O.C.G.A. § 20-2-922 (2019)

(a) On a date as soon as practicable, as determined by the board, which is defined as the “employer commencement date,” the commissioner shall notify the State School Superintendent and local school superintendents that the employer payments shall commence on such date. The State School Superintendent shall notify the employees that employee payments will commence on a date following the employer commencement date, which will be determined by the board. The date as established by the board with reference to the employee payments is defined as the “employee commencement date.”

(b) Any employee who is otherwise eligible in accordance with rules and regulations of the board shall have an option to elect coverage in this program, and, in the event an employee rejects coverage, such employee shall be authorized to obtain coverage at a later date upon compliance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the board relative thereto.