{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/51.1-500.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/51.1-500.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/51.1-500.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/51.1-500.html"}],"law_id":86887,"edition_id":1,"section_id":86887,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-500","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"1990, c. 832; 2001, cc. 685, 690; 2020, cc. 245, 374.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Accident” means an accident covered under the group insurance coverage purchased by the Board.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Retirement System.\n\t\t“College savings trust account” means the same as that term is defined in \u00a7 23.1-700.\n\t\t“Company” means insurance company.\n\t\t“Contributor” means the same as that term is defined in \u00a7 23.1-700.\n\t\t“Dependent child” means (i) the insured employee’s unmarried natural or legally adopted children who are not self-supporting; (ii) the insured employee’s unmarried stepchildren living full time with the insured employee in a parent-child relationship and who can be claimed as a dependent on the insured employee’s federal income tax return; (iii) any other children if they are in the insured employee’s court-ordered custody; or (iv) other dependent children of the employee’s family who are eligible for coverage under the family membership program offered under policies and procedures of the Department of Human Resource Management governing health insurance plans administered pursuant to \u00a7 2.2-1204 or \u00a7 2.2-2818.\n\t\t“Dismemberment” means a dismemberment covered under the group insurance coverage purchased by the Board.\n\t\t“Eligible educational institution” has the same meaning as that term is defined in \u00a7 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.\n\t\t“Felonious assault” means a physical assault (i) by another person resulting in bodily harm to an insured employee; (ii) that takes place while such employee is performing his customary duties at the employer’s normal place of business or at other places the employer’s business requires him to travel; (iii) that involves the use of force or violence with the intent to cause harm; and (iv) that is a felony or misdemeanor under applicable law.\n\t\t“Group insurance program” or “insurance program” means the plan covered under the policy purchased by the Board which provides group life, accidental death, and dismemberment insurance coverage for employees.\n\t\t“Immediate family member” means the insured employee’s spouse, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, brothers and sisters and their spouses.\n\t\t“Qualified higher education expenses” has the same meaning as that term is defined in \u00a7 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.\n\t\t“Qualifying child” means a dependent child less than eighteen years of age, or if eighteen years of age or older a dependent child enrolled in high school.\n\t\t“Retirement System” means the Virginia Retirement System.\n\t\t“Safety restraint system” means a properly installed seatbelt, lap and shoulder restraint or other restraint approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or any successor governmental agency. The term excludes an air bag safety system.\n\t\tIn addition to the definitions listed above, the definitions listed in \u00a7 51.1-124.3 shall apply to this chapter except as otherwise provided.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":311085,"text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Accident” means an accident covered under the group insurance coverage purchased by the Board.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Retirement System.\n\t\t“College savings trust account” means the same as that term is defined in \u00a7 23.1-700.\n\t\t“Company” means insurance company.\n\t\t“Contributor” means the same as that term is defined in \u00a7 23.1-700.\n\t\t“Dependent child” means (i) the insured employee’s unmarried natural or legally adopted children who are not self-supporting; (ii) the insured employee’s unmarried stepchildren living full time with the insured employee in a parent-child relationship and who can be claimed as a dependent on the insured employee’s federal income tax return; (iii) any other children if they are in the insured employee’s court-ordered custody; or (iv) other dependent children of the employee’s family who are eligible for coverage under the family membership program offered under policies and procedures of the Department of Human Resource Management governing health insurance plans administered pursuant to \u00a7 2.2-1204 or \u00a7 2.2-2818.\n\t\t“Dismemberment” means a dismemberment covered under the group insurance coverage purchased by the Board.\n\t\t“Eligible educational institution” has the same meaning as that term is defined in \u00a7 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.\n\t\t“Felonious assault” means a physical assault (i) by another person resulting in bodily harm to an insured employee; (ii) that takes place while such employee is performing his customary duties at the employer’s normal place of business or at other places the employer’s business requires him to travel; (iii) that involves the use of force or violence with the intent to cause harm; and (iv) that is a felony or misdemeanor under applicable law.\n\t\t“Group insurance program” or “insurance program” means the plan covered under the policy purchased by the Board which provides group life, accidental death, and dismemberment insurance coverage for employees.\n\t\t“Immediate family member” means the insured employee’s spouse, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, brothers and sisters and their spouses.\n\t\t“Qualified higher education expenses” has the same meaning as that term is defined in \u00a7 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.\n\t\t“Qualifying child” means a dependent child less than eighteen years of age, or if eighteen years of age or older a dependent child enrolled in high school.\n\t\t“Retirement System” means the Virginia Retirement System.\n\t\t“Safety restraint system” means a properly installed seatbelt, lap and shoulder restraint or other restraint approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or any successor governmental agency. The term excludes an air bag safety system.\n\t\tIn addition to the definitions listed above, the definitions listed in \u00a7 51.1-124.3 shall apply to this chapter except as otherwise provided.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13932,"edition_id":1,"name":"Group Insurance Program","identifier":"5","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12947,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:20","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:20","permalink":{"id":236069,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13932,"identifier":"5","token":"51.1\/5","url":"\/51.1\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12947,"edition_id":1,"name":"Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement","identifier":"51.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:04","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:04","permalink":{"id":235029,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12947,"identifier":"51.1","token":"51.1","url":"\/51.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":86887,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-500","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/51.1-500\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-500","metadata":false},{"id":84578,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-501","catch_line":"Board authorized to purchase group life and accident insurance policies","url":"\/51.1-501\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-501","metadata":false},{"id":63115,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-502","catch_line":"Eligible employees and officers","url":"\/51.1-502\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-502","metadata":false},{"id":83648,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-502.1","catch_line":"Certain employees of teaching hospitals","url":"\/51.1-502.1\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-502.1","metadata":false},{"id":59497,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-502.2","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/51.1-502.2\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-502.2","metadata":false},{"id":72342,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-502.3","catch_line":"Certain employees of the Virginia Port Authority","url":"\/51.1-502.3\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-502.3","metadata":false},{"id":76893,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-503","catch_line":"Limitation on coverage","url":"\/51.1-503\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-503","metadata":false},{"id":69960,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-504","catch_line":"Election of political subdivision to participate; approval by Board","url":"\/51.1-504\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-504","metadata":false},{"id":86868,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-505","catch_line":"Amounts of life and accident insurance for each employee; reduction and termination of insurance","url":"\/51.1-505\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-505","metadata":false},{"id":70590,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-505.01","catch_line":"Additional accidental death and dismemberment benefits","url":"\/51.1-505.01\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-505.01","metadata":false},{"id":55772,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-506","catch_line":"Employee contributions; payroll deductions; effect of failure to deduct","url":"\/51.1-506\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-506","metadata":false},{"id":60994,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-507","catch_line":"Notice of desire not to be insured","url":"\/51.1-507\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-507","metadata":false},{"id":55089,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-508","catch_line":"Employer contributions","url":"\/51.1-508\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-508","metadata":false},{"id":57511,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-509","catch_line":"Keeping records and furnishing information required by Board","url":"\/51.1-509\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-509","metadata":false},{"id":81121,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-510","catch_line":"Insurance exempt from process","url":"\/51.1-510\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-510","metadata":false},{"id":78151,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-511","catch_line":"Persons entitled to payment of insurance on employee's death","url":"\/51.1-511\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-511","metadata":false},{"id":78798,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-512","catch_line":"Optional life insurance","url":"\/51.1-512\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-512","metadata":false},{"id":65711,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-512.1","catch_line":"Optional life insurance for the spouse and minor dependents of employees","url":"\/51.1-512.1\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-512.1","metadata":false},{"id":86106,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-513","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/51.1-513\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-513","metadata":false},{"id":68495,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-513.1","catch_line":"Long-term care insurance","url":"\/51.1-513.1\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-513.1","metadata":false},{"id":80264,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-513.2","catch_line":"Long-term care coverage program","url":"\/51.1-513.2\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-513.2","metadata":false},{"id":57791,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-513.3","catch_line":"Long-term care insurance program for employees of local governments, local officers, and teachers","url":"\/51.1-513.3\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-513.3","metadata":false},{"id":72025,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-513.4","catch_line":"Trust fund for long-term care programs","url":"\/51.1-513.4\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-513.4","metadata":false},{"id":54987,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-514","catch_line":"Policies to provide for accounting to Board; advance premium deposit reserve","url":"\/51.1-514\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-514","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":84578,"structure_id":13932,"section_number":"51.1-501","catch_line":"Board authorized to purchase group life and accident insurance policies","url":"\/51.1-501\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-501","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/51.1-500\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1990. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 832 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1990 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2001, chapters 685<\/a> and 690<\/a>; in 2020, chapters 245<\/a> and 374<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":61045,"section_number":"2.2-2817.2","catch_line":"Employees of the University of Virginia Medical Center","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-2817.2\/"},{"id":82159,"section_number":"2.2-3203","catch_line":"Transitional severance benefit conferred","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-3203\/"},{"id":76407,"section_number":"23.1-1025","catch_line":"Covered institutions; operational authority; human resources; certain insurance plans","order_by":null,"url":"\/23.1-1025\/"},{"id":82552,"section_number":"51.1-1133","catch_line":"Life and accident insurance coverage during disability absences","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-1133\/"},{"id":65591,"section_number":"51.1-1174","catch_line":"Life and accident insurance coverage during disability absences","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-1174\/"},{"id":78683,"section_number":"51.1-124.22","catch_line":"Board to administer Retirement System; powers and duties","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-124.22\/"},{"id":70735,"section_number":"51.1-142.2","catch_line":"Prior service or membership credit for certain members; service credit for accumulated sick leave","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-142.2\/"},{"id":78798,"section_number":"51.1-512","catch_line":"Optional life insurance","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-512\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":64954,"section_number":"2.2-1204","catch_line":"Health insurance program for employees of local governments, local officers, teachers, etc.; definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-1204\/"},{"id":68317,"section_number":"2.2-2818","catch_line":"Health and related insurance for state employees","order_by":null,"url":"\/2.2-2818\/"},{"id":66160,"section_number":"23.1-700","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/23.1-700\/"},{"id":70634,"section_number":"51.1-124.3","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.1-124.3\/"}],"permalink":{"id":236071,"object_type":"law","relational_id":86887,"identifier":"51.1-500","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-500","url":"\/51.1-500\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/51.1-500\/","token":"51.1\/5\/51.1-500","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 51.1-500","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Accident<\/span>” means an accident<\/span> covered under the group insurance coverage purchased by the Board<\/span>.\n\t\t“Board<\/span>” means the Board<\/span> of Trustees of the Virginia Retirement System<\/span>.\n\t\t“College savings trust account<\/span>” means the same as that term is defined in \u00a7 23.1-700<\/a>.\n\t\t“Company<\/span>” means insurance company<\/span>.\n\t\t“Contributor<\/span>” means the same as that term is defined in \u00a7 23.1-700<\/a>.\n\t\t“Dependent child<\/span>” means (i) the insured employee’s unmarried natural or legally adopted children who are not self-supporting; (ii) the insured employee’s unmarried stepchildren living full time with the insured employee in a parent-child relationship and who can be claimed as a dependent on the insured employee’s federal income tax return; (iii) any other children if they are in the insured employee’s court<\/span>-ordered custody<\/span>; or (iv) other dependent children of the employee’s family who are eligible for coverage under the family membership program offered under policies and procedures of the Department of Human Resource Management governing health insurance plans administered pursuant to \u00a7 2.2-1204<\/a> or \u00a7 2.2-2818<\/a>.\n\t\t“Dismemberment<\/span>” means a dismemberment<\/span> covered under the group insurance coverage purchased by the Board<\/span>.\n\t\t“Eligible educational institution<\/span>” has the same meaning as that term is defined in \u00a7 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.\n\t\t“Felonious assault<\/span>” means a physical assault (i) by another person resulting in bodily harm to an insured employee; (ii) that takes place while such employee is performing his customary duties at the employer’s normal place of business or at other places the employer’s business requires him to travel; (iii) that involves the use of force or violence with the intent<\/span> to cause harm; and (iv) that is a felony<\/span> or misdemeanor<\/span> under applicable law<\/span>.\n\t\t“Group insurance program<\/span>” or “insurance program” means the plan covered under the policy purchased by the Board<\/span> which provides group life, accidental death, and dismemberment<\/span> insurance coverage for employees.\n\t\t“Immediate family member<\/span>” means the insured employee’s spouse, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, brothers and sisters and their spouses.\n\t\t“Qualified higher education expenses<\/span>” has the same meaning as that term is defined in \u00a7 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.\n\t\t“Qualifying child<\/span>” means a dependent child<\/span> less than eighteen years of age, or if eighteen years of age or older a dependent child<\/span> enrolled in high school.\n\t\t“Retirement System<\/span>” means the Virginia Retirement System<\/span>.\n\t\t“Safety restraint system<\/span>” means a properly installed seatbelt, lap and shoulder restraint or other restraint approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or any successor governmental agency. The term excludes an air bag safety system.\n\t\tIn addition to the definitions listed above, the definitions listed in \u00a7 51.1-124.3<\/a> shall apply to this chapter except as otherwise provided.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 51.1-500)\n\nAs used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Accident” means an accident covered under the group insurance\ncoverage purchased by the Board.\n\t\t“Board” means the Board of Trustees of the Virginia Retirement\nSystem.\n\t\t“College savings trust account” means the same as that term is\ndefined in \u00a7 23.1-700.\n\t\t“Company” means insurance company.\n\t\t“Contributor” means the same as that term is defined in \u00a7\n23.1-700.\n\t\t“Dependent child” means (i) the insured employee’s\nunmarried natural or legally adopted children who are not self-supporting; (ii)\nthe insured employee’s unmarried stepchildren living full time with the\ninsured employee in a parent-child relationship and who can be claimed as a\ndependent on the insured employee’s federal income tax return; (iii) any\nother children if they are in the insured employee’s court-ordered\ncustody; or (iv) other dependent children of the employee’s family who are\neligible for coverage under the family membership program offered under policies\nand procedures of the Department of Human Resource Management governing health\ninsurance plans administered pursuant to \u00a7 2.2-1204 or \u00a7 2.2-2818.\n\t\t“Dismemberment” means a dismemberment covered under the group\ninsurance coverage purchased by the Board.\n\t\t“Eligible educational institution” has the same meaning as that\nterm is defined in \u00a7 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.\n\t\t“Felonious assault” means a physical assault (i) by another\nperson resulting in bodily harm to an insured employee; (ii) that takes place\nwhile such employee is performing his customary duties at the employer’s\nnormal place of business or at other places the employer’s business\nrequires him to travel; (iii) that involves the use of force or violence with\nthe intent to cause harm; and (iv) that is a felony or misdemeanor under\napplicable law.\n\t\t“Group insurance program” or “insurance program” means\n the plan covered under the policy purchased by the Board which provides group\nlife, accidental death, and dismemberment insurance coverage for employees.\n\t\t“Immediate family member” means the insured employee’s\nspouse, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, brothers and sisters and\ntheir spouses.\n\t\t“Qualified higher education expenses” has the same meaning as that\nterm is defined in \u00a7 529 of the Internal Revenue Code.\n\t\t“Qualifying child” means a dependent child less than eighteen\nyears of age, or if eighteen years of age or older a dependent child enrolled in\nhigh school.\n\t\t“Retirement System” means the Virginia Retirement System.\n\t\t“Safety restraint system” means a properly installed seatbelt,\nlap and shoulder restraint or other restraint approved by the National Highway\nTraffic Safety Administration or any successor governmental agency. The term\nexcludes an air bag safety system.\n\t\tIn addition to the definitions listed above, the definitions listed in \u00a7\n51.1-124.3 shall apply to this chapter except as otherwise provided.\n\nHISTORY: 1990, c. 832; 2001, cc. 685, 690; 2020, cc. 245, 374.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}