SB279: SB279 "Daniel D. Podsiadly, Jr. Act"; enact

25 LC 62 0140 Senate Bill 279 By: Senators Strickland of the 42nd, Jones of the 10th, Robertson of the 29th, Albers of the 56th and Davenport of the 17th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 1 of Chapter 9 of Title 34 of the Official Cod e of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to general provisions of workers' compensation, so as to require the State Board of2 Workers' Compensation to notify the Department of Administrative Services when the board3 has reasonable cause to believe that an injured worker is an eligible peace officer; to provide4 for a definition; to amend Chapter 1 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,5 relating to general provisions of law enforcement officers and agencies, so as to require a6 certain notification to certain peace officers who become disabled in the line of duty under7 certain circumstances; to provide for a definition; to provide for related matters; to provide8 for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:10 SECTION 1.11 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Daniel D. Podsiadly, Jr. Act."12 S. B. 279 - 1 - 25 LC 62 0140 SECTION 2.13 Article 1 of Chapter 9 of Title 34 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to14 general provisions of workers' compensation, is amended by adding a new Code section to15 read as follows:16 "34-9-26.17 (a) As used in this Code section, the term 'eligible peace officer' means any individual who18 is employed on a full-time or part-time basis by the state or any municipality, county, or19 other political subdivision thereof; who is required by the ter ms of such employment,20 whether by election or appointment, to maint ain public order or to make arrests for all21 criminal offenses; who is required by the terms of such employm ent to comply with the22 requirements of the 'Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Traini ng Act' contained in23 Chapter 8 of Title 35; and who suffers permanent or temporary disability in the line of duty24 due to a direct interaction with a criminal suspect, arrestee, or inmate.25 (b) In the event that the State Board of Workers' Compensation has reasonable cause to26 believe that an injured employee is an eligible peace officer, the board shall notify the27 Department of Administrative Services. Additionally, the board shall notify the injured28 employee of such belief and such notification shall include suc h appropriate contact29 information of the Georgia State Indemnification Fund and the t emporary disability30 compensation program of Parts 1 and 2, respectively, of Article 5 of Chapter 9 of Title 4531 and other information as shall be determined necessary by the D epartment of32 Administrative Services through the promulgation of rules and regulations."33 SECTION 3.34 Chapter 1 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated , relating to general35 provisions of law enforcement officers and agencies, is amended by adding a new Code36 section to read as follows:37 S. B. 279 - 2 - 25 LC 62 0140 "35-1-24.38 (a) As used in this Code section, the term 'eligible peace officer' means any individual who39 is employed on a full-time or part-time basis by the state or any municipality, county, or40 other political subdivision thereof; who is required by the ter ms of such employment,41 whether by election or appointment, to maintain public order or to make arrests for all42 criminal offenses; who is required by the terms of such employm ent to comply with the43 requirements of the 'Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Traini ng Act' contained in44 Chapter 8 of this title; and who suffers permanent or temporary disability in the line of duty45 due to a direct interaction with a criminal suspect, arrestee, or inmate.46 (b) Each law enforcement agency of this state shall notify eve ry employee whom such47 agency has reasonable cause to believe may be an eligible peace officer of the existence48 of the Georgia State Indemnification Fund and the temporary dis ability compensation49 program of Parts 1 and 2, respectively, of Article 5 of Chapter 9 of Title 45. Such50 notification shall be given within ten days of such employee suffering an injury which may51 reasonably cause such employee to suffer a permanent or tempora ry disability. 52 Additionally, such notification shall include such appropriate contact and other information53 as shall be determined necessary by the Department of Administrative Services through the54 promulgation of rules and regulations."55 SECTION 4.56 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.57 S. B. 279 - 3 -