Bill Text: VA SB65 | 2016 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Virginia Sickness and Disability Program; open enrollment period.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-02-02 - Continued to 2017 in Finance (13-Y 2-N) [SB65 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2016-SB65-Prefiled.html
16103187D Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 1. That §51.1-1103 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows: §51.1-1103. Participation in the program. A. All prior elections to participate in the program shall be irrevocable. B. 1. Except for eligible employees who are employed by an institution of higher education in a faculty position performing teaching, research, or administrative duties, all eligible employees commencing employment or who are reemployed on or after January 1, 1999, shall participate in the program. The effective date of participation in the program for such employees shall be their first day of employment. 2. Except for such employees of an institution of higher
education, all eligible employees not participating in the program C. Any eligible employee who is employed by an institution of
higher education in a faculty position performing teaching, research, or administrative duties may
elect to participate in the program established under this chapter or under an
existing program provided by the institution. Any eligible employee who is (i)
employed by an institution of higher education in a faculty position performing
teaching, research, or
administrative duties Any eligible employee under this subsection shall participate in the sickness and disability program established by his institution of higher education until such time as the employee participates in the program established under this chapter. If the institution of higher education has not established its own sickness and disability program, such eligible employee shall participate in the program established under this chapter effective on his first day of employment.
D. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, no
participating employee commencing employment or reemployment on or after July
1, 2009, shall receive benefits under Article 3 E. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to any
eligible employee who participates in the program under the provisions of
subdivision B 2 or subsection C. Any eligible employee, including a person
employed by an institution of higher education in a faculty position performing
teaching, research, or
administrative duties, who (i) is a member of the Retirement System 1. To convert his sick leave balance as of the effective date of coverage to service credit under the Retirement System on the basis of one month of service for each 173 hours of sick leave, rounded to the next highest month; or 2. To convert his sick leave balance as of the effective date of coverage to disability credits as provided in subsection F. F. Any eligible employee converting his sick leave balance as provided in subsection E shall receive one hour of disability credit for each hour of sick leave. Disability credits shall be used to continue periods for which the participating employee receives income replacement during periods of short-term and long-term disability at 100 percent of creditable compensation. Disability credits shall be reduced by one day for each day that the participating employee receives short-term or long-term disability benefits. G. Upon retiring directly from state service and receiving an immediate annuity, the eligible employee's unused disability credits shall be converted to service credit under the Retirement System at the rate of one month of service for each 173 hours of disability credits, rounded to the next highest month, unless the employee elects to be paid for the balance of such disability credits under the same terms and subject to the same conditions as are in effect for the payment of sick leave benefits in the employee's agency on December 31, 1998. Upon leaving state service under any other circumstances, the employee shall be paid for the balance of such disability credits under the same terms and subject to the same conditions as are in effect for the payment of sick leave benefits in the employee's agency on December 31, 1998, unless he elects to have such credits converted to service credit under the Retirement System at the rate of one month of service for each 173 hours of disability credits, rounded to the next highest month. Upon entry into long-term disability, the employee may be paid for the balance of such disability credits under the same terms and subject to the same conditions in effect for payment of sick leave benefits in the employee's agency as of December 31, 1998. H. Eligibility for participation in the program shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of an employee's (i) termination of employment, (ii) death, or (iii) retirement from service. Eligibility for participation in the program shall be suspended during periods that an employee is placed on nonpay status, including leave without pay, if such nonpay status is due to suspension pending investigation or outcome of employment-related court or disciplinary action. |