H 3130 General Bill, By Cobb-Hunter, Moody-Lawrence, Rhoad and Meacham
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 1-11-710, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO THE STATE INSURANCE PLAN FOR EMPLOYEES, RETIREES, AND
 ELIGIBLE DEPENDENTS, SO AS TO MAKE CERTAIN TEMPORARY STATE AGENCY EMPLOYEES
 ELIGIBLE FOR THE STATE HEALTH AND DENTAL INSURANCE GROUP PLAN, TO PROVIDE
 THOSE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES ELIGIBLE FOR COVERAGE, AND TO PROHIBIT
 DISCRIMINATION IN HIRING ON THE BASIS OF THIS ELIGIBILITY.

   12/16/98  House  Prefiled
   12/16/98  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means
   01/12/99  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-49
   01/12/99  House  Referred to Committee on Ways and Means HJ-49

TO AMEND SECTION 1-11-710, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE STATE INSURANCE PLAN FOR EMPLOYEES, RETIREES, AND ELIGIBLE DEPENDENTS, SO AS TO MAKE CERTAIN TEMPORARY STATE AGENCY EMPLOYEES ELIGIBLE FOR THE STATE HEALTH AND DENTAL INSURANCE GROUP PLAN, TO PROVIDE THOSE TEMPORARY EMPLOYEES ELIGIBLE FOR COVERAGE, AND TO PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION IN HIRING ON THE BASIS OF THIS ELIGIBILITY.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Section 1-11-710 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 312 of 1996, is further amended by adding at the end:

"(D)(1) Temporary employees of state agencies and institutions are eligible to participate in the health and dental insurance plans authorized pursuant to this section if:

(a) the employee is performing duties similar to those of agency permanent employees and at the time the temporary employee was hired the agency had an unfilled full-time equivalent position (FTE) with a job description substantially similar to the duties performed by the temporary employee; or

(b) the employee has been employed by any state agency or agencies for a total of one year or more within the previous two years, regardless of whether or not it is uninterrupted employment.

(2) Temporary employees must meet all other plan document requirements for eligibility.

(3) No agency may discriminate in the hiring of a temporary employee on the basis of the employee's eligibility under this section."

SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.