An Act Authorizing Participation in the State Group Health Plan for Retiring Legislators (AFfER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 2098
Committee: Labor
Sponsors: BOWLES, STRIMLING, McFADDEN, MILLETT, RICHARDSON, TARDY, BARTLETT, EDMONDS
Amends: 5 MRSA §285

Legislative Document 
No. 2098 
H.P.1491 
House of Representatives, April 4, 2006 
An Act Authorizing Participation in the State Group Health Plan 
for Retiring Legislators 
(AFfER DEADLINE) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Labor suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative BOWLES of Sanford. 
Cosponsored by Senator STRIMLING of Cumberland and 
/J1~'1h.~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
,Representatives: McFADDEN of Dennysville, MILLETT of Waterford, Speaker 
RICHARDSON of Brunswick, TARDY of Newport, Senators: BARTLETT of Cumberland, 
President EDMONDS of Cumberland. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
, 
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §285, sub-§l, ,G, as amended by PL 2001, c. 439, Pt. XX, §2, 
is further amended to read: 
G. 
Subject to subsection I-A, employees in any of the categories denominated in 
paragraphs A to F-1 and paragraph F-3 who: 
(1) On April 26, 1968, have retired and who were covered under group health 
plans that by virtue of Public Law 1967, chapter 543 were terminated; 
(2) After April 26, 1968, retire and who on the date of their retirement are 
currently enrolled in'this group health plan as employees; 
(3) After December 2, 1986, and after reaching normal retirement age, cease to 
be members of the Legislature and are recipients of retirement allowances from 
the Maine State Retirement System based upon creditable service as teachers, as 
defmed by section 17001, subsection 42. This paragraph also applies to former 
members who were members on December 2,1986; 
(4) After December 2, 1986, and not yet normal retirement age, cease to be 
members of the Legislature and are recipients of retirement allowances from the 
Maine State Retirement System based upon creditable service as teachers, as 
defmed by section 17001, subsection 42. This paragraph also applies to former 
members who were members on December 2, 1986; ef 
(5) 
After January 1, 1999, terminate employment under which they were 
eligible for the group health plan but do not retire at that time and who satisfy the 
requirements of subsection I-A, paragraph D or paragraph E; or 
(6) After January 1, 2006, and after reaching normal retirement age, cease to be 
members of the Legislature; 
Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §285, sub-§l-A, ~ 
is enacted to read: 
F. 
If eligibility is based on subsection 1, paragraph G, subparagraph (6), have 
participated in the plan or elect to join or rejoin the plan. For purposes of determining 
the retiring Legislator'S pro rata share of the premiums under subsection 7, a retiring 
Legislator may retroactively contribute an amount equal to what the retiree's pro rata 
share of the premium would have been for any period of time not to exceed the 
number of years the retiree served in the Legislature. This paragraph may not be 
construed to create any entitlement or right to reimbursement of any health care 
expenditure incurred by the retiring Legislator during the period in which the retiree 
did not participate in the plan but for which the retiree may be making retroactive 
contributions. 
SUMMARY 
Under this bill, any Legislator who reaches normal retirement age and retires from 
the Legislature may be covered under the state group health plan regardless of whether or 
not the Legislator participated in a retirement system administered by the Board of 
Trustees of the Maine State Retirement System. The bill provides for retroactive pro rata 
payment of the amount of contributions the Legislator would have made if covered under 
the plan.