Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 94 Part 2.djvu/556

 94 STAT. 1834 5 USC 8708.

PUBLIC LAW 96-427—OCT. 10, 1980

the uncollected deductions and related agency contributions required under section 8708 of this title to the Office for deposit to the Employees' Life Insurance Fund.". PREEMPTION

"State."

SEC. 5. (a) Section 8709 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new subsection: "(d)(1) The provisions of any contract under this chapter which relate to the nature or extent of coverage or benefits (including payments with respect to benefits) shall supersede and preempt any law of any State or political subdivision thereof, or any regulation issued thereunder, which relates to group life insurance to the extent that the law or regulation is inconsistent with the contractual provisions. "(2) For the purpose of this section, 'State* means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and a territory or possession of the United States.". CONTINUATION OF REGULAR OPTIONAL INSURANCE

Waiver.

SEC. 6. (a) Section 8714a(c)(2)(C) of title 5, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: "(C) The amount of optional life insurance continued under subparagraph (A) or subparagraph (B) of this paragraph shall be reduced by 2 percent at the end of each full calendar month after the date the employee becomes 65 years of age and is retired or is receiving compensation for disease or injury. The Office shall prescribe minimum amounts, not less than 25 percent of the amount of life insurance in force before the first reduction, to which the insurance may be reduced.". (b) Section 8714a(d) of title 5 is amended by inserting "(1)" after "(d)" and by adding at the end thereof the following new paragraph: "(2) If an agency fails to withhold the proper cost of optioned insurance from an individual's salary, compensation, or retirement annuity, the collection of amounts properly due may be waived by the agency if, in the judgment of the agency, the individual is without fault and recovery would be against equity and good conscience. However, if the agency so waives the collection of any unpaid amount, the agency shall submit an amount equal to the uncollected amount to the Office for deposit to the Employees' Life Insurance Fund.". ADDITIONAL OPTIONAL LIFE INSURANCE

5 USC 8714b.

5 USC 8709-8712. 5 USC 8702.

5 USC 8714a.

SEC. 7. (a) Chapter 87 of title 5, United States Code, is further amended by inserting after section 8714a the following new section: "§ 8714b. Additional optional life insurance "(a) Under the conditions, directives, and terms specified in sections 8709 through 8712 of this title, the Office of Personnel Management, without regard to section 5 of title 41, may purchase a policy which shall make available to each employee insured under section 8702 of this title amounts of additional optional life insurance (without accidental death and dismemberment insurance). An employee may elect coverage under this section without regard to whether the employee has elected coverage under optional insurance available under section 8714a of this title.

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