(a) If the board of trustees establishes a group coverage plan that protects against either long-term or short-term loss of salary, the board may use an employee's annual salary in computing the amount of the employee's premium or coverage, or both, under the plan.
(b) In this section, an employee's annual salary includes benefit replacement pay under Subchapter H, Chapter 659, Government Code, as added by Chapter 417, Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995.