SB267: SB267 State's Employee Benefit Plan Council; establish health savings accounts and to continually provide for education or salary reductions for such accounts; require

25 LC 46 1149 Senate Bill 267 By: Senators Esteves of the 35th, Gooch of the 51st, Kennedy of the 18th, Brass of the 6th, Jones II of the 22nd and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 3 of Chapter 18 of Title 45 of the Official Co de of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to the state's Employee Benefit Plan Council, so as to require such council to2 establish health savings accounts and to continually provide fo r education or salary3 reductions for such accounts; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and4 for other purposes.5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6 SECTION 1.7 Article 3 of Chapter 18 of Title 45 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the8 state's Employee Benefit Plan Council, is amended by revising C ode Section 45-18-52,9 relating to establishment of flexible employee benefit plans, as follows:10 "45-18-52.11 (a)(1) The council is authorized to establish a flexible employee be nefit plan for12 employees of the state, and public schoolteachers school teachers, and public school13 employees and to promulgate rules and regulations for its administration, subject to the14 limitations contained in this article and in Articles 1 and 2 of this chapter.15 S. B. 267 - 1 - 25 LC 46 1149 (2) The council is authorized to provide a flexible employee benefit plan may provide16 that provides for deductions or salary reductions for group life insurance, group property17 and casualty insurance, disability insurance, supplemental health and accident insurance,18 health care or dependent care spending accounts as authorized under Section 125 of the19 United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 , health savings accounts as authorized20 under Section 223 of the United States Internal Revenue Code, as amended, other types21 of employee welfare benefits, or for salary reductions for health premiums under Article22 1 of this chapter and Code Sections 20-2-880 and 20-2-910.23 (3) The council shall have discretion whether to provide deductions or salary reductions24 for the benefits identified in paragraph (1) of this subsection as part of the flexible25 employee benefit plan; provided, however, that beginning January 1, 2026, such flexible26 employee benefit plan shall continually provide for deductions or salary reductions27 relating to health saving accounts.28 (b) The council may establish rating categories for disability insurance based on eligibility29 for coverage by the disability program of the Social Security A dministration. At the30 council's discretion, any of the insurance or other type of emp loyee welfare benefits31 authorized by this Code section may be operated as a self-insured plan in whole or in part32 or by contract with any company authorized to transact such business in this state. Except33 as provided in Code Section 45-18-30, Code Sections 20-2-880 an d 20-2-910, and as34 implemented prior to January 1, 1986, the council is authorized to establish the plan or35 plans in connection with plans authorized by the United States Internal Revenue Code for36 the purpose of income tax advantage.37 (b)(c) The council is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to require local school38 boards that elect coverage unde r the plan as provided in subsec tion (b) of Code39 Section 45-18-54 to enroll and maintain a minimum participation percentage when offering40 the plan to its employees."41 S. B. 267 - 2 - 25 LC 46 1149 SECTION 2.42 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.43 S. B. 267 - 3 -