43. As used in this section, “independent State authority” means a public authority, board, commission, corporation, or other agency or instrumentality of the State allocated, in but not of, a principal department of State government pursuant to Article V, Section IV, paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, or which is not subject to supervision or control by the department in which it is allocated, and a regional authority, but shall not include a college or university.

Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, public employees of an independent State authority who are not subject to the provisions of section 40 of P.L.2011, c.78 (C. 52:14-17.28d) shall contribute, through the withholding of the contribution from the pay, salary, or other compensation or from the monthly retirement allowance, toward the cost of health care benefits coverage for the employee and any dependent provided by the authority during active service and in retirement in an amount that shall be determined as closely as possible in accordance with sections 39 and 40 of P.L.2011, c.78 (C. 52:14-17.28c and C. 52:14-17.28d).

Once those employees are subjected to the contribution requirements set forth in this section, the public employers and public employees shall be bound by this act, P.L.2011, c.78, to apply the contribution levels set forth in section 39 of this act until all affected employees are contributing the full amount of the contribution, as determined by the implementation schedule set forth in subsection a. of section 40 of this act. Notwithstanding the expiration date set forth in section 83 of this act, P.L.2011, c.78, or the expiration date of any successor agreements, the parties shall be bound to apply the requirements of this paragraph until they have reached the full implementation of the schedule set forth in subsection a. of section 40 of this act.

L.2011, c.78, s.43.