Requires election by certain public employees of certain health care benefit plans; prohibits payments by public employers for waiver of such plans.

This bill changes health care coverage rules for public employees in New Jersey. It requires that when both spouses are public employees eligible for health benefits from their respective employers, the employee with the higher annual compensation must select coverage with their employer, and the spouse is ineligible for coverage from the spouse's employer. The bill prohibits public employers from making any payments to employees who waive coverage under their employer's health benefits plan. Previously, some employers could pay employees who waived coverage, but this bill eliminates that practice. The changes apply to State, local government, school boards, and other public employers, and decisions about allowing waivers are no longer subject to collective bargaining.