--- title: SB 56. Georgia State Indemnification Fund; the Department of Administrative Services to purchase annuities for the payment of indemnification claims; authorize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sb56 cite_as: SB 56, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb56 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb56.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb56/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69636 date: 2025-05-14 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb55.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb57.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 994 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb56.md?full=1 bill_number: SB 56 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: bill status_date: 2025-05-14 last_action: Effective Date 2025-07-01 sponsors: - Jason Anavitarte - John Albers - Randy Robertson - John Kennedy - Steve Gooch - Brian Strickland - Billy Hickman - Blake Tillery - Frank Ginn - Max Burns - Chuck Payne - Drew Echols - Sam Watson - Timothy Bearden - Shawn Still - Marty Harbin - Russ Goodman - Greg Dolezal - Bo Hatchett - Lee Anderson - Joseph Gullett text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SB56/2025 upstream_id: 1947628 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - public safety officer benefits - COVID-19 death claims - state indemnification fund - first responder disability - government annuities --- # SB 56. Georgia State Indemnification Fund; the Department of Administrative Services to purchase annuities for the payment of indemnification claims; authorize ## Text 25 SB 56/AP Senate Bill 56 By: Senators Anavitarte of the 31st, Albers of the 56th, Robertson of the 29th, Kennedy of the 18th, Gooch of the 51st and others AS PASSED A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Part 1 of Article 5 of Chapter 9 of Title 45 of the Of ficial Code of Georgia1 Annotated, relating to Georgia State Indemnification Fund, so as to authorize the Department2 of Administrative Services to purchase annuities for the payment of indemnification claims;3 to provide for qualification standards for indemnification claims relating to certain deaths of4 public safety officers related to COVID-19; to provide for timi ng requirements for5 application of such indemnification claims; to provide for defi nitions; to provide for6 conforming changes; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other7 purposes.8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:9 SECTION 1.10 Part 1 of Article 5 of Chapter 9 of Title 45 of the Official Co de of Georgia Annotated,11 relating to Georgia State Indemnification Fund, is amended by r evising Code12 Section 45-9-85, relating to payment of indemnification for death or disability, procedure for13 making payments, and appeal, as follows:14 "45-9-85.15 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:16 S. B. 56 - 1 - 25 SB 56/AP (1) 'COVID-19' means severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2),17 and any mutation or viral fragments thereof, or any disease or condition caused by severe18 acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).19 (1)(2) 'Nonroutine stressful or strenuous physical activity' means a ctions that are not20 clerical, administrative, or nonmanual in nature.21 (2)(3) 'Public safety officer' means a law enforcement officer, fire fighter, emergency22 medical technician, emergency management rescue specialist, state highway employee,23 or prison guard.24 (3)(4) 'Work related activity' means, while in the line of duty:25 (A) Engaging in a situation involving nonroutine stressful or strenuous physical26 activity related to law enforcement, fire suppression, rescue, hazardous material27 response, emergency medical services, prison or jail security, disaster relief, or any28 other emergency response; or29 (B) Participating in a training exercise involving nonroutine stressful or strenuous30 physical activity.31 (b) Indemnification shall be paid under this article part as follows:32 (1) In the case of a partial permanent disability suffered in the line of duty by a public33 safety officer while in the line of duty, the eligible disabled person may elect to receive34 a payment of $35,000.00 paid in equal monthly installments for five years or a lump sum35 of such amount reduced to its present value upon the basis of i nterest calculated at the36 rate of 6 percent per annum;37 (2) In the case of a total permanent disability suffered in th e line of duty by a public38 safety officer while in the line of duty, the injured eligible disabled person may elect to39 receive a payment of $75,000.00 paid in equal monthly installments for five years or a40 lump sum of such amount reduced to its present value upon the b asis of interest41 calculated at the rate of 6 percent per annum;42 S. B. 56 - 2 - 25 SB 56/AP (3)(A) In the case of death suffered in the line of duty by a public safety officer while43 in the line of duty, payment shall be made to:44 (i) The surviving unremarried spouse;45 (ii) The surviving children who are under the age of 19 or, if a student enrolled in an46 institution of postsecondary education at the time of such death, under the age of 24;47 or48 (iii) Individuals not otherwise provided for under this subpar agraph who are the49 dependents of the spouse or deceased person as shown in the spo use's or deceased50 person's most recent tax return.51 (B) In the case of organic brain damage suffered in the line of duty by a public safety52 officer while in the line of duty , payment shall be made to the legal guardian of the53 organically brain damaged person.54 (C) The surviving unremarried spouse, dependents, or the legal guardian who qualified55 for indemnification payment pursuant to this paragraph may elect to receive a payment56 in a lump sum payment of $150,000.00 paid in equal m onthly installments for five57 years or a lump sum of such amount reduced to its present value upon the basis of58 interest calculated at the rate of 6 percent per annum; or.59 (c)(1) After the department, or the commission upon review of a denial by the60 department, determines that a public safety officer suffered a total permanent disability,61 a partial permanent disability, organic brain damage, or death while in the line of duty,62 the department shall be authorized to make the appropriate paym ents as provided in63 subsection (b) of this Code section. The department shall be a uthorized to purchase64 annuities to fund payments issued pursuant to this part.65 (2) The department shall consider a A heart attack, stroke, or vascular rupture suffered66 by a public safety officer shall be presumed to qualify such pu blic safety officer under67 this subsection to have occurred while in the line of duty if the heart attack, stroke, or68 vascular rupture:69 S. B. 56 - 3 - 25 SB 56/AP (A) Commenced:70 (i) While such public safety officer was performing work related activity;71 (ii) While such public safety officer was on duty after perfor ming work related72 activity; or73 (iii) Not later than 24 hours after performing work related activity; and74 (B) Directly or proximately resulted in the death or partial or permanent disability of75 the public safety officer, unless competent medical evidence established that the heart76 attack, stroke, or vascular rupture was not related to the work related activity or was77 directly or proximately caused by something other than the mere presence of78 cardiovascular disease risk factors.79 (3) Unless competent medical evidence establishes that the dea th of a public safety80 officer was directly or proximately caused by something other t han COVID-19, the81 department shall consider the death of a public safety officer related to COVID-19 that82 occurred on or before April 15, 2022, to have occurred while in the line of duty if:83 (A) The public safety officer was diagnosed with COVID-19, or evidence indicates the84 officer had COVID-19, within 14 days of such public safety officer's last day of duty;85 (B) The evidence indicates that the public safety officer had COVID-19 or86 complications therefrom at the time of death; and87 (C) No indemnification claim has been paid by the department pursuant to this part.88 (c) After the department, or the commissioner or his or her de signee upon review of a89 denial by the department, determines that a public safety offic er has suffered a total90 permanent disability, a partial permanent disability, organic brain damage, or death in the91 line of duty, the department shall be authorized to make the ap propriate payments as92 provided in subsection (b) of this Code section.93 (d) If the department denies a claim, any person seeking benefits pursuant to this part may94 appeal the department's decision to the commissioner or his or her designee. Any such95 appeal shall be filed with the commissioner or his or her designee within 60 days of receipt96 S. B. 56 - 4 - 25 SB 56/AP of the department's decision and shall identify the errors in t he department's decision. 97 Appeals shall be considered by the commissioner or his or her d esignee as provided in98 Code Section 45-9-84."99 SECTION 2.100 Said part is further amended by revising Code Section 45-9-86, relating to application for101 indemnification, as follows:102 "45-9-86.103 (a) As used in this Code section, the term terms 'COVID-19' and 'public safety officer'104 shall have the same meaning meanings as provided in Code Section 45-9-85.105 (b) An application for indemnification with respect to a claim for total permanent106 disability or partial permanent disability of a public safety officer shall be submitted by that107 person unless the person is mentally incompetent, in which case the application may be108 made on such person's behalf by his or her legal guardian.109 (c) An application for indemnification with respect to a claim for the death of a public110 safety officer shall be submitted by or on behalf of the surviv ing unremarried spouse or111 dependents eligible under this part.112 (d) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this Code section, a n A n application for113 indemnification with respect to death, organic brain damage, total permanent disability, or114 partial permanent disability must be made within 24 months after the date of the incident115 giving rise to the death, organic brain damage, or disability.116 (e) An application for indemnification with respect to a claim for the death of a public117 safety officer related to COVID-19 that occurred on or before A pril 15, 2022, shall be118 submitted between the effective date of this Code section and A ugust 1, 2025. No119 indemnification claim for the death of a public safety officer related to COVID-19 that120 occurred on or before April 15, 2022, shall be paid for an appl ication not properly121 submitted between the effective date of this Code section and August 1, 2025."122 S. B. 56 - 5 - 25 SB 56/AP SECTION 3.123 Said part is further amended by revising Code Section 45-9-88, relating to indemnification124 not to be awarded when penal violation, suicide, intentionally self-inflicted injuries, natural125 causes, or performance of certain routine duties caused or contributed to death or disability,126 as follows:127 "45-9-88.128 (a) No indemnification shall be awarded to any person otherwis e entitled thereto who129 violates a penal law of this state which violation caused or co ntributed to the death or130 disability of the officer.131 (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article part, no payment shall be authorized132 if death, organic brain damage, total permanent disability, or partial permanent disability133 occurs from suicide, intentionally self-inflicted injuries, natural causes, or the performance134 of routine duties which would not be considered strenuous or dangerous by a reasonable135 person, except as provided for in subsection (b) (c) of Code Section 45-9-85."136 SECTION 4.137 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.138 S. B. 56 - 6 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary. Senate Bill 56 lets the Georgia Department of Administrative Services buy annuities to pay indemnification claims to injured or killed public safety officers, and opens a special window for COVID-19 death claims from the pandemic's early years. ### Plain-language summary Georgia's State Indemnification Fund pays lump sums or installment payments to public safety officers, or their families, when they are killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. This bill changes how the state funds and processes those payments. It authorizes the Department of Administrative Services to purchase annuities to pay for indemnification claims instead of relying only on direct payments. It also adds a legal definition of COVID-19 and creates a path for the deaths of public safety officers connected to COVID-19 that occurred on or before April 15, 2022 to count as in the line of duty, if the officer was diagnosed within 14 days of their last shift and had COVID-19 at the time of death. Families must submit those COVID-19 death claims between the bill's effective date and August 1, 2025. The bill also updates who reviews denied claims, shifting review from 'the commission' to 'the commissioner or his or her designee.' ### What it does - Authorizes the Department of Administrative Services to purchase annuities to fund payments made through the indemnification program. - Adds a legal definition of COVID-19 to the indemnification law for use in death claims. - Creates a special rule letting COVID-19 related deaths of public safety officers on or before April 15, 2022 qualify as line-of-duty deaths under certain conditions. - Sets a submission deadline of August 1, 2025 for COVID-19 related death claims, and bars payment of any such claim submitted outside that window. - Changes who reviews a denied indemnification claim from 'the commission' to 'the commissioner or his or her designee.' ### Who it affects Public safety officers such as police officers, firefighters, EMTs, emergency management rescue specialists, state highway employees, and prison guards, along with their surviving spouses, children, and dependents who may seek indemnification payments after a death or disability, plus the Department of Administrative Services, which administers the fund. ### Why it matters Families of public safety officers who died from COVID-19 related causes tied to their work between 2020 and April 2022 would get a defined path and deadline to seek the state's $150,000 death indemnification payment, while the annuity authorization changes how the state finances these long-standing benefit payments. ### Key provisions - Section 1 rewrites O.C.G.A. § 45-9-85 to add a definition of COVID-19 and authorizes the department to purchase annuities to fund payments under this part. - Section 1 lets the department treat a public safety officer's COVID-19 related death occurring on or before April 15, 2022 as a line-of-duty death if diagnosed within 14 days of last duty and COVID-19 was present at death, unless medical evidence shows another cause. - Section 1 changes claim review from 'the commission' to 'the commissioner or his or her designee' when a department denial is appealed. - Section 2 amends O.C.G.A. § 45-9-86 to require COVID-19 related death claims to be filed between the bill's effective date and August 1, 2025, and bars payment of claims filed outside that window. - Section 3 amends O.C.G.A. § 45-9-88 to update a cross-reference so the COVID-19 exception in Code Section 45-9-85 is properly cited among the exclusions for suicide, self-inflicted injury, natural causes, or routine duty. - Section 4 repeals conflicting laws. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-05-14) - Last action: Effective Date 2025-07-01 (2025-05-14) - Sponsors: Jason Anavitarte, John Albers, Randy Robertson, John Kennedy, Steve Gooch, Brian Strickland, Billy Hickman, Blake Tillery, Frank Ginn, Max Burns, Chuck Payne, Drew Echols, Sam Watson, Timothy Bearden, Shawn Still, Marty Harbin, Russ Goodman, Greg Dolezal, Bo Hatchett, Lee Anderson, Joseph Gullett - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69636 > The history, votes, and amendments (994 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sb56.md?full=1