411.39  Benefits for employees of the board of trustees for the statewide system.
  1.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
  a.  “Benefit programs” mean the state life insurance program, the state health or medical insurance program, and the state employees disability program administered by the department of administrative services.
  b.  “Employees” mean the secretary and other employees of the board of trustees for the statewide fire and police retirement system.
  2.  Employees are eligible to participate in the benefit programs for state employees. Participation in the benefit programs is optional, and an employee may participate by filing an election, in writing, with the board of trustees for the statewide system. The board of trustees shall file these elections with the department of administrative services.
  3.  The board of trustees shall determine what, if any, amount of the costs or premiums of the benefit programs shall be paid by the participating employees, and shall deduct the amount from the wages of the participating employees. The board of trustees shall pay the remaining costs or premiums of the benefit programs from the fire and police retirement fund, including any portion to be attributed to an employer, and shall forward all amounts paid by participating employees and the board to the department of administrative services.
  4.  Participating employees shall be exempted from preexisting medical condition waiting periods. Participating employees may change programs or coverage under the state health or medical service group insurance plan subject to the enrollment rules established for full-time state employees excluded from collective bargaining as provided in chapter 20. A participating employee or the participating employee’s surviving spouse shall have the same rights upon final termination of employment or death as are afforded full-time state employees and the employees’ surviving spouses excluded from collective bargaining as provided in chapter 20.
92 Acts, ch 1197, §3; 2003 Acts, ch 145, §286