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HLS 26RS-2201 REENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 1125
BY REPRESENTATIVE HILFERTY
INSURANCE/GROUP-STATE: Provides for participation by full-time firefighters in
insurance programs offered by the state's Office of Group Benefits
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 42:808(B) and to enact R.S. 42:808(A)(12) and 851(W) and (X),
3 relative to participation in insurance programs offered by the state's Office of Group
4 Benefits; to authorize participation by employees and retirees of fire departments in
5 certain circumstances; to provide for participation credit for those employees; to
6 provide for definitions; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related
7 matters.
8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 42:808(B) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 42:808(A)(12)
10 and 851(W) and (X) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
11 §808. Eligibility in group programs
12 A. For the purposes of participating in life, health, or other programs
13 sponsored by the Office of Group Benefits, an employee is defined as:
14 * * *
15 (12) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, an employee who
16 is employed full-time in a political subdivision's fire department, if the political
17 subdivision elects participation for these employees. No law, rule, or policy shall
18 prohibit, restrict, or impede participation pursuant to the provisions of this
19 Paragraph. For purposes of this Paragraph, the term "fire department" includes any
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HLS 26RS-2201 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 1125
1 department, district, unit, or organization within local government whose primary
2 purpose is preventing and extinguishing fires.
3 B. No individual may participate in a program sponsored by the Office of
4 Group Benefits unless the school board, state agency, or political subdivision
5 through which the individual is actively employed or retired from participates in the
6 program as a group. However; an individual may participate in a program sponsored
7 by the Office of Group Benefits pursuant to Paragraph (A)(12) of this Section as part
8 of a class if every employee participating pursuant to Paragraph (A)(12) of this
9 Section for that employer and every retiree of that employer who participated
10 pursuant to Paragraph (A)(12) of this Section is made part of the class.
11 * * *
12 §851. Authority for employee benefit programs; payroll deduction for payment of
13 premiums
14 * * *
15 W. An employee who participates pursuant to R.S. 42:808(A)(12) shall
16 receive credit for participation in Office of Group Benefits plans for prior
17 participation in a health insurance plan sponsored by his employer for the period of
18 his full-time employment with that employer in the fire department prior to the
19 employer electing participation pursuant to R.S. 42:808(A)(12). Credit shall be
20 awarded pursuant to the provisions of this Subsection only for the continuous period
21 of full-time employment with the participating employer in the fire department as of
22 the date the employer elects participation pursuant to R.S. 42:808(A)(12). For
23 purposes of this Subsection, the term "fire department" includes any department,
24 district, unit, or organization within local government whose primary purpose is
25 preventing and extinguishing fires.
26 X.(1) In addition to any other methods provided by law or rule, an employee
27 or retiree participating in a group benefits plan pursuant to the provisions of this
28 Chapter shall be permitted to remit required premium contributions through any of
29 the following methods:
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HB NO. 1125
1 (a) Direct payment by the employee or retiree to the Office of Group
2 Benefits.
3 (b) Deduction from a retirement benefit administered by a state or statewide
4 retirement system, provided such deduction is authorized by the retiree and is
5 permitted by the applicable retirement system.
6 (2) No rule, policy, or administrative action of an employer shall prohibit or
7 unreasonably restrict the use of any payment method authorized in this Chapter or
8 by rule.
9 Section 2. The Office of Group Benefits shall promulgate rules pursuant to the
10 Administrative Procedure Act necessary for the implementation and administration of this
11 Act.
12 Section 3. Eligibility for participation pursuant to the provisions of this Act shall be
13 limited to employees who have not separated from service as of the date the employer elects
14 participation.
15 Section 4. The provisions of this Act shall become effective January 1, 2027.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 1125 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Hilferty
Abstract: Authorizes a political subdivision that employs full-time firefighters to elect to
enroll its full-time firefighters in insurance programs offered by the state's Office of
Group Benefits (OGB).
Present law (R.S. 42:801 et seq.) establishes OGB within the office of the governor to
administer and implement insurance programs for state employees and others who have been
authorized to participate, including but not limited to school boards that elect participation,
certain parish judges, and certain retirees.
Proposed law authorizes participation by an employee of a political subdivision who is
employed full-time in a political subdivision's fire department, if the political subdivision
elects participation for these employees. For purposes of proposed law, the term "fire
department" includes any department, district, unit, or organization within local government
whose primary purpose is preventing and extinguishing fires. Proposed law further prohibits
any law, rule, or policy from restricting or impeding participation pursuant to the provisions
of proposed law.
Present law (R.S. 42:808) provides for calculation of employee contribution rates for
participation in OGB plans. These rates are calculated based on the employee's number of
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years of participation in OGB plans. Proposed law grants participation credit in OGB plans
for a fire department employee's prior participation in a health insurance plan sponsored by
his employer for the period of his full-time employment with that employer in the fire
department prior to the employer joining OGB. Restricts the award of credit to the
continuous period of employment with the participating employer in the fire department as
of the date the employer joins OGB.
Present law authorizes employers to deduct premiums, surcharges, and other voluntary
contributions for life, health, or other benefit programs offered by OGB from an employee's
compensation. Proposed law provides that, in addition to any other methods provided by
law or rule, a participant in OGB may remit required premiums through direct payment to
OGB by the participant or through deduction from the participant's retirement benefit if the
benefit is administered by a state or statewide retirement system. Further prohibits any rule,
policy, or administrative action of an employer from restricting or prohibiting the use of any
payment method authorized in present and proposed law or rule.
Proposed law prohibits participation pursuant to proposed law by an employee who has
separated from service prior to the employer electing participation in OGB.
Proposed law requires OGB to promulgate rules pursuant to the Administrative Procedure
Act for the implementation and administration of proposed law.
Effective Jan. 1, 2027.
(Amends R.S. 42:808(B); Adds R.S. 42:808(A)(12) and 851(W) and (X))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Add additional methods of payment for plan premiums and other charges.
2. Prohibit employers from restricting an employee's option regarding how to pay
plan premiums.
3. Require OGB to promulgate rules for the implementation and administration of
proposed law.
4. Limit participation pursuant to proposed law to employees who have not
separated from service as of the date the employer elects participation.
5. Make technical changes.
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