Chapter
348
2004 -- H 7883
Enacted 07/02/04
A N A C T
RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICERS
AND EMPLOYEES -- MILITARY SERVICE AND
VETERANS
Introduced By:
Representatives Fox, Gallison, Malik, T Brien, and Cerra
Date
Introduced: February 12, 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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LC02371
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