As used in this subpart, the term or terms:

(1) "Board" means the Board of Community Health established under Chapter 5A of Title 31.

(2) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of community health established under Chapter 5A of Title 31.

(3) "Local employer" means the county or independent board of education, regional and county libraries, and the governing authority of Georgia Military College.

(4) "Public school teacher," "teacher," and "employee" mean any person employed not less than half time in a professionally certificated capacity or position in the public school systems of this state. "Public school teacher," "teacher," and "employee" also mean librarians and other personnel employed by regional and county libraries or the high school program of Georgia Military College. "Public school teacher," "teacher," and "employee" also mean any professionally certificated person who has acquired ten years or more of creditable service and who is being paid retirement benefits by the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, Chapter 3 of Title 47, or by any other public school teacher retirement system in this state. "Public school teacher," "teacher," and "employee" shall not be deemed to include any emergency or temporary employee. Notwithstanding this definition or any other provision of this subpart, the board may, by regulation, make available to employees who work 17 1/2 hours or more per week such benefits as are required to be made available to such employees by regulations of the United States Internal Revenue Service or any other federal authority.

(5) "Qualified entity" means any person, association, corporation, or other legal entity with which the board is authorized under Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45, relating to state employees' health insurance, to enter into contract.