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 multiple entities, such as towns and watershed districts, to jointly self-insure if they 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-insurance plans or dissolving existing self-insurance funds. It mandates that employers provide written notice and obtain agreement from the largest exclusive representative before making such decisions. Furthermore, the bill allows employees represented by an exclusive representative to enroll in the self-insurance health benefit plan at their own expense, upon request. A new subdivision is added to define "watershed management organization" for clarity within the context of the bill.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 471.617
1st Engrossment: 471.617
2nd Engrossment: 471.617
1st Unofficial Engrossment: 471.617