1. (1) School districts may offer optional benefits that do not compete with any form of the basic or optional benefits offered in the school employees' benefits board (SEBB) program either under the SEBB's authority in RCW 41.05.740 or offered under the health care authority's (HCA) authority in the salary reduction plan authorized in RCW 41.05.300 and 41.05.310. Optional benefits must be paid for by the school employee without an employer contribution, except for when a school employee participates in voluntary employees' beneficiary association accounts (VEBA), which may have an employer contribution as described in RCW 28A.400.210(3). Optional benefits may include:

   1. (a) Emergency transportation;
   2. (b) Identity protection;
   3. (c) Legal aid;
   4. (d) Long-term care insurance;
   5. (e) Noncommercial personal automobile insurance;
   6. (f) Personal homeowner's or renter's insurance;
   7. (g) Pet insurance;
   8. (h) Specified disease or illness-triggered fixed payment insurance, hospital confinement fixed payment insurance, or other fixed payment insurance offered as an independent, noncoordinated benefit regulated by the office of the insurance commissioner;
   9. (i) Travel insurance; and
   10. (j) VEBA.

2. (2) Any school districts providing optional benefits must:

   1. (a) Report optional benefits on the form designed and communicated by the HCA; and
   2. (b) Submit the form so it is received by December 1st of each year for the following calendar year as required in RCW 28A.400.280 (2)(b).
3. (3) The HCA, in consultation with the SEBB will review the optional benefits offered by school districts as described in RCW 41.05.745(2).

[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160, 41.05.740, 2023 c 13 § 2, and 2023 c 51 § 3. WSR 24-15-107 (Admin #2024-01), § 182-30-140, filed 7/22/24, effective 1/1/25. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021 and 41.05.160. WSR 21-13-117 (Admin #2021-01.04), § 182-30-140, filed 6/21/21, effective 1/1/22. Statutory Authority: RCW 41.05.021, 41.05.160 and 2020 c 231. WSR 20-16-067 (Admin #2020-04), § 182-30-140, filed 7/28/20, effective 8/28/20.]