CHAPTER 309

H.P. 381 - L.D. 492

An Act To Encourage Agricultural Cooperative Associations

To Provide Group Health Plans

Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas, group health plans sponsored by agricultural associations located outside of this State provide health insurance to enrollees living in this State; and

Whereas, changes to the law are necessary to prevent enrollees living in this State from losing their health insurance coverage; and

Whereas, this legislation clarifies the grievance procedure that must be available to enrollees in this State who have coverage through out-of-state agricultural cooperative association group health plans; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 24-A MRSA §4303, sub-§4, ¶D is enacted to read:

D.__Notwithstanding this subsection, a group health plan sponsored by an agricultural cooperative association located