GeorgiaSB 562025-2026 Regular SessionSenate

Georgia State Indemnification Fund; the Department of Administrative Services to purchase annuities for the payment of indemnification claims; authorize

Sponsored By: John Albers (Republican), Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Lee Anderson (Republican), Timothy Bearden (Republican), Max Burns (Republican), Greg Dolezal (Republican), Drew Echols (Republican), Frank Ginn (Republican), Steve Gooch (Republican), Russ Goodman (Republican), Marty Harbin (Republican), Bo Hatchett (Republican), Billy Hickman (Republican), Steven McNeel (Republican), Chuck Payne (Republican), Randy Robertson (Republican), Shawn Still (Republican), Brian Strickland (Republican), Blake Tillery (Republican), Sam Watson (Republican)

Became Law

Public Safety and Homeland SecurityInsurance and LaborGeneral Bill

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Set payouts for injured or fallen officers

The law sets fixed checks from the State Indemnification Fund. Partial permanent disability pays $35,000. Total permanent disability pays $75,000. Death or organic brain damage pays $150,000. For death, money goes to the unremarried spouse, eligible dependent children (under 19, or under 24 if in college at the time of death), or other dependents from the latest tax return; for organic brain damage, it goes to the legal guardian. You may choose 60 monthly payments over five years or a lump sum equal to the present value at 6%.

Who qualifies and deadlines for officer claims

The law explains who counts as a public safety officer and what work counts. It covers law enforcement, firefighters, EMTs, emergency rescue, state highway workers, and prison guards. It presumes a heart attack, stroke, or vascular rupture happened on duty if it starts during or within 24 hours after nonroutine stressful or strenuous work, unless medical evidence shows otherwise. For COVID‑19 deaths on or before April 15, 2022, it presumes a line‑of‑duty death if the officer had COVID‑19 within 14 days of last duty and had COVID‑19 or complications at death. Those COVID‑19 death claims must be filed by August 1, 2025; late claims are not paid. The law bars payments for suicide, self‑inflicted injuries, natural causes, or routine duties not seen as strenuous or dangerous, except as allowed by the heart‑event and COVID‑19 rules above. If your claim is denied, you can appeal to the commissioner within 60 days and explain the errors.

State can buy annuities for claims

The Department of Administrative Services can buy annuities to fund indemnification payments. This helps the state make promised payments on time.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Joseph Gullett
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 219 • No: 1

House vote • 3/27/2025

PASSAGE

Yes: 165 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/3/2025

PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 54 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

Effective Date
7/1/2025
Senate Date Signed by Governor
5/14/2025Senate
Act 281
5/14/2025
Senate Sent to Governor
4/7/2025Senate
House Third Readers
3/27/2025House
House Passed/Adopted
3/27/2025House
House Committee Favorably Reported
3/20/2025House
House Second Readers
3/6/2025House
House First Readers
3/4/2025House
Senate Third Read
3/3/2025Senate
Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
3/3/2025Senate
Senate Read Second Time
2/20/2025Senate
Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
2/19/2025Senate
Senate Read and Referred
1/30/2025Senate
Senate Hopper
1/29/2025Senate

Bill Text

SB 56/AP* (v7)
PDF

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