NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1977 SESSION

CHAPTER 631

HOUSE BILL 1258

AN ACT TO AMEND ARTICLE 3 OF CHAPTER 135 OF THE GENERAL STATUTES TO PROVIDE A CONTRIBUTORY MEDICAL AND HOSPITAL BENEFIT CARE PLAN FOR MEMBERS AND FORMER MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THEIR SPOUSES, AND DEPENDENTS TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  Article 3 of Chapter 135 of the General Statutes of North Carolina is hereby amended by the addition of a new section to be designated G.S. 135-33.1 and reading as follows:

"§ 135-33.1.  General Assembly medical and hospital care benefit plan. — The board of trustees of the retirement system shall formulate, establish and administer for members of the General Assembly, their spouses and dependents a program of hospital and medical care benefits similar to the program provided for teachers and State employees which shall be paid for solely by contributions of the beneficiaries of such program. Any former member of the General Assembly or his surviving spouse may obtain or continue the same hospital and medical care benefits program for themselves and their dependents until they become ineligible for such benefits according to the rules of ineligibility of the program administered for teachers and State employees, provided that the beneficiaries of such benefits pay the cost of such program. The board of trustees shall further offer any members or former members of the General Assembly, their spouses or surviving spouses who are eligible for Medicare a plan of supplemental insurance designed to provide them with medical and hospital insurance benefits similar to the benefits offered active teachers and State employees, provided the beneficiaries pay the cost of such insurance."

Sec. 2.  This act shall become effective upon October 1, 1977.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 20th day of June, 1977.