The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 223, aims to amend the existing Paraeducator Health Care Subsidy Program by updating the eligibility criteria and subsidy provisions. The bill repeals and replaces Section 203 of public act 23-204, as amended by public act 24-81, to extend the subsidy program for paraeducators through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and each fiscal year thereafter. The new language specifies that paraeducators employed in public schools who open a health savings account or are eligible for Medicare and enroll in a high deductible health plan will receive a subsidy based on a percentage of their health plan deductible, minus any employer contributions, with a cap set by the Comptroller.

Additionally, the bill introduces a subsidy for local or regional boards of education that provide health coverage to paraeducators and their dependents. This subsidy will not exceed ten percent of the aggregate premium costs for the coverage provided, divided by the number of paraeducators enrolled. The provisions also clarify that these subsidies will apply to charter schools and exclude boards of education that offer high deductible health plans. The bill emphasizes the need for a memorandum of understanding between the Comptroller and the Commissioner of Education to facilitate the implementation of these provisions using allocated funds.