First Regular Session
              Sixty-sixth General Assembly
                    STATE OF COLORADO
                                                 INTRODUCED
                                                           
                                                           
 LLS NO. 07-0392.01 Ed DeCecco           SENATE BILL 07-030
                   SENATE SPONSORSHIP
 Romer, 
 
                    HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
 Rice, 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Senate Committees
 House Committees
 
 
 State, Veterans & Military Affairs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                         A BILL FOR AN ACT
       Concerning the establishment of a program to reimburse
            group life insurance premiums paid by members of the
            Colorado National Guard.
       
       
                           Bill Summary
       
            (Note:  This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
       not necessarily reflect any amendments that may be subsequently
       adopted.)
       
            Requires the department of military and veterans affairs to
       reimburse a member of the Colorado National Guard for premiums paid
       while the member is serving in a combat zone for benefits under the
       federal group life insurance program.  Requires the department to adopt
       rules to implement the reimbursement program.
            Makes legislative findings and declarations.
       
       
       
       Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
            SECTION 1.  Article 3 of title 28, Colorado Revised Statutes, is
       amended BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW PART to read:
                              PART 17
                       NATIONAL GUARD LIFE 
                      INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT
            28-3-1701.  Legislative declaration.  (1)  The general
       assembly hereby finds and declares that:
            (a)  The Colorado National Guard has a proud tradition
       of military service with thousands of Coloradans having
       answered the call of the nation and served in the National
       Guard.
            (b)  There have been instances in which the dependents of
       members of the Colorado National Guard have been left
       without adequate financial resources when a National Guard
       member has been killed while on active duty.
            (c)  Members of the Colorado National Guard are now
       being asked to serve extended periods of active duty in combat
       zones.
            (d)  Members of the Colorado National Guard are eligible
       for life insurance policies that are currently limited to four
       hundred thousand dollars through the federal servicemembers'
       group life insurance program.
            (e)  Members of the Colorado National Guard provide
       Colorado and its citizens valuable benefits through their
       extended periods of active duty in combat zones, and in
       exchange for these extended periods of active duty they should
       receive assistance with their premiums for the federal
       servicemembers' group life insurance program.
            (2)  The purpose of this part 17 is to provide a benefit to
       members of the Colorado National Guard in exchange for and
       in recognition of their assumption of extended periods of active
       duty in combat zones.
            28-3-1702.  Definitions.  As used in this part 17, unless the
       context otherwise requires:
            (1)  "Combat zone" means an area of hostile fire or
       imminent danger that entitles a member on duty in that area to
       special pay.
            (2)  "Federal group life insurance program" means the
       federal servicemembers' group life insurance program pursuant
       to 38 U.S.C. sec. 1965 et seq., as amended.
            28-3-1703.  Reimbursement of Colorado National Guard group
       life insurance premiums.  (1)  Subject to the limitations set forth
       in subsection (2) of this section, the department shall reimburse
       a member of the Colorado National Guard for premiums paid for
       benefits under the federal group life insurance program.
            (2)  The reimbursement shall be for each month or part of
       a month that a member is deployed in a combat zone on and after
       July 1, 2007.  The maximum amount of coverage under the federal
       group life insurance program for which a service member may
       receive reimbursement is four hundred thousand dollars. 
       Premiums paid or reimbursed by the United States shall not be
       reimbursed.
            (3)  The department shall adopt rules in accordance with
       article 4 of title 24, C.R.S., necessary to implement the
       reimbursement program set forth in this section.
            (4)  Nothing in this section is intended to alter, amend, or
       change the eligibility or applicability of the federal group life
       insurance program, as amended, or any rights, responsibilities,
       or benefits thereunder.
            SECTION 2.  Effective date.  This act shall take effect July 1,
       2007.
            SECTION 3.  Safety clause.  The general assembly hereby finds,
       determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
       preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.