Subdivision 1.Application for substitution.

Employers may apply to the commissioner for approval to meet their obligations under this chapter through the substitution of a private plan that provides paid family, paid medical, or paid family and medical benefits. In order to be approved as meeting an employer’s obligations under this chapter, a private plan must confer all of the same rights, protections, and benefits provided to employees under this chapter, including but not limited to benefits under section 268B.04 and employment protections under section 268B.09. Employers may apply for approval of private plans that exceed the benefits provided to employees under this chapter. An employee covered by a private plan under this section retains all applicable rights and remedies under section 268B.09.

Subd. 2.Private plan requirements; medical benefit program.

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The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of commerce, must approve an application for private provision of the medical benefit program if the commissioner determines:

(1) all of the employees of the employer are to be covered under the provisions of the employer plan;

(2) eligibility requirements for benefits and leave are no more restrictive than as provided under this chapter;

(3) the weekly benefits payable under the private plan for any week are at least equal to the weekly benefit amount payable under this chapter;

(4) the total number of weeks for which benefits are payable under the private plan is at least equal to the total number of weeks for which benefits would have been payable under this chapter;

(5) no greater amount is required to be paid by employees toward the cost of benefits under the employer plan than by this chapter;

(6) wage replacement benefits are stated in the plan separately and distinctly from other benefits;

(7) the private plan will provide benefits and leave for any serious health condition or medical care related to pregnancy for which benefits are payable, and leave provided, under this chapter;

(8) the private plan will impose no additional condition or restriction on the use of medical benefits beyond those explicitly authorized by this chapter or regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter;

(9) the private plan will allow any employee covered under the private plan who is eligible to receive medical benefits under this chapter to receive medical benefits under the employer plan; and

(10) coverage will continue under the private plan while an employee remains employed by the employer.

Subd. 3.Private plan requirements; family benefit program.

The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of commerce, must approve an application for private provision of the family benefit program if the commissioner determines:

(1) all of the employees of the employer are to be covered under the provisions of the employer plan;

(2) eligibility requirements for benefits and leave are no more restrictive than as provided under this chapter;

(3) the weekly benefits payable under the private plan for any week are at least equal to the weekly benefit amount payable under this chapter;

(4) the total number of weeks for which benefits are payable under the private plan is at least equal to the total number of weeks for which benefits would have been payable under this chapter;

(5) no greater amount is required to be paid by employees toward the cost of benefits under the employer plan than by this chapter;

(6) wage replacement benefits are stated in the plan separately and distinctly from other benefits;

(7) the private plan will provide benefits and leave for any care for a family member with a serious health condition, bonding with a child, qualifying exigency, or safety leave event for which benefits are payable, and leave provided, under this chapter;

(8) the private plan will impose no additional condition or restriction on the use of family benefits beyond those explicitly authorized by this chapter or regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter;

(9) the private plan will allow any employee covered under the private plan who is eligible to receive family benefits under this chapter to receive family benefits under the employer plan; and

(10) coverage will continue under the private plan while an employee remains employed by the employer.

Subd. 4.Surety bond requirement.

If the private plan is in the form of self-insurance, the employer shall file with its application for private provision of the medical benefit or family benefit program a surety bond in an amount equal to the employer’s annual premium that it would otherwise be required to pay to the family and medical benefit insurance account. The surety bond must be in a form approved by the commissioner and issued by a surety company authorized to transact business in Minnesota.

Subd. 5.Private plan requirements; timing of payment.

Private plan benefits may be paid to align with the employer’s payroll cycle or according to the terms of the approved private plan.

Subd. 6.Private plan requirements; weekly benefit determination.

For purposes of determining the family and medical benefit amount and duration under a private plan, the weekly benefit amount and duration shall be based on the employee’s typical work week and wages earned with the employer at the time of an application for benefits. If an employer does not have complete base period wage detail information, the employer may accept an employee’s certification of wage credits, based on the employee’s records.

Subd. 7.Use of private insurance products.

Nothing in this section prohibits an employer from meeting the requirements of a private plan through a private insurance product. If the employer plan involves a private insurance product, that insurance product must be approved by the commissioner of commerce and be issued by an insurance company authorized to transact insurance in this state.

Subd. 8.Private plan approval and oversight fee.

An employer with an approved private plan is not required to pay premiums established under section 268B.14. An employer with an approved private plan is responsible for a private plan approval and oversight fee equal to $250 for employers with fewer than 50 employees, $500 for employers with 50 to 499 employees, and $1,000 for employers with 500 or more employees. The employer must pay this fee (1) upon initial application for private plan approval, and (2) any time the employer applies to amend the private plan. The commissioner must review and report on the adequacy of this fee to cover private plan administrative costs annually beginning January 1, 2027, as part of the annual report established in section 268B.25.

Subd. 9.Plan duration.

A private plan under this section must be in effect for a period of at least one year and, thereafter, continuously unless the commissioner finds that the employer has given notice of withdrawal from the plan in a manner specified by the commissioner in this section or rule. The plan may be withdrawn by the employer within 30 days of the effective date of any law increasing the benefit amounts or within 30 days of the date of any change in the rate of premiums. If the plan is not withdrawn, it must be administered to provide the increased benefit amount or change in the rate of the employee’s premium on the date of the increase or change.

Subd. 10.Employer reimbursement.

If an employer meeting the requirements of a private plan through an insurance product under subdivision 6 has made advance payments of benefits due under this chapter or has made payments to an employee in like manner as wages during any period of family or medical leave for which the employee is entitled to the benefits provided by this chapter, the employer is entitled to be reimbursed by the carrier or third party administrator out of any benefits due or to become due for the family or medical leave, if the claim for reimbursement is filed with the carrier prior to payment of the benefits by the carrier.

Subd. 11.Appeals.

(a) An employer may appeal any adverse action regarding that employer’s application for private provision of the medical benefit or family benefit program, in a manner specified by the commissioner.

(b) An employee covered under a private plan has the same right to appeal to the state under section 268B.04, subdivision 7, as any other employee. An employee covered under a private plan has the right to request reconsideration of a decision under a private plan made by an insurer, private plan administrator, or employer prior to exercising appeal rights under section 268B.04.

Subd. 12.Employees no longer covered.

(a) An employee is no longer covered by an approved private plan if a leave under this chapter occurs after the employment relationship with the private plan employer ends, or if the commissioner revokes the approval of the private plan.

(b) An employee no longer covered by an approved private plan is, if otherwise eligible, immediately entitled to benefits under this chapter to the same extent as though there had been no approval of the private plan.

Subd. 13.Posting of notice regarding private plan.

An employer with a private plan must provide a notice prepared by or approved by the commissioner regarding the private plan consistent with section 268B.26.

Subd. 14.Amendment.

(a) The commissioner must approve any amendment, other than those required by this chapter, to a private plan adjusting the provisions thereof, if the commissioner determines:

(1) that the plan, as amended, will conform to the standards set forth in this chapter; and

(2) that notice of the amendment has been delivered to all affected employees at least ten days before the submission of the amendment.

(b) Any amendments approved under this subdivision are effective on the date of the commissioner’s approval, unless the commissioner and the employer agree on a later date.

Subd. 15.Successor employer.

A private plan in effect at the time a successor acquires the employer organization, trade, or business, or substantially all the assets thereof, or a distinct and severable portion of the organization, trade, or business, and continues its operation without substantial reduction of personnel resulting from the acquisition, must continue the approved private plan and must not withdraw the plan without a specific request for withdrawal in a manner and at a time specified by the commissioner. A successor may terminate a private plan with notice to the commissioner and within 90 days from the date of the acquisition.

Subd. 16.Revocation of approval by commissioner.

(a) The commissioner may terminate any private plan if the commissioner determines the employer:

(1) failed to pay benefits;

(2) failed to pay benefits in a timely manner, consistent with the requirements of this chapter;

(3) failed to submit reports as required by this chapter or rule adopted under this chapter; or

(4) otherwise failed to comply with this chapter or rule adopted under this chapter.

(b) The commissioner must give notice of the intention to terminate a plan to the employer at least ten days before taking any final action. The notice must state the effective date and the reason for the termination.

(c) The employer may, within ten days from mailing or personal service of the notice, file an appeal to the commissioner in the time, manner, method, and procedure provided by the commissioner under subdivision 11.

(d) The payment of benefits must not be delayed during an employer’s appeal of the revocation of approval of a private plan.

(e) If the commissioner revokes approval of an employer’s private plan, that employer is ineligible to apply for approval of another private plan for a period of three years, beginning on the date of revocation.

Subd. 17.Employer penalties.

(a) The commissioner may assess the following monetary penalties against an employer with an approved private plan found to have violated this chapter:

(1) $1,000 for the first violation; and

(2) $2,000 for the second, and each successive violation.

(b) The commissioner must waive collection of any penalty if the employer corrects the violation within 30 days of receiving a notice of the violation and the notice is for a first violation.

(c) The commissioner may waive collection of any penalty if the commissioner determines the violation to be an inadvertent error by the employer.

(d) Monetary penalties collected under this section shall be deposited in the family and medical benefit insurance account.

(e) Assessment of penalties under this subdivision may be appealed as provided by the commissioner under subdivision 11.

Subd. 18.Reports, information, and records.

Employers with an approved private plan must maintain all reports, information, and records as relating to the private plan and claims for a period of six years from creation and provide to the commissioner upon request.

Subd. 19.Audit and investigation.

The commissioner may investigate and audit plans approved under this section both before and after the plans are approved.

Subd. 20.Voluntary termination of an approved private plan by an employer.

(a) An employer may terminate its approved private plan by notifying the commissioner in writing at least 30 days before the voluntary termination’s effective date.

(b) The employer must notify employees of the voluntary termination no later than 30 days before the termination’s effective date.

(c) An employer must continue the approved private plan’s coverage through the termination’s effective date. If an employer does not continue the approved private plan’s coverage through the termination’s effective date, the commissioner shall assess against the employer a fine per employee per day the employee was not covered through the termination’s effective date. The fine per employee per day will equal the employer’s and employee’s total premium amount for a year, divided by 365.

Subd. 21.Employer obligations after termination of private plan approval.

(a) Within seven days of the effective date of a voluntary or involuntary termination of private plan approval, the employer must notify all employees of the termination and notify all employees that they are under the state plan as a result of the termination.

(b) If an employer’s workforce becomes covered by the state plan because the employer’s private plan approval was voluntarily or involuntarily terminated, the employer must remain covered by the state plan and pay premiums to the state for a period of at least three years.