49-21-201 - Program membership -- Eligibility.

49-21-201. Program membership -- Eligibility.
(1) The state shall cover all of its eligible employees under this chapter.
(2) Public safety service employees, as defined in Sections 49-14-102, 49-15-102, and49-23-102 shall be covered under this chapter or a substantially similar long-term disabilityprogram in accordance with the provisions of Section 49-14-601, 49-15-601, or 49-23-601.
(3) Beginning on July 1, 2011, firefighter service employees, as defined in Section49-23-102, initially entering employment on or after July 1, 2011, and volunteer firefighters, asdefined in Section 49-23-102, shall be covered under this chapter or a substantially similarlong-term disability program in accordance with the provisions of Section 49-23-601.
(4) Except as provided under Subsection (5), all other employers may provide coveragefor their eligible employees under this chapter.
(5) If an employer elects to cover any of its eligible employees under this chapter, all ofits eligible employees shall be covered.
(6) Except as provided under Subsections (1) and (2), nothing in this chapter requires anyemployer to cover its eligible employees under this chapter.
(7) The following employees are not eligible for coverage under this chapter:
(a) firefighter service employees, as defined under Section 49-16-102, that initiallyentered employment prior to July 1, 2011; and
(b) legislators.

Amended by Chapter 266, 2010 General Session