ARTICLE 2B. GROUP INSURANCE PLANS FOR REGULAR EMPLOYEES.

§21A-2B-1. Inaugurating group insurance plans.

The commissioner of the Bureau of Employment Programs is hereby authorized and empowered to negotiate for, secure and adopt for the regular employees thereof (other than provisional, temporary, emergency, and intermittent employees) who are in employee status with the Bureau of Employment Programs on and after effective date of this article, a policy or policies of group insurance written by a carrier or carriers chartered under the laws of any state and duly licensed to do business in this state and covering life; health; hospital care; surgical or medical diagnosis, care, and treatment; drugs and medicines; remedial care; other medical supplies and services; or any other combination of these; and any other policy or policies of group insurance which in the discretion of the commissioner bear a reasonable relationship to the foregoing coverages; but subject to the terms and conditions of this article.

§21A-2B-2. Acceptance of grants from United States department of labor, bureau of employment security; state not to pay premiums.

The group insurance plans so authorized to be established shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

The commissioner is hereby authorized and empowered to accept on behalf of the regular employees of the Bureau of Employment Programs, who in writing agree to participate in any plan of group insurance, granted funds provided by the United States department of labor, bureau of employment security, to pay the agency's share of the premium cost of said group policy or policies. The state of West Virginia shall not pay, or be liable for the payment of, any portion of said premiums for such group insurance.

§21A-2B-3. Approval of terms of plans.

The provisions and terms of any such group plan or plans of insurance shall comply in all respects with the conditions and requirements of the United States department of labor, bureau of employment security, and shall be approved in writing by the Insurance Commissioner of the State of West Virginia as to form, rate and benefits.

§21A-2B-4. Payroll deductions; employee continuing in group after retirement.

(a) Whenever the above-described regular employees shall indicate in writing that they have subscribed to any of the aforesaid insurance plans on a group basis, the commissioner of the Bureau of Employment Programs is hereby authorized and empowered to approve periodic premium deductions from the salary payments due such employees as specified in a written assignment furnished the commissioner by each such employee subscribing to a group insurance plan, which deductions shall be made by the Auditor of the State of West Virginia.

(b) Upon proper requisition of the commissioner, the Auditor shall periodically issue a warrant payable as specified in the requisition, for the total deductions from the salaries of employees participating in any such group insurance plan. To promote efficiency and economy in making deductions and issuing warrants as provided herein, the Auditor is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations specifying the form and the time and manner of presentation of requisitions issued pursuant to this section.

(c) When a participating employee shall retire from his employment, he may, if he so elects and the insurance carrier or carriers agree, remain a member of the group plan by paying the entire premium for the coverage involved.

§21A-2B-5. Custodian of funds; disbursements.

The State Treasurer shall be custodian of the funds under the aforesaid group insurance plans, and disbursements from the funds to pay all premiums shall be made only upon warrants signed by the State Auditor and the State Treasurer.