TO AMEND SECTION 1-11-730, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO RETIREE ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE STATE HEALTH AND DENTAL PLANS AND THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PAYMENT OF PREMIUMS FOR RETIREES ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE PLANS, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE ELIGIBILITY OF A STATE OR PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYEE WHO RETIRES ON DISABILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PLANS WHILE RETIRED OR TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PLANS WHILE RETIRED WITH A PORTION OF THE PREMIUM PAID BY THE SOUTH CAROLINA RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE TRUST FUND, MUST BE DETERMINED WITHOUT REGARD TO THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE RETIREE'S LAST FIVE YEARS OF QUALIFYING EMPLOYMENT WAS CONSECUTIVE.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Section 1-11-730 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 195 of 2008, is further amended by adding a new subsection at the end to read:

"(D)    Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, if a state employee or public school district employee retires on disability under a state retirement system, then that retiree's eligibility to participate in the state health and dental insurance plans while retired or to participate in the state health and dental insurance plans while retired with a portion of the premium paid by the trust fund, must be determined without regard to the requirement that the retiree's last five years of qualifying employment was consecutive."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.