2-18-809. Definitions. As used in this part, the following definitions apply:

(1) "Advisory council" means the state employee group benefits advisory council provided for in 2-15-1016.

(2) "Department" means the department of administration provided for in 2-15-1001.

(3) "Flexible spending account" means a funding and accounting arrangement allowed by federal law that:

(a) gives a state employee a choice between receiving taxable salary or having a part of the employee's salary withheld; and

(b) provides for depositing any portion of the state employee's salary withheld and any employer contribution designated by the employee into an account and receiving from that account nontaxable reimbursement for certain out-of-pocket medical expenses of the state employee or a dependent of the employee.

(4) "Group benefits" means group hospitalization, health, medical, surgical, disability, life, and other similar and related group benefits provided to officers and employees of the state, including flexible spending account benefits. The term "group benefits" does not include casualty insurance, defined in 33-1-206; marine insurance, authorized in 33-1-209 and 33-1-221 through 33-1-229; property insurance, defined in 33-1-210; surety insurance, defined in 33-1-211; and title insurance, defined in 33-1-212.

(5) (a) "State employee" means an employee of the state, specifically including a member or employee of the legislative branch of state government.

(b) The term "state employee" does not include employees of counties, cities, towns, school districts, or the Montana university system or a student intern, as defined in 2-18-101.