HB37: HB37 Education; require local school systems to notify employees regarding social security withholdings and eligibility for certain benefits

25 HB 37/AP House Bill 37 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Leverett of the 123rd, Ballard of the 147th, and Hilton of the 48th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1 elementary and secondary education, so as to require local school systems to provide notice2 to employees regarding social security withholdings and eligibility for inclusion in certain3 benefits, pension, or retirement plans; to provide for the paym ent of the costs of health4 insurance coverage for family members of local board of education members; to provide for5 an effective date; to provide for related matters; to repeal co nflicting laws; and for other6 purposes.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8 SECTION 1.9 Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to elementary and10 secondary education, is amended in Code Section 20-2-55, relating to per diem, insurance,11 and expenses of local board members, by revising paragraph (1) of subsection (b) as follows:12 "(b)(1) A local board of education is authorized to provide gro up medical and dental13 insurance for its members who elect to participate. Such insur ance may be provided14 through a group policy secured by the local school district, a group policy secured by15 several local school districts, a policy secured by an organization of local school boards,16 H. B. 37 - 1 - 25 HB 37/AP or in accordance with Code Section 45-18-5 providing for the inclusion of members of17 the local board of education and their spouses and dependents within any health insurance18 plan or plans established under Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45. It shall be the duty19 of the board to make the employer contributions required for the operation of such plan20 or plans. Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, a board providing such21 insurance shall pay no greater percentage of the cost of that insurance than the percentage22 of the cost paid as an employer contribution by the state for the health insurance plan for23 state employees pursuant to Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 45. The remainder of such24 insurance costs, and all the costs of any coverage for family members, shall be paid as an25 employee contribution by the board member. It shall be the duty of the board to deduct26 from the salary or other remuneration of qualified members or o therwise collect such27 payment from the qualified members or dependents."28 SECTION 2.29 Said chapter is further amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:30 "20-2-219.1.31 (a) Beginning July 1, 2025, and continuing thereafter, each local school system shall, upon32 hiring a new employee, provide such new employee the following:33 (1) Notice of whether:34 (A) Social security taxes will be withheld from his or her pay;35 (B) He or she is eligible to be included in a plan with coverage for the benefits of Title36 II of the Social Security Act; and37 (C) He or she is eligible to be included in any other pension or retirement plan; and38 (2) If he or she is eligible to be included in one or more pla ns provided for in39 subparagraph (B) or (C) of paragraph (1) of this subsection, information regarding such40 plan or plans.41 H. B. 37 - 2 - 25 HB 37/AP (b) No later than December 31, 2025, and at least once every f ive years thereafter, each42 local school system shall provide each current employee with th e notice required in43 paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this Code section.44 (c) Beginning July 1, 2025, and continuing thereafter, each local school system shall notify45 each employee at or near the time of such employee's separation whether social security46 taxes were withheld from his or her pay during any part of his or her employment."47 SECTION 3.48 This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2025.49 SECTION 4.50 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.51 H. B. 37 - 3 -