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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to the state group insurance program;

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amending s. 110.123, F.S.; deleting a provision that

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prohibits the state from making a contribution toward the

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premium for coverage under the program for a retiree or

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surviving spouse; providing a declaration of important

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state interest; providing an effective date.

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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     Section 1.  Paragraph (e) of subsection (4) of section

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110.123, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

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     110.123  State group insurance program.--

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     (4)  PAYMENT OF PREMIUMS; CONTRIBUTION BY STATE; LIMITATION

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ON ACTIONS TO PAY AND COLLECT PREMIUMS.--

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     (e) No state contribution for the cost of any part of the

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premium shall be made for retirees or surviving spouses for any

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type of coverage under the state group insurance program.

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However, Any state agency that employs a full-time law

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enforcement officer, correctional officer, or correctional

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probation officer who is killed or suffers catastrophic injury in

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the line of duty as provided in s. 112.19, or a full-time

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firefighter who is killed or suffers catastrophic injury in the

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line of duty as provided in s. 112.191, shall pay the entire

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premium of the state group health insurance plan selected for the

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employee's surviving spouse until remarried, and for each

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dependent child of the employee, subject to the conditions and

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limitations set forth in s. 112.19 or s. 112.191, as applicable.

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     Section 2. The Legislature finds that a proper and

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legitimate state purpose is served when employees and retirees of

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the state and its political subdivisions, and the dependents,

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survivors, and beneficiaries of such employees and retirees, are

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extended the basic protections afforded by governmental

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retirement systems. These persons must be provided benefits that

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are fair and adequate and that are managed, administered, and

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funded in an actuarially sound manner, as required by Section 14,

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Article X of the State Constitution, and part VII of chapter 112,

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Florida Statutes. Therefore, the Legislature determines and

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declares that this act fulfills an important state interest.

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     Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.