(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subsection, the board may allow nurses or nurse educators who are employed less than half-time by a state agency, local government or university and who are not otherwise eligible for a state or local government contribution for benefits to participate in a self-pay group without any minimum participation level of persons in the group.
(2) Nothing in subsection (1) of this section applies to:
(a) Any person or group of persons similarly situated exempted by state or federal law from any minimum participation requirement; or
(b) Any person or group of persons participating prior to January 1, 1992, in a benefit plan that was offered by the State Employes’ Benefit Board.
(3) As used in subsection (1) of this section, "self-pay group" means a group of persons other than state or local government employees for whom the state or the local government makes no contributions for benefit plans under ORS 243.105 to 243.285. [1991 c.577 §4; 1997 c.222 §36; 2009 c.186 §1; 2013 c.731 §9]