The board shall establish an employee assistance program available to persons in the medical and hospital benefits coverage group. The premium for this coverage must be paid as provided by section 54-52.1-06. The board shall receive bids for this program under section 54-52.1-04. Each department, board, or agency shall obtain employee assistance program services through the board for eligible employees and may not enter into any agreement to obtain employee assistance program services with a third-party provider except that a department, board, or agency may use its own employee assistance program services to the extent such services are provided by personnel of that department, board, or agency. As used in this section, “employee assistance program” means an employer-sponsored service for employees under which a professional employee assistance program staff assists employees and their families in finding help for emotional, drug, alcohol, family, health, and other personal or job-related problems that may be affecting their work performance.