MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2005 Regular Session

To: Insurance; Appropriations

By: Representative Mayo

House Bill 673

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-15-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT ANY PERSON WHO WORKS FULL TIME FOR A REGIONAL MENTAL HEALTH/RETARDATION CENTER SHALL BE A MEMBER OF THE STATE AND SCHOOL EMPLOYEES LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  Section 25-15-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

     [Through June 30 of the year in which Section 25-11-143 becomes effective as provided in subsection (1) of Section 25-11-143, this section shall read as follows:]

     25-15-3.  For the purposes of this article, the words and phrases used herein shall have the following meanings:

          (a)  "Employee" means a person who works full time for the State of Mississippi and receives his compensation in a direct payment from a department, agency or institution of the state government, and any person who works full time for any school district, community/junior college, public library or university-based program authorized under Section 37-23-31 for deaf, aphasic and emotionally disturbed children, or any regular nonstudent bus driver, and any person who works full time for a regional mental health/retardation center established under Section 41-19-33.  This shall include legislators, employees of the legislative branch and the judicial branch of the state and "employees" shall include full-time salaried judges and full-time district attorneys and their staff and full-time compulsory school attendance officers.  For the purposes of this article, any "employee" making contributions to the State of Mississippi retirement plan shall be considered a full-time employee.

          (b)  "Department" means the Department of Finance and Administration.

          (c)  "Plan" means the State and School Employees Life and Health Insurance Plan created under this article.

          (d)  "Fund" means the State and School Employees Insurance Fund set up under this article.

          (e)  "Retiree" means any employee retired under the Mississippi retirement plan.

          (f)  "Board" means the State and School Employees Health Insurance Management Board created under Section 25-15-303.

     [From and after July 1 of the year in which Section 25-11-143 becomes effective as provided in subsection (1) of Section 25-11-143, this section shall read as follows:]

     25-15-3.  For the purposes of this article, the words and phrases used in this section shall have the following meanings:

          (a)  "Employee" means a person who works full time for the State of Mississippi and receives his compensation in a direct payment from a department, agency or institution of the state government, and any person who works full time for any school district, community/junior college, public library, university-based program authorized under Section 37-23-31 for deaf, aphasic and emotionally disturbed children, or any regular nonstudent bus driver, and any person who works full time for a regional mental health/retardation center established under Section 41-19-33.  This term includes legislators, employees of the legislative branch and the judicial branch of the state,  full-time salaried judges and full-time district attorneys and their staff, and full-time compulsory school attendance officers.  For the purposes of this article, any "employee" making contributions to the Public Employees' Retirement System or the Highway Safety Patrol Retirement System shall be considered a full-time employee.

          (b)  "Department" means the Department of Finance and Administration.

          (c)  "Plan" means the State and School Employees Life and Health Insurance Plan created under this article.

          (d)  "Fund" means the State and School Employees Insurance Fund set up under this article.

          (e)  "Board" means the State and School Employees Health Insurance Management Board created under Section 25-15-303.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2005.