| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to the state group insurance program; |
| 3 | amending s. 110.123, F.S.; deleting a provision that |
| 4 | prohibits the state from making a contribution toward the |
| 5 | premium for coverage under the program for a retiree or |
| 6 | surviving spouse; providing a declaration of important |
| 7 | state interest; providing an effective date. |
| 8 |
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| 9 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 10 |
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| 11 | Section 1. Paragraph (e) of subsection (4) of section |
| 12 | 110.123, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 13 | 110.123 State group insurance program.-- |
| 14 | (4) PAYMENT OF PREMIUMS; CONTRIBUTION BY STATE; LIMITATION |
| 15 | ON ACTIONS TO PAY AND COLLECT PREMIUMS.-- |
| 16 | (e) No state contribution for the cost of any part of the |
| 17 | premium shall be made for retirees or surviving spouses for any |
| 18 | type of coverage under the state group insurance program. |
| 19 | However, Any state agency that employs a full-time law |
| 20 | enforcement officer, correctional officer, or correctional |
| 21 | probation officer who is killed or suffers catastrophic injury |
| 22 | in the line of duty as provided in s. 112.19, or a full-time |
| 23 | firefighter who is killed or suffers catastrophic injury in the |
| 24 | line of duty as provided in s. 112.191, shall pay the entire |
| 25 | premium of the state group health insurance plan selected for |
| 26 | the employee's surviving spouse until remarried, and for each |
| 27 | dependent child of the employee, subject to the conditions and |
| 28 | limitations set forth in s. 112.19 or s. 112.191, as applicable. |
| 29 | Section 2. The Legislature finds that a proper and |
| 30 | legitimate state purpose is served when employees and retirees |
| 31 | of the state and its political subdivisions, and the dependents, |
| 32 | survivors, and beneficiaries of such employees and retirees, are |
| 33 | extended the basic protections afforded by governmental |
| 34 | retirement systems. These persons must be provided benefits that |
| 35 | are fair and adequate and that are managed, administered, and |
| 36 | funded in an actuarially sound manner, as required by Section |
| 37 | 14, Article X of the State Constitution, and part VII of chapter |
| 38 | 112, Florida Statutes. Therefore, the Legislature determines and |
| 39 | declares that this act fulfills an important state interest. |
| 40 | Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009. |