This bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 471.617, to allow towns and watershed districts, in addition to existing entities like statutory or home rule charter cities and counties, to self-insure for certain employee health benefits, including long-term disability. The bill specifies that self-insurance plans must comply with legal requirements for group health insurance policies and must be certified by the Department of Commerce. It also allows for joint self-insurance among multiple entities that collectively have more than 100 employees, while maintaining the same requirements as individual self-insurers.

Additionally, the bill introduces provisions regarding the notification and consultation process with exclusive representatives of employees before adopting self-insured plans or dissolving existing self-insurance funds. It mandates that employers provide written notice and obtain agreement from the largest representative of employees before making such decisions. Furthermore, the bill includes a new subdivision defining "watershed management organization" to clarify its inclusion in the self-insurance provisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 471.617
1st Engrossment: 471.617