(2) The person presents proof of the return to or extension of service satisfactory to the board.

Sec. 4. 5 MRSA §17911 is enacted to read:

§17911.__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 17902 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 17902, 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.