THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY STACK, HUGHES, STOUT, FONTANA, ALLOWAY, LOGAN, RAFFERTY, ERICKSON, LEACH, ORIE, WOZNIAK AND FERLO, MARCH 2, 2009

REFERRED TO BANKING AND INSURANCE, MARCH 2, 2009  

AN ACT

Providing for group life insurance to law enforcement officers

and for the powers and duties of the Commissioner of the

Pennsylvania State Police.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Law

Enforcement Officer Group Life Insurance Act.

Section 2.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Commissioner."  The Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State

Police.

"Fraternal organization."  A nonprofit organization within

this Commonwealth which is created and carried on for the mutual

benefit of its members, has a limited membership and a

representative form of government and is a branch, lodge or

chapter of a national or state organization.

"Law enforcement officer."  A member of the Pennsylvania

State Police or an individual employed as a police officer who

holds a current certificate under 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 21, Subch. D 

(relating to municipal police education and training).

Section 3.  Law enforcement officer group life insurance

program.

The commissioner may approve issuance of group life insurance

to fraternal organizations for law enforcement officers subject

to the following requirements:

(1)  Each individual eligible for insurance under the

policy must be a law enforcement officer or spouse or

dependent of a law enforcement officer. A law enforcement

officer who becomes insured under this program while employed

as a law enforcement officer may continue the insurance,

including group term life insurance, after retirement from a

law enforcement agency or department.

(2)  The premium for the law enforcement officer's policy

shall be paid by the Commonwealth on appropriation as

provided by law. The premium for a policy that covers a

spouse or dependent of a law enforcement officer shall be

paid by the law enforcement officer, or the spouse or

dependent of the law enforcement officer. An individual

family member may insure his spouse or dependent without

their signature or approval.

(3)  The policy must cover at least 25 law enforcement

officers at the time of issue.

(4)  The amounts of insurance under the policy must not

exceed $400,000 per individual insured law enforcement

officer and $100,000 per insured spouse or dependent.

(5)  Participation in the insurance plan must be

voluntary.

(6)  Except as otherwise provided by this section, the

policy or policies must comply with the provisions of the act

of May 11, 1949 (P.L.1210, No.367), referred to as the Group

Life Insurance Policy Law, and be approved by the

commissioner and the Insurance Commissioner.

Section 4.  Regulations.

The Department of Insurance shall promulgate regulations as

necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.

Section 5.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.