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2005 SESSION

052734308
HOUSE BILL NO. 2757
Offered January 12, 2005
A BILL for the relief of Beverly Q. Russell.
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Patron-- Griffith (By Request)
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Referred to Committee on Appropriations
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Whereas, Beverly Q. Russell (Ms. Russell) was employed as a psychiatric nurse by the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services at Catawba Hospital; and

Whereas, on February 29, 1996, Ms. Russell was informed by the Hospital that that her coverage could not be maintained as of April 1, 1996 because the one-year coverage allowed while on leave without pay status had expired; and

Whereas, on March 26, 1996 the Hospital instructed that she could enroll in coverage should she retire; and

Whereas, Ms. Russell subsequently retired on disability on February 1, 1997; and

Whereas, at the time of her retirement, Ms. Russell chose the option providing for a higher monthly retirement benefit, but did not realize that in doing so she was opting out of the state retiree health benefits program; and

Whereas, Ms. Russell did not realize the mistake until early 2004; and

Whereas, Ms. Russell is without health insurance; and

Whereas, Ms. Russell attempted to enroll in the State Retiree Health Benefits Program to get health insurance coverage with a reduction in her monthly benefit, but was denied; and

Whereas, Beverly Q. Russell has no other means to obtain relief except by action of this body; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  § 1. That within thirty days of the effective date of this act, Beverly Q. Russell may elect to have the Department of Human Resource Management to enroll her in the State Retirement Health Benefits Program provided that Russell's retirement benefits are adjusted to align them appropriately had she elected this set of benefits initially.