CHAPTER 636

H.P. 706 - L.D. 1021

An Act To Implement Task Force Recommendations Relating to

Parity and Portability of Benefits for Law Enforcement

Officers and Firefighters

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

PART A

Sec. A-1. 5 MRSA §285, sub-§1-B, as amended by P&SL 1993, c. 67, §1, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

1-B.__Ineligibility.__Except as provided in subsection 11-A, members of the Maine Municipal Association, members of the Maine Education Association and employees of counties and municipalities and instrumentalities thereof, including quasi- municipal corporations, are not eligible to participate in the group health plan under this section.

Sec. A-2. 5 MRSA §285, sub-§11-A is enacted to read:

11-A.__Coverage for retired law enforcement officers and firefighters.__A retired county or municipal law enforcement officer or retired municipal firefighter, as defined in section 286-M, subsection 2, who participates in an employer-sponsored retirement program and, prior to July 1, 2007, was enrolled in a self-insured health benefits plan offered by the employing county or municipality may, if the requirements of this subsection are met, enroll in a group health plan administered pursuant to this section that provides coverage for the retired county or municipal law enforcement officer or retired municipal firefighter effective no earlier than July 1, 2007.