making its own appointments to ensure that the Board includes members of each of the groups listed in subdivisions (1) through (4) of this subsection.

(j)         In making appointments, the appointing authorities shall appoint individuals from the following categories:

(1)        Individuals with expertise in actuarial science or health economics.

(2)        Repealed by Session Laws 2018-84, s. 9, effective June 25, 2018.

(3)        Individuals with expertise in health benefits and administration.

(4)        Individuals with expertise in health law and policy.

(5)        Physicians who are licensed to practice medicine in this State.

In making appointments to the Board under this section, each appointing authority shall consult with all other appointing authorities prior to making its own appointments to ensure that each of the areas of expertise listed in subdivisions (1) through (5) of this subsection is represented by at least one member of the Board.

(k)        Each appointing authority may remove any member appointed by that appointing authority.

(l)         The members of the Board of Trustees shall receive one hundred dollars ($100.00) per day, except employees eligible to enroll in the Plan, whenever the full Board of Trustees holds a public session, and travel allowances under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 138-6 when traveling to and from meetings of the Board of Trustees or hearings under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 135-48.24, but shall not receive any subsistence allowance or per diem under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 138-5, except when holding a meeting or hearing where this section does not provide for payment of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per day.

(m)       No member of the Board of Trustees may serve more than three consecutive two-year terms.

(n)        Immunity. – Except to the extent provided under Article 31A of Chapter 143 of the N.C. Gen. Stat. and to the extent of insurance coverage purchased pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-32-15, a person serving on the Board of Trustees shall be immune individually from civil liability for monetary damages for any act, or failure to act, arising out of that service, except where any of the following apply:

(1)        The person was not acting within the scope of that person’s official duties.

(2)        The person was not acting in good faith.

(3)        The person committed gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct that resulted in damages or injury.

(4)        The person derived an improper personal financial benefit, either directly or indirectly, from the transaction.

(5)        The person incurred the liability from the operation of a motor vehicle. ?(1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1398, s. 6; 1983, c. 922, s. 1; 1985, c. 732, ss. 2-5, 8, 11, 42, 59, 60; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 1020, s. 1; 1987, c. 857, s. 2; 1995, c. 490, s. 56; 2002-126, s. 28.16(a); 2007-323, s. 28.22A(b); 2008-168, ss. 1(a), 2(a), (e); 2011-85, ss. 2.5(a), 2.10; 2011-96, s. 6(a); 2017-135, s. 4; 2018-84, s. 9.)

Terms Used In North Carolina General Statutes 135-48.20

  • Board of Trustees: shall mean the Board provided for in N. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-1
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Employee: shall mean all full-time employees, agents or officers of the State of North Carolina or any of its departments, bureaus and institutions other than educational, whether such employees are elected, appointed or employed: Provided that the term "employee" shall not include any person who is a member of the Consolidated Judicial Retirement System, any member of the General Assembly or any part-time or temporary employee. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-1
  • Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
  • following: when used by way of reference to any section of a statute, shall be construed to mean the section next preceding or next following that in which such reference is made; unless when some other section is expressly designated in such reference. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • Member: shall mean any teacher or State employee included in the membership of the System as provided in N. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-1
  • Plan: includes all comprehensive health benefit plans offered under the Plan. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-48.1
  • President pro tempore: A constitutionally recognized officer of the Senate who presides over the chamber in the absence of the Vice President. The President Pro Tempore (or, "president for a time") is elected by the Senate and is, by custom, the Senator of the majority party with the longest record of continuous service.
  • Public school: shall mean any day school conducted within the State under the authority and supervision of a duly elected or appointed city or county school board, and any educational institution supported by and under the control of the State. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-1
  • Service: shall mean service as a teacher or State employee as described in subdivision (10) or (25) of this section. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories, so called; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the said district and territories and all dependencies. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • Teacher: shall mean (i) any teacher, helping teacher, teacher in a job-sharing position under N. See North Carolina General Statutes 135-1