An Act To Provide Group Health Insurance Coverage to Maine Citizens Eligible for Assistance Under the Federal Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1576
Committee: Labor
Sponsors: DAGGETT, COLWELL, CATHCART, DAVIS, GAGNON, STANLEY, TREAT, WOODCOCK, BRUNO
Amends: 5 MRSA §285

Legislative Document 
No. 1576 
S.P.536 
In Senate, April 14, 2003 
An Act To Provide Group Health Insurance Coverage to Maine 
Citizens Eligible for Assistance Under the Federal Trade 
Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Labor suggested and ordered printed. 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by President DAGGETT of Kennebec. (GOVERNOR'S BILL) 
Cosponsored by Speaker COLWELL of Gardiner and 
Senators: CATHCART of Penobscot, DAVIS of Piscataquis, GAGNON of Kennebec, 
STANLEY of Penobscot, TREAT of Kennebec, WOODCOCK of Franklin, Representative: 
BRUNO of Raymond. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted 
as emergencies; and 
Whereas,workers displaced by foreign trade competition face 
hardship 
in 
obtaining 
affordable, 
comprehensive 
health 
care 
coverage for themselves and their dependents; and 
Whereas, the federal government has 
health 
coverage 
tax 
credits 
to assist 
purchase of health care coverage; and 
created a program of 
such 
workers 
in 
the 
Whereas, this legislation is necessary to facilitate the 
implementation of the federal program; 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. 5 MRSA §285, sub-§11 is enacted to read: 
11. 
Coverage 
for 
persons eligible under 
federal 
Trade 
Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002. 
The Department of 
Administrative 
and 
Financial 
Services, 
Division 
of 
Employee 
Health and Benefits may provide, through a qualified insurance 
company, a group health plan product for individuals certified to 
receive federal assistance in paying for health coverage under 
the terms of the health coverage tax credit program within the 
federal Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002, Public 
Law 107-210. 
Certification of eligibility will be made by the 
Department 
of 
Labor. 
Individuals 
may 
enroll 
eligible 
dependents. 
Individuals eligible for enrollment in this group 
health plan remain eligible for enrollment and coverage through 
the 
duration 
of 
their 
federal 
trade 
adjustment 
assistance 
eligibility 
and 
for 
one 
month 
after 
their 
federal 
trade 
adjustment assistance eligibility status ends. 
Any person who is receiving a benefit payment from the federal 
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and who has attained the age 
of 55, but who is not eligible for Medicare benefits, may also 
enroll in the group health plan. 
These individuals may enroll 
eligible dependents. 
Premium 
rates 
must 
be 
established to 
reflect the 
costs 
of 
providing insurance coverage. 
Premium payments must be provided 
by 
the 
United 
States 
Department 
of 
Labor 
and 
individual 
Page l-LR2075(1) 
• 
enrollees. 
The division may accept any funds allocated under the 
federal Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002 and other 
sources in order to pay premiums and to administer the program. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this Act takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill makes group health insurance coverage available ~o 
certain displaced workers, retirees and their dependents who are 
eligible to receive federal health insurance subsidy payments 
under the federal Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002.