House Bill 1249

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-15-103, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT WHEN ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION, SCHOOL DISTRICT, JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICT, INSTITUTION, DEPARTMENT, OR AGENCY OF A COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY HAS ADOPTED THE GROUP COVERAGE PLAN PROVIDED BY LAW, SUCH GOVERNING AUTHORITY MAY ELECT TO PAY THE TOTAL OF OR ANY PART OF THE COST OF ALL BENEFITS, INCLUDING ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR THE DEPENDENTS OF AN EMPLOYEE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 25-15-103, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-15-103. The maximum amount of group insurance or other coverage used in determining employer's limitation of one hundred percent (100%) of such costs shall be determined by regulations promulgated by the governing board or head of any political subdivision, school district, junior college district, institution, department or agency named in Section 25-15-101 and this section, but the life insurance for each employee shall not exceed Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), or the amount of deduction allowed by the United States Internal Revenue Service in filing a federal tax return, whichever is greater. A like amount may be for accidental death; accident, health and salary protection insurance, providing benefits not exceeding sixty percent (60%) of the employee's income, or the amount allowed by the United States Internal Revenue Service in filing a federal tax return, whichever is greater. Hospitalization benefits for room and board may not exceed the average semiprivate cost per day; and the other coverages authorized hereinabove. The limitations in this paragraph on the amount of group insurance and other coverage which employers may obtain for their employees shall not be applicable to municipalities.

Any employee who retires due to one hundred percent (100%) medical disability, or due to reaching the statutory age of retirement under the provisions of the Public Employees' Retirement Law of 1952, being Sections 25-11-101 through 25-11-139, may, if he elects, remain a member of the group plan for such life insurance and other benefits as may be agreed to by the governing board or institution, department, or agency head and the companies writing such insurance and other coverage, by paying the entire costs thereof.

When any of the political subdivisions, school districts, junior college districts, institutions, departments, or agencies named in Section 25-15-101 and this section have adopted the group coverage plan authorized by said sections, any of the employees thereof participating in the plan who desire to secure additional benefits for their dependents with the company or companies providing such group coverage may do so by authorizing in writing the deduction from his or her salary or wages of the necessary amounts for the full payment of such additional coverage, and the same may be deducted and paid for such purposes, * * * or at the election of the governing authority of the political subdivision, school district, junior college district, institution, department or agency named in Section 25-15-101, such governing authority may pay the total of or any part of the cost of all benefits under this paragraph in its discretion, and may do so retroactively for any existing group coverage plan previously adopted by such governing authority.

Said municipality may provide group life insurance coverage for all or specified groups of its public employees and group hospitalization benefits for such public employees and their dependents, and the municipality may pay the total of the cost of all benefits under this section.

A municipality may provide group life insurance coverage for all or specified groups of its public employees and group hospitalization benefits for the public employees and their dependents, and the municipality may pay the total of the cost of all benefits under this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.