I

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 891

To permit certain Federal employees who retired or became entitled to receive

compensation for work injury before December 9, 1980, to elect to

resume coverage under the Federal employees’ group life insurance program.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 16, 1993

Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts introduced the following bill; which was referred

to the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service

A BILL

To permit certain Federal employees who retired or became

entitled to receive compensation for work injury before

December 9, 1980, to elect to resume coverage under

the Federal employees’ group life insurance program.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF OPTION TO EMPLOYEES WHO

4 RETIRED OR WERE INJURED BEFORE DE5 CEMBER 9, 1980.

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Section 10(c) of the Federal

7 Employees’ Group Life Insurance Act of 1980 (5 U.S.C.
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1 8701 note) is amended by inserting ‘‘before,’’ immediately

2 before ‘‘on or after’’.

3 (2) The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall

4 have no effect in the case of any individual—

5 (A) whose date of death is on or before the ef6 fective date of the applicable regulations prescribed

7 under section 2;

8 (B) whose eligibility to make an election under

9 section 8706(b) of title 5, United States Code, would

10 be based on such individual’s having retired on an

11 immediate annuity, if payment of such annuity is

12 terminated under the applicable provisions of chap13 ter 83 or 84 of such title on or before the effective

14 date referred to in subparagraph (A); or

15 (C) whose eligibility to make an election re16 ferred to in subparagraph (B) would be based on

17 such individual’s having been entitled to receive com18 pensation under subchapter I of chapter 81 of such

19 title because of disease or injury to such individual,

20 if such individual is no longer so entitled as of the

21 effective date referred to in subparagraph (A).

22 (b) OTHER ELECTION.—Notwithstanding any other

23 provision of law, any individual who is eligible to make

24 an election under section 8706(b) of title 5, United States

25 Code, as a result of the enactment of subsection (a) is
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1 also eligible to make an election under section 8714a,

2 8714b, or 8714c of such title, without regard to the date

3 on which such individual retired or became entitled to re4 ceive compensation under subchapter I of chapter 81 of

5 such title.

6 SEC. 2. PROCEDURES.

7 (a) PROCEDURES FOR MAKING AN ELECTION.—An

8 election under chapter 87 of title 5, United States Code,

9 authorized by section 1 shall be made in such manner and

10 under such conditions as the Office of Personnel Manage11 ment shall by regulation prescribe, except that under the

12 regulations, such an election shall not be effective unless—

13 (1) the election, complete with any supporting

14 records or other required documentation, is made

15 before the expiration of the 365-day period begin16 ning on the effective date of the regulations pre17 scribed under this section; and

18 (2) adequate arrangements are made for pay19 ment to the Employees’ Life Insurance Fund (under

20 section 8714 of such title) of an amount equal to the

21 aggregate amount of any deductions and

22 withholdings which would have been required under

23 the applicable provisions of such chapter if the elec24 tion had been made at the time of the individual’s

25 retirement or becoming entitled to receive compensa-
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1 tion under subchapter I of chapter 81 of such title,

2 as the case may be.

3 (b) RETROACTIVE EFFECT.—An election made in ac4 cordance with the regulations prescribed under this section

5 shall, for purposes of chapter 87 of title 5, United States

6 Code, be treated as if such election had been made at the

7 time of the individual’s retirement or becoming entitled

8 to receive compensation under subchapter I of chapter 81

9 of such title, as the case may be.

10 (c) NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENT.—The Office shall

11 provide written notification to any individual who, as a

12 result of the enactment of this Act, becomes eligible to

13 make an election under section 8706(b) of title 5, United

14 States Code. Such notification shall inform the individual

15 of his or her eligibility for life insurance, terms and condi16 tions of coverage, procedures for making an election (in17 cluding any deadlines), and any other matter which the

18 Office considers appropriate.

19 (d) EFFECTIVE DATE OF REGULATIONS.—The regu20 lations prescribed under this section shall become effective

21 on such date as the Office of Personnel Management pre22 scribes, but not later than 90 days after the date of the

23 enactment of this Act.

24 (e) DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.—

25 The Secretary of Agriculture shall prescribe regulations
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1 to effect the application and operation of this Act with

2 respect to individuals under section 8701(a)(8) of title 5,

3 United States Code.

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