Accounting system allowances for dedication of salary

(1) Any political subdivision in this state may establish in its accounting system allowances for employees to dedicate part of their salary to expenses for dependent care, medical expenses, insurance premiums and any other expenses qualified for tax-free reimbursement under the federal Internal Revenue Code. (2) Upon application by a public employee, a political subdivision that has established allowances described in subsection (1) of this section may allow the employee to participate in an expense reimbursement plan qualified under the federal Internal Revenue Code at that place of employment. (3) Portions of a public employee’s salary dedicated to an expense reimbursement plan under this section shall be included in any computation of benefits under that employee’s public employee retirement program. (4) The amount by which an eligible employee’s compensation is reduced under subsections (1) to (3) of this section shall continue to be included as regular salary for the purpose of computing the retirement and pension benefits earned by the employee, but that amount shall not be considered current taxable income for the purpose of computing Social Security benefits or federal and state income taxes withheld on behalf of the employee. (5) All amounts by which compensation is reduced under subsection (4) of this section shall remain assets of the political subdivision until such time as the amounts are disbursed to or on behalf of eligible employees in accordance with the terms of compensation reduction agreements between the employees and the state. (6) The amount by which an eligible employee’s salary is reduced shall be deposited with the account administrator as designated by the Public Employees’ Benefit Board for disbursement to, or on behalf of, eligible employees in accordance with the terms of compensation reduction agreements between the employees and the state.