A. The Department shall establish a plan or plans, hereinafter “plan” or “plans,” subject to the approval of the Governor, for providing long-term care insurance coverage for employees of local governments, local officers, and teachers. The plan or plans shall be rated separately from the plan developed pursuant to § 51.1-513.1 to provide long-term care insurance coverage for state employees. Participation in such insurance plan or plans shall be (i) voluntary, (ii) approved by the participant’s respective governing body, or by the local school board in the case of teachers, and (iii) subject to regulations adopted by the Department.
B. The Department shall adopt regulations regarding the establishment of such a plan or plans, and the administration of the plan or plans.
C. For the purposes of this section: “Employees of local governments” shall include all officers and employees of the governing body of any county, city or town, and the directing or governing body of any political entity, subdivision, branch or unit of the Commonwealth or of any commission or public authority or body corporate created by or under an act of the General Assembly specifying the power or powers, privileges or authority capable of exercise by the commission or public authority or body corporate, as distinguished from §§ 15.2-1300, 15.2-1303, or similar statutes, provided that the officers and employees of a social services department, welfare board, community services board or behavioral health authority, or library board of a county, city, or town shall be deemed to be employees of local government. “Local officer” means the treasurer, registrar, commissioner of the revenue, attorney for the Commonwealth, clerk of a circuit court, sheriff, or constable of any county or city or deputies or employees of any of the preceding local officers. “Teacher” means any employee of a county, city, or other local public school board.
D. The Department shall not carry out the provisions of this section if and when the Virginia Retirement System assumes responsibility for the plan or plans pursuant to § 51.1-513.3.