Chapter
395
2004 -- S 2489
Enacted 07/06/04
A N A C T
RELATING
TO PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES -- MILITARY SERVICE AND VETERANS
Introduced
By: Senators Issa, Connors, and Walaska
Date
Introduced: February 11, 2004
It
is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 36-5
of the General Laws entitled "Military Service and Veterans"
is
hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
36-5-2.1.
Rights of employees entering service to maintain health care benefits. –
Every
employee holding a position in the classified or unclassified service, who has
left or shall
leave
the position by reason of entering the armed forces of the United States (whether
through
membership
in the reserve of the United States Military or Naval Forces or in the Rhode
Island
National
Guard or Naval Reserves, when any of the foregoing units are called to active
federal or
state
duty, or by reason of enlistment, induction commission or otherwise), and who
has held a
position
in the classified or unclassified service for one hundred eighty (180) or more
calendar
days
within the twelve (12) months next preceding entrance into the armed services,
and who at
the
time of entrance into the armed services had family medical benefits, shall
continue to be
eligible
to receive family medical benefits, in the same manner as available prior to
entering
service,
for designated family members, excluding the employee, during the duration of
his or
her
absences required by the continuance of service in the armed services and his
or her return to
classified
or unclassified service. Nothing in this section, however, shall require the
employee to
continue
family medical benefits provided by the state of Rhode Island or prevent the
employee
from
enrolling in or receiving medical benefits from another source of health
insurance coverage
including
the federal medical benefits program for deployed members of the armed
services.
SECTION
2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC02713
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