Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia Senate Bill SB267 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 02/27/2025

                            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 Code 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 for 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 Code 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 benefit 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
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(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 Administration.  At the30
council's discretion, any of the insurance or other type of employee 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 and 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 under the plan as provided in subsection (b) of Code39
Section 45-18-54 to enroll and maintain a minimum participation percentage when offering40
the plan to its employees."41
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SECTION 2.
42
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.43
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