An Act to Clarify Eligibility for State Employee Health Insurance Program Benefits
Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, current law does not serve to protect state employees from the loss of retiree health insurance benefits if the employee is laid off within one year of the employee's retirement eligibility date; and
Whereas, it is necessary to immediately rectify this situation because there are employees in danger of losing their benefits; 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. Eligibility for state group health plan coverage if terminated before retirement. State employees eligible to participate in the state group health plan under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 285, subsection 1, paragraph A who are not eligible for continued health plan coverage after retirement under Title 5, section 285, subsection 1, paragraph G and subsection 1-A, paragraph B because they were laid off prior to retirement are eligible for continued health plan coverage under the following conditions:
1. The effective date of the layoff was between July 1, 1995 and December 31, 1996;
2. The effective date of the layoff was within 12 months of the employee's normal retirement age;
3. The employee retires on the date normal retirement age is reached; and
4. The employee pays the premium costs for coverage under this section between the effective date of the layoff and the attainment of normal retirement age.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.
Effective March 28, 1997.
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