6. a. Any local board of education entering into a contract pursuant to this act is authorized to pay part or all of the premiums or charges for such contracts and may appropriate out of its general funds any money necessary to pay such premiums or charges or portions thereof.

The contribution required of any employee toward the cost of such coverage may be deducted from the pay, salary or other compensation of such employee upon authorization in writing made to the local board of education.

The local board of education may reimburse an active employee for his premium charges under Part B of the Federal Medicare Program covering the employee alone.

Nothing herein shall be construed as compelling a local board of education to pay any portion of the premiums or charges attributable to such contracts.

b. Commencing on the effective date of P.L.2010, c.2 and upon the expiration of any applicable binding collective negotiations agreement in force on that effective date, employees of a local board of education shall pay 1.5 percent of base salary, through the withholding of the contribution from the pay, salary or other compensation, for health care benefits coverage provided pursuant to P.L.1979, c.391 (C. 18A:16-12 et seq.), notwithstanding any other amount that may be required additionally pursuant to subsection a. of this section for such coverage. This subsection shall apply also when the health care benefits coverage is provided through an insurance fund or joint insurance fund or in any other manner.

L.1979, c.391, s.6; amended 2010, c.2, s.13.