State Benefits
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
19 April 2006
Tax and Wages
Provides a tax credit equal to the cost of insurance premiums paid by the member through the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance Program (Guard and Reserve members serving on active duty for at least 90 consecutive days).
Authorizes taxpayers to make contribution to the Georgia National Guard Family Support Foundation through check-off box on their income tax filings being in taxable year 2006.
Combat zone pay not subject to state taxes.
Members deployed overseas have an automatic six month extension to file state tax returns without penalties or interest.
Low-cost group insurance provided through the State Insurance Trust.
Licensing and Registration
Automatic Occupational, Professional and Drivers License extensions until six months after discharge from active duty (90 days or longer federal duty).
Exempt from jury duty for service member and spouses when service member is on “ordered military duty.”
Authorizes special license plate which displays “Support Georgia Troops.”
Honorary hunting and fishing license for one year after discharge (90 days or longer federal duty).
Provides National Guard distinctive auto plates at no cost.
Provides a six-month grace period for any service member whose driver’s license expires while they are on active duty.
Allows licensed pharmacists to practice for six months upon return if license expired.
Employment
Removes age cap for volunteer participating in the State Defense Force.
Retirees eligible for additional pension from State of Georgia.
Job fairs for unemployed service members.
On-line job database for Army NG members and their spouses at: www.virtualarmory.com.
Increased employer support and community outreach activities through the ESGR Program.
Education
Provides for automatic license extensions and exemption from continuing education requirements for all license or registrations required by the state, except attorneys (Guard and Reserve members serving on active duty for at least 90 consecutive days).
Provides $2000 scholarship to Guard or Reserve members for each period of 181 consecutive days in a combat zone (subject to annual appropriations by General Assembly).
Provides $2000 scholarship to children of Guard or Reserve members for each period of 181 days in a combat zone.
Children of Guard or Reserve members killed or disabled receive $2000 scholarships for four years (subject to annual appropriations by General Assembly).
Priority for tuition assistance for NG members returning from deployment.
All NG members and families receive in-state tuition, regardless of actual residence.
Special educational loans available for tuition assistance
Partner with college and universities to secure tuition reimbursement, etc., in the event of deployment. Increased the number of number of “full-ride” scholarships available to selected recipients.
Civic
Ability to terminate rental or telephone contracts without penalty after 30 day notice when called to active duty or transferred (90 days or longer federal duty and/or change of station of 35 miles or more).
Family
Allows a spouse of a service member, reassigned to a new military assignment, to resign a job to accompany the service member. This resignation would be considered “for good cause” for Unemployment Insurance purposes.
Unemployment benefit insurance for accompanying spouses on reassignments.
Authorizes special license plate honoring families with a member serving in the military.
Information about Family Program available at www.2.state.ga.us/gadod/news/Family/pages/family3.html
State Employees
Receives 18 days paid military leave when on active duty.
Receives additional 12 days paid military leave if Governor declares an emergency.
Allowed to buy back up to five years of creditable service with employees’ retirement system.
May choose to continue health benefits, life insurance, etc., during deployment.
Allowed to receive differential pay between military and public employer salary.