LD 1501
pg. 11
Page 10 of 16 An Act To Amend the Laws Relating to the Maine State Retirement System Page 12 of 16
Download Bill Text
LR 1943
Item 1

 
Sec. 14. 5 MRSA §18512 is enacted to read:

 
§18512.__Rehabilitation

 
As a means to a person being able to return to substantially
gainful activity, rehabilitation services may be provided to
any person who is the recipient of a disability retirement
benefit under this article and has filed the application under
section__18502 for this benefit after the effective date of
this section.__Rehabilitation services may be provided to any
person who is the recipient of a disability retirement benefit
when the executive director determines that rehabilitation is
feasible, that rehabilitation is consistent with the purposes
of this article, that the recipient is suitable for
rehabilitation services and that rehabilitation services are
likely to lead to substantially gainful activity.__When
appropriate, determination of suitability must include
consultation with a medical board pursuant to section 18502,
subsection 1, paragraph A to determine any medical indications
that the recipient should not engage in a rehabilitation
program or to identify a recipient too severely disabled to
benefit from rehabilitation services in accordance with the
purposes of this article.__Services must be provided by
private and public rehabilitation counselors, government
agencies and others approved by the executive director as
qualified to provide rehabilitation services.__The executive
director shall consider a rehabilitation counselor's rate of
successfully placing rehabilitated employees in jobs relative
to the placement rates of other counselors in the State as
fundamental in deciding whether to approve the counselor as
qualified.__Nothing in this section affects the ongoing
requirement that a person remain disabled in order to continue
to receive disability benefits.

 
For the purposes of this section, "person" means any person
who is the recipient of a disability retirement benefit.

 
1.__Rehabilitation plan.__If the executive director
determines that rehabilitation is feasible and recommended,
the retirement system shall designate a rehabilitation
services provider to evaluate the person and develop a
rehabilitation plan.

 
2.__Costs.__The executive director may contract with
rehabilitation services providers to develop and carry out
approved rehabilitation plans.

 
A.__Except as provided in paragraph B, the executive
director shall pay these rehabilitation services providers
from funds accumulated in the Retirement Allowance Fund,
established under section 17251.


Page 10 of 16 Top of Page Page 12 of 16