06 LC 34
0653S
House
Bill 1126 (COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)
By:
Representative Barnard of the
166th
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Code Section 45-18-10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to the right of continuation of insurance benefits for former state employees,
so as to provide an exemption from the eight-year service requirement for
correctional officers injured by inmate violence when five years or less from
becoming eligible for medicare medical coverage; to provide for related matters;
to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other
purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Code
Section 45-18-10 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the
right of continuation of insurance benefits for former state employees, is
amended by adding a new subsection (c) to read as follows:
"(c)
Any other provision of this article to the contrary notwithstanding, any
employee who is injured by an act of inmate violence while he or she is employed
as a correctional officer in a correctional facility in this state and is five
years or less from becoming eligible for medicare medical coverage shall be
exempt from the eight or more years of service requirement and shall be entitled
to continue full coverage and participation, including coverage for his or her
spouse and dependent children, in the health insurance plan upon the payment of
the monthly premium fixed by the board for active state employees. The first
monthly premium provided for in this subsection must be paid within 30 days
following receipt of a notice of premium to be sent to such person by the
commissioner. If such premium is not paid within such time limit, such
insurance coverage shall be canceled and such person shall not again be eligible
to participate in such
plan."
SECTION
2.
This
Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its
becoming law without such approval.
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.