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On May 5, 2006 Governor Sonny
Perdue vetoed SB 236. This bill would have
allowed the family of a public safety officer
killed in the line of duty to remain on the
state health insurance plan at the same rate as
other state employees.
According to the Governor’s press release,
“SB236 provides health care coverage to
currently ineligible individuals. Pursuant to
this bill, these non-employee recipients will
subject the taxpayers of this state to the
liability for the employers’ contribution
without the reciprocal benefit of the services
of that employee. Such a tradeoff is detrimental
to the continued viability and financial
stability of the State Health Benefit Plan.”
This bill was sponsored by Senator Ralph Hudgens
(R) of Comer, the Chairman of the Senate
Insurance Committee and co-sponsored by Senator
Robert Brown (D) of Macon, the Senate Minority
Leader. It was read for the first time on
February 23, 2005 and passed the Senate on March
11, 2005. It was favorably reported out of the
House Insurance Committee on March 15, 2005 and
failed to get out of the Rules Committee. It was
re-committed to the House Insurance Committee
and was favorably reported back out on March 20,
2006 and passed the full House on March 23,
2006.
It is regrettable that Governor Perdue decided
to veto this bill.
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