A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to Allow state employees to enroll children for which they are court‑appointed guardians as dependents in the North Carolina state health plan for teachers and state employees.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 135‑45.1(10) reads as rewritten:
"§ 135‑45.1.  General definitions.
As used in this Article unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the following definitions apply:
…
(10)	Dependent child. – A natural, legally adopted, or foster child or children of the employee and or spouse, unmarried, up to the first of the month following his or her 19th birthday, whether or not the child is living with the employee, as long as the employee is legally responsible for such child's maintenance and support. Dependent child also includes a child for which an employee is a court‑appointed guardian, as long as the employee is legally responsible for the child's maintenance and support. Dependent child also includes a stepchild of the member who is married to the stepchild's natural parent. To be eligible, the stepchild must have his or her primary residence with the member. Dependent child shall also include any child under age 19 who has reached his or her 18th birthday, provided the employee was legally responsible for such child's maintenance and support on his or her 18th birthday. Dependent children of firefighters, rescue squad workers, and members of the National Guard are subject to the same terms and conditions as are other dependent children covered by this subdivision. Eligibility of dependent children is subject to the requirements of G.S. 135‑45.2(d). The Plan may require documentation from the member confirming a child's eligibility to be covered as the member's dependent."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2010.