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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>70590</law_id><section_number>51.1-505.01</section_number><catch_line>Additional accidental death and dismemberment benefits</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="51.1">Pensions, Benefits, and Retirement</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="5">Group Insurance Program</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The group life, accidental death, and <span class="dictionary">dismemberment</span> insurance coverage purchased by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> shall include, but not be limited to, the following benefits:</p></section>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> If, as a result of an <span class="dictionary">accident</span>, an insured employee dies at least 75 miles from his principal residence, an additional accidental death benefit shall be paid for the preparation and transportation of the employee to a mortuary. The additional benefit shall be the lesser of the actual cost for such preparation and transportation or $5,000; <a id="paragraph-254685" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-505.01/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> If an insured employee dies or suffers a <span class="dictionary">dismemberment</span> as a result of an <span class="dictionary">accident</span> that occurs while the employee is driving or riding in a private passenger vehicle, an additional accidental death or <span class="dictionary">dismemberment</span> benefit shall be paid, provided that (i) the private passenger vehicle is equipped with a <span class="dictionary">safety restraint system</span>; (ii) such <span class="dictionary">safety restraint system</span> was being used properly by the insured employee at the time of the <span class="dictionary">accident</span>, as certified in the official <span class="dictionary">accident</span> report or by the official investigating officer; and (iii) at the time of the <span class="dictionary">accident</span>, the driver of the private passenger vehicle held a current license to operate a private passenger vehicle and was not intoxicated, driving while impaired or under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as is defined or determined under applicable <span class="dictionary">law</span>.
			The additional benefit shall be the lesser of 10 percent of the amount otherwise payable due to such accidental death or <span class="dictionary">dismemberment</span> or $50,000. <a id="paragraph-254686" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-505.01/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Death or <span class="dictionary">dismemberment</span> from a <span class="dictionary">felonious assault</span>. <a id="paragraph-254687" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-505.01/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> If an insured employee dies or suffers a <span class="dictionary">dismemberment</span> as a result of an <span class="dictionary">accident</span> caused by a <span class="dictionary">felonious assault</span> committed by other than an <span class="dictionary">immediate family member</span>, there shall be paid an additional accidental death or <span class="dictionary">dismemberment</span> benefit equal to the lesser of 25 percent of the amount otherwise payable due to such accidental death or <span class="dictionary">dismemberment</span> or $50,000. <a id="paragraph-254688" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-505.01/#C1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> In addition, if (i) an insured employee dies as a result of an <span class="dictionary">accident</span> caused by a <span class="dictionary">felonious assault</span> committed by other than an <span class="dictionary">immediate family member</span>, and (ii) such insured employee has a <span class="dictionary">qualifying child</span> at the time of such <span class="dictionary">accident</span>, a <span class="dictionary">college savings trust account</span> under the Commonwealth Savers Plan (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/23.1-700/">23.1-700</a> et seq.) shall be opened for each <span class="dictionary">qualifying child</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Retirement System</span> shall be the <span class="dictionary">contributor</span> of any such account and shall contribute into the account of each such <span class="dictionary">qualifying child</span> an amount approximately equal to the current average cost, as published by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, of four years of tuition and mandatory fees at baccalaureate public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth. The qualified beneficiary, as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/23.1-700/">23.1-700</a>, shall be the <span class="dictionary">qualifying child</span> on whose behalf such account was opened. Specific benefits of the <span class="dictionary">college savings trust account</span> shall be as defined by the Commonwealth Savers Plan.
				Disbursements from a <span class="dictionary">college savings trust account</span> opened under this section shall be governed by procedures adopted by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of Trustees of the Virginia <span class="dictionary">Retirement System</span> in accordance with &#xA7; 529 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or other applicable federal <span class="dictionary">law</span>, and any other additional procedures as determined by the <span class="dictionary">Board</span> of the Commonwealth Savers Plan. <span class="dictionary">College savings trust account</span> funds shall be payable only for <span class="dictionary">qualified higher education expenses</span> to a post-secondary <span class="dictionary">eligible educational institution</span>. Any funds in a <span class="dictionary">college savings trust account</span> that are not used by a <span class="dictionary">qualifying child</span> before the expiration of the time period for the use of such funds, as determined by the Commonwealth Savers Plan, shall be paid to the <span class="dictionary">Retirement System</span> promptly after the expiration of such period. <a id="paragraph-254689" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/51.1-505.01/#C2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2001, cc. 685, 690; 2002, c. 313; 2020, cc. 245, 374; 2024, c. 217.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
