HLS 19RS-238 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 95
BY REPRESENTATIVE ARMES
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
SHERIFFS: Provides relative to payment of insurance premiums for certain sheriffs and
deputy sheriffs of the Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 13:5554(G)(9), relative to sheriffs; to provide relative to retiree health
3 benefits; to provide for the payment of group insurance premiums for the sheriff and
4 sheriff deputies of Vernon Parish; to provide for criteria; and to provide for related
5 matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 13:5554(G)(9) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 ยง5554. Group insurance; kinds; amounts; subrogation
9 * * *
10 G.
11 * * *
12 (9)(a) The provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, as applicable to the
13 sheriff's office of Vernon Parish, shall apply to sheriffs and deputy sheriffs who were
14 hired prior to July 1, 2019, who meet the eligibility requirements and have the
15 requisite creditable service pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.
16 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection D of this Section, the
17 sheriff of Vernon Parish shall pay out of the sheriff's general fund the premium cost
18 of group hospital, surgical, medical expense, and dental insurance and the first ten
19 thousand dollars of life insurance contracted for under the provisions of this Section
20 for any retired sheriff and sheriff deputy who is hired on or after July 1, 2019, as
21 follows:
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 19RS-238 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 95
1 (i) Fifty percent of the premium cost of group hospital, surgical, medical
2 expense, and dental insurance and the first ten thousand dollars of life insurance for
3 any sheriff and sheriff deputy who retires from the Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office
4 with fifteen years of creditable service, is at least sixty-two years of age, is entitled
5 to receive benefits from the Sheriffs' Pension and Relief Fund, and who has at least
6 fifteen years of full time continuous service with the Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office.
7 (ii) Seventy-five percent of the premium costs of group hospital, surgical,
8 medical expense, and dental insurance and the first ten thousand dollars of life
9 insurance for any sheriff and sheriff deputy who retires from the Vernon Parish
10 Sheriff's Office with twenty years of creditable service, is at least sixty years of age,
11 is entitled to receive benefits from the Sheriffs' Pension and Relief Fund, and who
12 has at least fifteen years of full time continuous service with the Vernon Parish
13 Sheriff's Office.
14 (iii) One hundred percent of the premium costs of group hospital, surgical,
15 medical expense, and dental insurance and the first ten thousand dollars of life
16 insurance for any sheriff and sheriff deputy who retires from Vernon Parish Sheriff's
17 Office with twenty-five years of creditable service, is at least sixty years of age, is
18 entitled to receive benefits from the Sheriffs' Pension and Relief Fund, and who has
19 at least fifteen years of full time continuous service with the Vernon Parish Sheriff's
20 Office.
21 (iv) One hundred percent of the premium costs of group hospital, surgical,
22 medical expense, and dental insurance and the first ten thousand dollars of life
23 insurance for any sheriff and sheriff deputy who retires from Vernon Parish Sheriff's
24 Office with thirty years of creditable service, is at least fifty-five years of age, is
25 entitled to receive benefits from the Sheriffs' Pension and Relief Fund, and who has
26 at least fifteen years of full time continuous service with the Vernon Parish Sheriff's
27 Office.
28 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 19RS-238 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 95
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 95 Original 2019 Regular Session Armes
Abstract: Requires the Vernon Parish Sheriff to pay a certain percentage of group
insurance premiums for certain retirees.
Present law authorizes the sheriff of each parish to pay for the insurance premiums of the
sheriff, sheriff deputies, and dependents of the sheriff and sheriff deputies. The sheriff may
contract with any insurance company authorized to do business in this state for group life
and accidental death and dismemberment, group health, accident, dental, hospital, surgical,
or other medical expense and group disability insurance.
Present law requires the sheriff of certain parishes, including Vernon, to pay these premiums
in full for their retirees who have retired with at least 15 years of service who are at least 55
years of age, or who have retired with at least 30 years of service at any age.
Proposed law retains present law for those retirees hired prior to July 1, 2019, and requires
the Vernon Parish Sheriff to pay the insurance premiums for retired sheriff and sheriff
deputies hired on or after July 1, 2019, as follows:
(1)Retirees with 15 years of service who have reached 62 years of age and have at least
15 years of continuous service with Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office shall have 50%
of their insurance premiums paid.
(2)Retirees with 20 years of service who have reached 60 years of age and have at least
15 years of continuous service with Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office shall have 75%
of their insurance premiums paid.
(3)Retirees with 25 years of service who have reached 60 years of age and have at least
15 years of continuous service with Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office shall have 100%
of their insurance premiums paid.
(4)Retirees with 30 years of service who have reached 55 years of age and have at least
15 years of continuous service with Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office shall have 100%
of their insurance premiums paid.
(Adds R.S. 13:5554(G)(9))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.