HB 746

As Introduced
136th General Assembly
   Regular Session  H. B. No. 746
  2025-2026
  Representative Thomas, D.
Cosponsors: Representatives Glassburn, Klopfenstein, Salvo, Williams, Daniels
  To enact section 124.826 of the Revised Code to  1
  allow a political subdivision to participate in  2
  the same state health plan offered to state  3
  employees.  4
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
     Section 1. That section 124.826 of the Revised Code be  5
enacted to read as follows:  6
     Sec. 124.826. (A) As used in this section, "political  7
subdivision" means a county, township, municipal corporation, or  8
other body corporate and politic that is responsible for  9
governmental activities in a geographic area smaller than the  10
state.  11
     (B)(1) A political subdivision may elect to participate in  12
any health, medical, hospital, dental, surgical, or vision  13
benefit the director of administrative services contracts for  14
under section 124.82 of the Revised Code or otherwise provides  15
for the benefit of state employees who are paid directly by  16
warrant of the director of budget and management. A political  17
subdivision that elects to participate in a benefit under this  18
section shall notify the director of that election.  19
H. B. No. 746  Page 2
As Introduced
       (2) A political subdivision that has elected to  20
participate in a benefit under this section may cease  21
participation by notifying the director. The political  22
subdivision's election to cease participation is effective on  23
the first day of the next benefit year. A political subdivision  24
that ceases participation may subsequently elect to participate  25
in a benefit by complying with division (B)(1) of this section.  26
       (C) An employee of a political subdivision that makes an  27
election to participate in a benefit under division (B)(1) of  28
this section may enroll in a benefit by filing the election form  29
developed by the director under division (D) of this section  30
with the employee's political subdivision. The political  31
subdivision shall forward the election form to the director.  32
       (D) The director shall do all of the following:  33
       (1) Prescribe procedures, in consultation with the  34
director of budget and management, to administer benefits for  35
political subdivision employees under this section;  36
       (2) Develop the required election forms for employees to  37
enroll, disenroll, or re-enroll in benefits under this section;  38
       (3) Provide the election forms developed under this  39
division to each political subdivision that elects to  40
participate in a benefit under this section;  41
       (4) Notify a political subdivision when its employee has  42
enrolled, disenrolled, or re-enrolled in benefits under this  43
section.  44
       (E) The director of administrative services shall offer to  45
political subdivision employees who enroll in benefits under  46
this section the same cost-sharing arrangements, coverage  47
options, contribution rates, and enrollment periods as are  48
H. B. No. 746  Page 3
As Introduced
offered to state employees who are paid directly by warrant of  49
the director of budget and management under section 124.82 of  50
the Revised Code. All or any portion of the cost, premium, or  51
charge for the coverage under this section may be paid in such  52
manner or combination of manners as the director determines and  53
may include the proration of health care costs, premiums, or  54
charges for part-time employees.  55
       (F) To assist the director of administrative services in  56
administering benefits for political subdivision employees under  57
this section, each political subdivision that elects to  58
participate in a benefit under this section shall coordinate  59
with the director to facilitate enrollment and provide any  60
information, including employee data, that the director requires  61
to the director or a designated third-party administrator.  62
       (G) Nothing in this section requires a political  63
subdivision to elect coverage for the political subdivision's  64
employees under this section or prohibits a political  65
subdivision from offering similar coverage options under any  66
other type of health benefit plan.  67
       (H) The director of administrative services shall adopt  68
rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code to  69
implement this section and to address both of the following:  70
       (1) The determination of the contributions and cost-  71
sharing arrangements for coverage under this section;  72
       (2) The administration of claims and benefits for  73
political subdivision employees under this section.  74