§31-12-7. Health insurance for public employees; participation in retirement systems.

(a) Any public employee who receives compensation from a public employer as provided by this chapter, while he or she is serving on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, may elect to continue with his or her individual or dependent coverage under the health insurance plan of the public employer for the duration of the time he or she receives the compensation. Premiums for dependent coverage shall be deducted from the compensation in the amount in effect at the time for an active employee with dependent coverage.

(b) Any public employee covered under the Employees' Retirement System or the Teachers' Retirement System who is serving on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States during the war on terrorism that commenced in September 2001, as determined by the Adjutant General of the Alabama National Guard, shall be deemed an active and contributing member of the Employees' Retirement System or Teachers' Retirement System, with costs to be paid in the same manner and from the same sources as are costs for active and contributing members. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no member shall receive credit in the Employees' or Teachers' Retirement System for any service for which the member received credit in his or her system or in any other public retirement system, with the exception of the federal Social Security program.

(Act 2002-430, p. 1123, §7.)