05 LC 33
0614
Senate
Bill 98
By: Senators Hudgens of the 47th, Cagle of the 49th, Johnson of the 1st, Kemp of the 46th and Douglas of the 17th
By: Senators Hudgens of the 47th, Cagle of the 49th, Johnson of the 1st, Kemp of the 46th and Douglas of the 17th
AS
PASSED SENATE
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Code Section 20_2_55 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to per diem and expenses of local boards of education, so as to authorize the
expenditure of funds for life, disability, and liability insurance, retirement
and pension coverage, social security coverage, and similar benefits for
members of such local boards of education; to provide for related matters; to
repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Code
Section 20_2_55 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to per diem
and expenses of local boards of education, is amended by striking in its
entirety subsection (b) and inserting in lieu thereof the
following:
"(b)(1)
A local board of education is authorized to provide
and expend
local funds for the provision of group
medical,
and
dental, life,
disability, and liability insurance
and retirement
or pension coverage, social security and employment security coverage, and
similar or related employment benefits for
its members who elect to participate. Such insurance
and
benefits may be provided through a group
policy or
plan secured by the local school district,
a group policy
or
plan secured by several local school
districts, or
a policy
or
plan secured by an organization of local
school
boards.,
or
Medical and
dental insurance may also be offered in
accordance with Code Section 45_18_5 providing for the inclusion of members of
the local board of education and their spouses and dependents within any health
insurance plan or plans established under Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45.
It shall be the duty of the board to make the employer contributions required
for the operation of such plan or plans. Except as provided in paragraph (3) of
this subsection, a board providing such insurance shall pay no greater
percentage of the cost of that insurance than the percentage of the cost paid as
an employer contribution by the state for the health insurance plan for state
employees pursuant to Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45. The remainder of
such insurance costs, and all the costs of any coverage for family members,
shall be paid as an employee contribution by the board member. It shall be the
duty of the board to deduct from the salary or other remuneration of qualified
members or otherwise collect such payment from the qualified members or
dependents.
(2)
Taxes levied by or on behalf of a local board of education may be expended for
employer contributions, but not employee contributions, required for insurance
coverage
of
or other
benefits for members of that board as
provided in paragraph (1) of this subsection. Taxes levied by or on behalf of a
local board of education also may be expended for contributions authorized in
paragraph (3) of this subsection. Such expenditures on behalf of any member may
continue only as long as that member continues in office and makes any employee
contribution required for such coverage. That member, and eligible dependents
thereof, shall be ineligible for coverage pursuant to the provisions of
paragraph (1) of this subsection upon such person´s ceasing to serve as a
member of a local board of education. Such expenditures on behalf of any member
in accordance with paragraph (3) of this subsection may continue only as long as
that member continues in office and makes any contribution which is not the
result of the board of education´s decision to allow its members to
participate in the health insurance plan. Expenditures authorized by this Code
section shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any salary, expense, per
diem, or other compensation payable to that member of a local board of
education.
(3)
If a board member is already a member of a health insurance plan established by
Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45 as a retired employee and the result of the
board of education´s decision to allow its members to participate is to
establish dual eligibility for a member and thus to increase the cost to such
member of the state insurance plan, then the local board may pay any additional
cost imposed on such member as a result of the local board´s decision to
allow its members to participate in coverage under paragraph (1) of this
subsection."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.