Definitions

As used in this chapter, the term: (1) ‘‘Benefit system’’ or ‘‘system’’ means the plan or plans of employee benefits offered and administered pursuant to this chapter. (2) ‘‘Board’’ means the board of directors of the ACCG Group Health Benefits Program, Inc. (3) ‘‘Contract’’ means a contract executed pursuant to this chapter between the board and a county. (4) ‘‘Corporation’’ means the ACCG Group Health Benefits Program, Inc., a corporation established under Chapter 3 of Title 14, the 471 36-21-3 ‘‘Georgia Nonprofit Corporation Code,’’ created to provide benefits pursuant to this chapter. (5) ‘‘County’’ means the group health benefits program operated by the corporation; the Association County Commissioners of Georgia and any affiliate; any Georgia county government; any consolidated city-county government; or any public authority, commission, board, or similar body created or activated by an Act of the General Assembly or by resolution or ordinance of the county governing authority, individually or jointly with any other political subdivision or subdivisions of the State of Georgia, pursuant to the Constitution or an Act of the General Assembly and which carries out its function on a county-wide basis, a multicounty basis, or wholly within the unincorporated area of a county. (6) ‘‘Employee’’ means any salaried or hourly rated person employed by a county. Notwithstanding any laws to the contrary, the term also includes any appointed or elected member of the governing authority of a county, the chief legal officer and any associate legal officer, and any other elected or appointed county official. (7) ‘‘Employee benefits’’ means group health benefits, group short-term disability benefits, group death benefits, group accidental death and dismemberment benefits, and such other benefits as from time to time the board may deem advisable. (8) ‘‘Member county’’ means a county which has contracted to become a member of the benefit system as provided for in this chapter. History. — Code 1981, § 36-21-2, enacted by Ga. L. 1999, p. 1190, § 1. 36-21-3. Corporation governed by a board of directors; powers, duties, and operations; bond; administrative expenses. (a) Any county in this state may enter into a contract with the board for the purpose of providing employee benefits to its employees. (b) The corporation shall be governed by a board of directors, which shall be appointed and shall serve in accordance with the bylaws of the corporation. The board shall be authorized to operate and administer the benefit system in accordance with its bylaws and such other rules and regulations as may be established by the board as necessary or desirable for the administration of the benefit system. (c) The board shall maintain a fidelity bond, and errors and omissions coverage or other appropriate liability insurance, in an amount deemed sufficient by the board. 472 36-21-5 (d) The administrative expenses of the board, including all operational expenses, fees, compensation, and other costs, shall be paid from funds held by it and may be chargeable by it to either principal or income or both, as determined by it, as of any valuation date. Further, the board shall have the authority to allocate expenses among member counties on the basis of costs. History. — Code 1981, § 36-21-3, enacted by Ga. L. 1999, p. 1190, § 1. 36-21-4. Annual audits.