House Bill 909 By: Representatives Drenner of the 85th, Scott of the 76th, Davis of the 87th, Schofield of the 63rd, and Lim of the 98th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Titles 12, 25, and 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to conservation and natural resources, fire protection and safety, and insurance, respectively, so as to provide greater health protections for firefighters; to provide for monitoring of concentration levels of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, at certain firefighter related sites; to prohibit the use of firefighting equipment containing PFAS as an intentionally added chemical after a certain date; to require manufacturers of firefighting equipment to label such equipment as containing PFAS as an intentionally added chemical after a certain date; to provide for the development of standards for mitigating PFAS contamination at harmful exposure levels and for the safe disposal or destruction of any firefighting equipment containing PFAS as an intentionally added chemical; to create the Firefighter Health Advisory Council and establish its powers; to provide for the establishment and purpose of the Firefighter PFAS Initiative; to require fire departments to provide and maintain insurance coverage for its firefighters for the payment of claims for PFAS blood testing under certain circumstances; to require insurers to provide coverage for PFAS blood testing under certain circumstances; to revise and provide definitions; to provide for civil penalties; to provide for reporting; to provide for a short title; to provide for legislative findings and intent; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: SECTION 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Firefighter Health and Environmental Safety Act." SECTION 2. (a) The General Assembly finds that: (1) Firefighters face significant health risks due to occupational exposure to toxic substances, including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS; and (2) Current federal and state health programs lack adequate provisions for addressing occupational hazards unique to firefighting. (b) It is the intent of the General Assembly to: (1) Enhance firefighter health protections; and (2) Ensure accountability and compliance with laws, rules, and regulations providing health protections for firefighters through clear enforcement mechanisms. SECTION 3. Title 12 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to conservation and natural resources, is amended in Article 1 of Chapter 2, relating to the Department of Natural Resources generally, by adding a new Code section to read as follows: "12-2-12. (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) 'Covered site' means any land within this state used as a fire department or as a training site for firefighting operations. (2) 'Division' means the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources. (3) 'Fire department' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-3-21. (4) 'Harmful exposure level' means, which respect to the human population, including sensitive subgroups, a concentration level of PFAS that, over a lifetime or part of a lifetime, may cause a change in body function, including, but not limited to, organ function or cell structure, that might lead to disease or health problems, as determined by the division after considering any regulations or guidance issued by the United Sates Environmental Protection Agency, as of July 31, 2027. (5) 'Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances' or 'PFAS' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-2-41. (b) Subject to available funding, beginning on January 1, 2027, the division shall participate in or conduct such studies, reviews, investigations, research, emission inventories, and demonstrations as it deems necessary to monitor levels of PFAS contamination in air, water, and soil at covered sites; provided, however, that, for any privately held land, the division shall receive permission to conduct such monitoring activities from the owner. The division shall provide a written analysis of the results of such monitoring for each covered site not less frequently than quarterly to the Firefighter Health Advisory Council, established pursuant to Code Section 25-2-42. (c) Not later than January 1, 2028, the division shall adopt rules and regulations establishing decontamination protocols for fire departments relating to mitigating PFAS contamination at a harmful exposure level. In adopting such rules and regulations, the division shall take into consideration any regulations or guidance issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, as of July 31, 2027." SECTION 4. Title 25 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to fire protection and safety, is amended by revising Code Section 25-2-41, relating to use of class B fire-fighting foam containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals, as follows: "25-2-41. (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) 'Class B fire-fighting firefighting foam' means any foam designed to extinguish flammable liquid fires. (2) 'Division' means the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources. (3) 'Fire department' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-3-21. (4) 'Firefighter' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-4-2. (5) 'Firefighting equipment' means any materials used by firefighters to extinguish fires, including, but not limited to, class B firefighting foam; jackets, pants, gloves, boots, helmets, face masks, and other personal protective equipment used by firefighters; and any other materials used by firefighters in firefighting. (6) 'Intentionally added chemical' means a chemical in a product that serves an intended function or technical effect in the product or product component, including the PFAS within intentionally added chemicals and PFAS that are intentional breakdown products of an added chemical that also have a functional or technical effect in the product or product component. (7) 'Manufacturer' means: (A) Any entity which manufactures, makes, produces, or causes to be produced firefighting equipment sold in this state or firefighting equipment that such entity intends to be sold in this state; (B) The first purchaser of firefighting equipment manufactured anywhere that intends to resell such firefighting equipment in this state regardless of whether the original manufacturer, maker, or producer intends such firefighting equipment to be sold in the United States; or (C) Any entity which becomes a successor of an entity described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of this paragraph. (2)(8) 'Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances' or 'PFAS' 'PFAS chemicals' means a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom, including perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and designed to be fully functional in class B fire-fighting foam formulations. (9) 'Person' means any individual, partnership, association, firm, public or private corporation, or public entity. (10) 'Public entity' means a department, agency, board, bureau, commission, authority, or instrumentality of the State of Georgia, any local government or authority, including a county, municipal, or consolidated government in this state, or any other political subdivision in this state. Such term includes a fire department or local school system. (3)(11) 'Testing' means calibration testing, conformance testing, or fixed system testing. (b) Until June 30, 2030, no person On and after January 1, 2020, no person; fire department provided for under Chapter 3 of this title; state department, agency, board, bureau, office, commission, public corporation, or authority; county, municipal corporation, school district, or other political subdivision of this state shall discharge or otherwise use class B fire-fighting firefighting foam that contains intentionally added PFAS chemicals PFAS as an intentionally added chemical unless: (1) Such discharge or other use occurs in fire prevention or in response to an emergency fire-fighting firefighting operation; or (2) Such discharge or other use is for training or testing purposes which occurs at a facility that has implemented containment, treatment, and disposal measures to prevent uncontrolled releases of such class B fire-fighting firefighting foam into the environment. (c) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to: (1) Restrict the manufacture, sale, or distribution of class B fire-fighting foam that contains intentionally added PFAS chemicals or restrict the discharge or other use of class B fire-fighting foam in response to an emergency fire-fighting operation; or (2) Prevent the use of nonfluorinated foams, including other class B fire-fighting foams, for purposes of training for fire-fighting operations. (c) Beginning on July 1, 2030, no person shall discharge, use, or cause to be used any firefighting equipment containing PFAS as an intentionally added chemical. (d) Beginning on July 1, 2030, no person or manufacturer shall distribute, sell, or offer for sale in this state any newly manufactured firefighting equipment containing PFAS as an intentionally added chemical unless it is accompanied by a legible and easily discernable disclosure with the statement 'Made with PFAS Chemicals,' including for online listings of products for sale. (e) No later than January 1, 2028, the division shall adopt rules and regulations establishing standards for any fire department operating in this state to safely destroy firefighting equipment containing PFAS as an intentionally added chemical. In adopting such rules and regulations, the division shall take into consideration any regulations or guidance issued by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, as of July 31, 2027. (f) Beginning on July 1, 2028, no person shall destroy or dispose of firefighting equipment containing PFAS as an intentionally added chemical except as provided by any rules and regulations adopted by the division. (g)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, any person that violates subsection (c) of this Code section shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000.00 for each day that the violation persists, after such person is notified of the Commissioner's intent to impose a penalty and of the right to a hearing with respect to the same. The amount of any such penalty shall be fixed by the Commissioner. (2)(A) No person shall be held in violation of paragraph (1) of this subsection if such person relied in good faith upon representations of a manufacturer that firefighting equipment did not contain PFAS as an intentionally added chemical. (B) No individual firefighter shall be personally liable for payment of any civil penalty imposed under this subsection. (h) Any person or manufacturer that violates subsection (d) of this Code section shall be subject to a civil penalty of $100.00 per violation, after such person or manufacturer is notified of the Commissioner's intent to impose a penalty and of the right to a hearing with respect to the same. For the purposes of this subsection, each article of newly manufactured firefighting equipment that is distributed, sold, or offered for sale in this state in violation of subsection (d) shall constitute a separate violation. (i) Any person that violates subsection (f) of this Code section shall be subject to a civil penalty, not to exceed $10,000.00 per violation, after such person is notified of the Commissioner's intent to impose a penalty and of the right to a hearing with respect to the same. The amount of any such penalty shall be fixed by the Commissioner." SECTION 5. Said title is further amended by adding new Code sections to read as follows: "25-2-42. (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) 'Council' means the Firefighter Health Advisory Council established pursuant to this Code section. (2) 'Firefighter' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-4-2. (3) 'PFAS' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-2-41. (b) There is established within the office of the Commissioner the Firefighter Health Advisory Council. The objective of the council shall be to monitor current and future health risks impacting firefighters in this state and to provide recommendations on solutions to mitigate such health risks, with a focus on the effects of exposure to PFAS. All affected state agencies shall cooperate with the council in its efforts to meet such objective. This subsection shall not be construed to authorize the council to perform any function currently performed by an affected state agency. (c) The council shall be composed of 12 members as follows: (1) The Commissioner or his or her designee, who shall serve as the chairperson; (2) The commissioner of public heath or his or her designee; (3) The commissioner of natural resources or his or her designee; (4) The director of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency or his or her designee; (5) One representative from the Georgia Association of Fire Chiefs, appointed by the Governor; (6) One representative from the Georgia State Firefighters Association, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; (7) One representative from a state-wide labor organization representing firefighters, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; (8) One representative from a medical or research institution experienced in occupational health, appointed by the Governor; (9) One representative from the insurance industry experienced in firefighter related claims, appointed by the Lieutenant Governor; (10) One firefighter with at least ten years of experience as a full-time firefighter, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; (11) One firefighter with at least ten years of experience as a volunteer firefighter, appointed by the Governor; and (12) One representative from the general public with a proven interest in firefighter health and safety, appointed by the Governor. (d) On or before October 1, 2025: (1) The Governor shall appoint the first members of the council pursuant to paragraphs (5), (8), (11), and (12) of subsection (c) of this Code section; (2) The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint the first members of the council pursuant to paragraphs (6) and (9) of subsection (c) of this Code section; and (3) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint the first members of the council pursuant to paragraphs (7) and (10) of subsection (c) of this Code section. (e) All members of the council appointed by the Governor shall serve terms of four years, and all members of the council appointed by the Lieutenant Governor or the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall serve terms of two years. All appointed members shall serve until the appointment of his or her successor. Successors to appointed members shall be appointed in the same manner as original appointments. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. Each appointed member shall be eligible to succeed himself or herself; provided, however, that no member shall serve more than four consecutive terms on the council. (f) Each member of the council shall be a citizen of the United States and a resident of the State of Georgia. (g) Subject to available funding, the council shall: (1) Develop a health program focused on monitoring and reducing the harmful health effects of exposure to PFAS with respect to firefighters, to be called the Firefighter PFAS Initiative. The purposes and duties of such program shall be to: (A) Aggregate and maintain data related to PFAS contamination levels at covered sites collected pursuant to Code Section 12-2-12; (B) Aggregate and maintain PFAS related health data on firefighters collected pursuant to Code Section 25-2-43; (C) Synthesize existing studies, reports, and data related to PFAS with any data collected pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this paragraph to identify and track health condition incidence and health trends among firefighters; (D) Collaborate with other health related state entities, including, but not limited to, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Community Health, and the Environmental Protection Division of the Department of Natural Resources, to support and integrate with existing initiatives and programs related to monitoring and mitigating the harmful effects of PFAS; and (E) Provide annual public forums to present key findings of the Firefighter PFAS Initiative and gather community feedback; (2) Identify any significant health risks, other than PFAS exposure, affecting firefighters in this state and develop innovative recommendations for addressing such health risks; and (3) On or before December 1 of each year, file a report to the Governor and the General Assembly, including a summary of the council's key findings and recommendations, if any, for legislative changes with respect to reducing significant health risks affecting firefighters. (h) The council shall convene at least quarterly or at such other frequency as determined by the chairperson. (i) The council shall be empowered to use subcommittees as it deems necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities. Members of such subcommittees shall be knowledgeable of the subject matter with which the subcommittee is concerned and shall be appointed by the chairperson of the council upon the recommendation of the council. (j) Members of the council shall serve without compensation but shall receive the same expense allowance as that received by members of the General Assembly and the same mileage allowance for the use of a personal car or a travel allowance of actual transportation cost if traveling by public carrier as that received by all other state officials and employees. The funds for such expenses and allowances shall be paid from funds appropriated or available to the council. (k) The council is authorized to accept donations, gifts, property, and other contributions and to use the same for the purposes of carrying out this Code section. 25-2-43. (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) 'Laboratory' means any institution that conducts PFAS blood testing. (2) 'PFAS blood testing' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-3-23. (b) Firefighter participation in the Firefighter PFAS Initiative, established pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection (g) of Code Section 25-2-42, shall be voluntary. Any laboratory conducting PFAS blood testing on a firefighter shall obtain written informed consent from such firefighter prior to sharing the health information set forth in subsection (c) of this Code section. (c) Subject to subsection (b) of this Code section, each laboratory in this state shall report biannually to the Firefighter Health Advisory Council within the office of the Commissioner concerning PFAS health metrics established by such council as reasonably necessary to implement the Firefighter PFAS Initiative. (d) Each laboratory in this state shall forward data collected from PFAS blood testing to the Firefighter Health Advisory Council in a form and manner to be determined by the Firefighter Health Advisory Council, provided that any data forwarded shall be aggregated and shall not contain any identifying or confidential information with regard to any individual firefighter. (e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Code section, PFAS blood testing and reporting by any laboratory shall be conducted in a manner that ensures the privacy of the firefighter during the testing process and consistency with state and federal laws applicable to the confidentiality of health records." SECTION 6. Said title is further amended by revising subsection (b) of Code Section 25-3-23, relating to general requirements, equipment and clothing, and insurance, as follows: "(b)(1) A legally organized fire department shall provide and maintain sufficient insurance coverage on each member of the fire department to pay claims for injuries sustained en route to, during, and returning from fire calls or other emergencies and disasters and scheduled training sessions. (2)(A) As used in this paragraph, the term: (i) 'Cancer' means bladder, blood, brain, breast, cervical, esophageal, intestinal, kidney, lymphatic, lung, prostate, rectal, respiratory tract, skin, testicular, and thyroid cancer; leukemia; multiple myeloma; or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. (ii) 'Certified' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 31-22-1. (iii) 'Clinical laboratory' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 31-22-1. (ii)(iv) 'Firefighter' means a firefighter as defined shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-4-2. (v) 'PFAS blood testing' means a measurement of the amount of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in blood performed by a certified clinical laboratory and includes a physician's interpretation of the results. (iii)(vi) 'Volunteer' means a volunteer as defined shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-4-2. (B) On and after January 1, 2018, a legally organized fire department shall provide and maintain sufficient insurance coverage on each member of the fire department who is a firefighter to pay claims for cancer diagnosed after having served 12 consecutive months as a firefighter in this state. Such insurance benefits shall include at minimum the following: (i)(I) A lump sum benefit of $25,000.00 subject to limitations specified in the insurance contract and based on severity of cancer and payable to such firefighter upon submission to the insurance carrier or other payor of acceptable proof of diagnosis by a physician who is board certified in the medical specialty appropriate for the type of cancer involved that there are one or more malignant tumors characterized by the uncontrollable and abnormal growth and spread of malignant cells with invasion of normal tissue and that: (a) Surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy is medically necessary; (b) There is metastasis; or (c) The firefighter has terminal cancer, is expected to die within 24 months or less from the date of diagnosis, and will not benefit from, or has exhausted, curative therapy; or (II) A lump sum benefit of $6,250.00 subject to limitations specified in the insurance contract and based on severity of cancer and payable to such firefighter upon submission to the insurance carrier or other payor of acceptable proof of diagnosis by a physician who is board certified in the medical specialty appropriate for the type of cancer involved that: (a) There is carcinoma in situ such that surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy has been determined to be medically necessary; (b) There are malignant tumors which are treated by endoscopic procedures alone; (c) There are malignant melanomas; or (d) There is a tumor of the prostate, provided that it is treated with radical prostatectomy or external beam therapy; and (ii) Payable as a result of a specific injury or illness to begin six months after disability and submission to the insurance carrier or other payor of acceptable proof of disability precluding service as a firefighter and continuing for up to 36 consecutive monthly payments: (I) A monthly benefit equal to 60 percent of the member's monthly salary as an employed firefighter with the fire department or a monthly benefit of $5,000.00, whichever is less; or (II) If the member is a volunteer, a monthly benefit of $1,500.00. The benefit under subdivision (I) or (II) of this division, as applicable, shall be subordinate to any other benefit actually paid to the firefighter for such disability from any other source, not including insurance purchased solely by the firefighter, and shall be limited to the difference between the amount of such other paid benefit and the amount specified under subdivision (I) or (II) of this division, as applicable. (C) The combined total of all benefits received by any firefighter under subdivisions (B)(i)(I) and (B)(i)(II) of this paragraph during his or her lifetime shall not exceed $50,000.00. (D) Beginning on July 1, 2026, a legally organized fire department shall provide and maintain sufficient insurance coverage for each member of the fire department who is a firefighter to pay claims for PFAS blood testing after having served 12 consecutive months as a firefighter in this state. (D)(E) With the exception of the benefit under subdivision (B)(ii)(I) of this paragraph, any person who was simultaneously a member of more than one fire department at the time of diagnosis shall not be entitled to receive benefits under this paragraph from or on behalf of more than one of such fire departments. In the event a volunteer of one fire department is simultaneously employed by another fire department, the fire department for which such person is a volunteer shall not be required to maintain the coverage on such volunteer otherwise required under this subsection during the period of such employment. Any member who receives benefits under division (ii) of subparagraph (B) of this paragraph may be required to have his or her condition reevaluated; in the event any such reevaluation reveals that such person has regained the ability to perform duties as a firefighter, then his or her benefits under division (ii) of subparagraph (B) of this paragraph shall cease. Benefits under said division shall also cease upon the death of such person. A member who, after at least one year as a firefighter with any legally organized fire department, departs from employment, ceases to be an active volunteer, or retires shall be entitled to continue his or her coverages under this paragraph through a continuation or conversion to individual coverage. The departing member shall be responsible for payment of all premiums. (E)(F) In addition to any other purpose authorized under Chapter 8 of Title 33, county governing authorities and municipal governing authorities may use proceeds from county and municipal taxes imposed under said chapter for purposes of providing insurance pursuant to this paragraph. (F)(G) Funds received as premiums for the coverages specified in this paragraph shall not be subject to premium taxes under Chapter 8 of Title 33. (G)(H) The computation of premium amounts by an insurer for the coverages under this paragraph shall be subject to generally accepted adjustments from insurance underwriting." SECTION 7. Said title is further amended in Chapter 7, relating to the Georgia Fire Academy, by revising paragraph (2) of Code Section 25-7-2, relating to creation and purpose of the academy, as follows: "(2) To provide professional training to paid, volunteer, and other publicly or privately employed firefighters at a minimal cost to them and their employers, including, but not limited to, annual training related to PFAS exposure risks and mitigation;" SECTION 8. Said title is further by revising Code Section 25-7-3, relating to "board" defined, as follows: "25-7-3. As used in this chapter, the term: (1) 'Board' 'board' means the Board of Public Safety. (2) 'Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances' or 'PFAS' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-2-41." SECTION 9. Title 33 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to insurance, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows: "33-29-3.5. (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) 'Firefighter' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-4-2. (2) 'PFAS blood testing' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-3-23. (3) 'Policy' means any benefit plan, contract, or policy except a disability income policy, specified disease policy, or hospital indemnity policy. (b) Policies subject to this Code section shall contain coverage for PFAS blood testing performed with at least the following frequency: (1) Once as a baseline for any firefighter who has served at least 12 consecutive months but fewer than 24 consecutive months as a firefighter in this state; or (2) Once every year for any firefighter who has served at least 24 consecutive months as a firefighter in this state. (c) Each insurer authorized to issue an individual accident and sickness insurance policy in this state which includes coverage for any firefighter shall include as part of or as a required endorsement to each such policy which is issued, delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed coverage for PFAS blood testing for the covered firefighters who meet the minimum requirements of this Code section. (d) The coverage required under subsection (c) of this Code section may be subject to such exclusions, reductions, or other limitations as to coverages, deductibles, or coinsurance provisions as may be approved by the Commissioner. (e) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to prohibit the issuance of individual accident and sickness insurance policies which provide benefits greater than those required by subsection (c) of this Code section or more favorable to the insured than those required by subsection (c) of this Code section. (f) The provisions of this Code section shall apply to individual accident and sickness insurance policies issued by a fraternal benefit society, a healthcare plan, a health maintenance organization, or any similar entity. (g) Nothing contained in this Code section shall be deemed to prohibit the payment of different levels of benefits or from having differences in coinsurance percentages applicable to benefit levels for services provided by preferred and nonpreferred providers as otherwise authorized under the provisions of Article 2 of Chapter 30 of this title, relating to preferred provider arrangements." SECTION 10. Said title is further amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows: "33-30-4.6. (a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) 'Firefighter' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-4-2. (2) 'PFAS blood testing' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 25-3-23. (3) 'Policy' means any benefit plan, contract, or policy except a disability income policy, specified disease policy, or hospital indemnity policy. (b) Policies subject to this Code section shall contain coverage for PFAS blood testing performed with at least the following frequency: (1) Once as a baseline for any firefighter who has served at least 12 consecutive months but fewer than 24 consecutive months as a firefighter in this state; or (2) Once every year for any firefighter who has served at least 24 consecutive months as a firefighter in this state. (c) Each insurer authorized to issue a group accident and sickness insurance policy in this state which includes coverage for any firefighter shall include as part of or as a required endorsement to each such policy which is issued, delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed coverage for PFAS blood testing for the covered firefighters who meet the minimum requirements of this Code section. (d) The coverage required under subsection (c) of this Code section may be subject to such exclusions, reductions, or other limitations as to coverages, deductibles, or coinsurance provisions as may be approved by the Commissioner. (e) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to prohibit the issuance of group accident and sickness insurance policies which provide benefits greater than those required by subsection (c) of this Code section or more favorable to the insured than those required by subsection (c) of this Code section. (f) The provisions of this Code section shall apply to group accident and sickness insurance policies issued by a fraternal benefit society, a healthcare plan, a health maintenance organization, or any similar entity. (g) Nothing contained in this Code section shall be deemed to prohibit the payment of different levels of benefits or from having differences in coinsurance percentages applicable to benefit levels for services provided by preferred and nonpreferred providers as otherwise authorized under the provisions of Article 2 of this chapter, relating to preferred provider arrangements." SECTION 11. All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.