An Act To Tie the Percentage of Health Insurance Benefits for Retired Teachers to That of Retired Legislators
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0845
Committee: Labor
Sponsors: EDGECOMB, BOWMAN, BEAULIEU, MUSE, SA VIELLO
Amends: 20-A MRSA §13451

Legislative Document 
No. 845 
H.P.644 
House of Representatives, February 23, 2007 
An Act To Tie the Percentage of Health Insurance Benefits for 
Retired Teachers to That of Retired Legislators 
Reference to the Committee on Labor suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative EDGECOMB of Caribou. 
Cosponsored by Senator BOWMAN of York and 
If/~frJ.~ 
MllLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: BEAULIEU of Auburn, McFADDEN of Dennysville, MUSE of Fryeburg, 
SA VIELLO of Wilton. 
Printl:u 00 n:qcled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 5 MRS A §285, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2001, c. 439, Pt. XX, §5 and 
PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. 00, §2 and as affected by §4, is further amended to read: 
7. Payment by State. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the State, 
through the commission, shall pay 100% of only the employee's share of the individual 
premium for the standard plan identified and offered by the commission and available to 
the employee as authorized by the commission, except for Legislators, for whom the 
State shall pay 50% of the health plan premium for dependent coverage. For any person 
appointed to a position after November 1, 1981 who is employed less than full time, the 
State shall pay a share of the employee's share reduced pro rata to reflect the reduced 
number of work hours. The State may not pay any portion of the health plan premium for 
a blind person eligible for the group health plan under subsection 1, paragraph H or for a 
licensed foster parent eligible for the group health plan under subsection 1, paragraph I. 
For persons who were first employed before July 1, 1991, the State shall pay 100% of 
only the retiree's share of the premiums for the standard plan identified and offered by the 
commission and available to the retiree, as authorized by the commission for persons who 
were previously eligible for this health plan pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph A and 
who have subsequently become eligible pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph G. 
For persons who were first employed by the State after July 1, 1991, the State shall pay a 
pro rata share portion of only the retiree's share of the premiums for the standard plan 
identified and offered by the commission and available to the retiree, as authorized by the 
commission for persons who were previously eligible for this health plan pursuant to 
subsection 1, paragraph A and who have subsequently become eligible pursuant to 
subsection I, paragraph G based on the total number of years of participation in the group 
health plan prior to retirement as follows: 
Years of Participation 
or more years 
but less than 10 years 
but less than 9 years 
but less than 8 years 
but less than 7 years 
but less than 6 years 
Less than 5 years 
State Portion 
100% group health plan premium 
90% group health plan premium 
80% group health plan premium 
70% group health plan premium 
60% group health plan premium 
50% group health plan premium 
No contribution 
The State shall pay a percentage of only a retired teacher's share of the premiums for the 
teachers' group accident and sickness and health insurance plan pursuant to Title 20-A, 
section 13451, subsection 3, but in no event may that percentage be less than the 
percentage of the share of only a retired Legislator with 10 or more years of participation 
in the group health plan prior to retirement paid by the State pursuant to this subsection. 
Pursuant to Title 20-A, section 12722, subsection 5, this subsection applies to participants 
in the defined contribution plan offered by the Maine Community College System Board 
of Trustees under Title 20-A, section 12722. 
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §13451, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2005, c. 457, Pt. TT, 
§§ 1 and 2, is further amended to read: 
3. Payment by State. The State shall pay a percentage of the retired teacher 
members' share ofthis insurance according to the following schedule: 
A. 
Thirty percent until July 1,2002; 
B. 
Thirty-five percent from July 1,2002 to July 31,2003; 
C. 
Forty percent from August 1,2003 to December 31,2005; and 
II 
D. 
Forty-five percent after December 31,2005. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the percentage of the retired teacher 
members' share of this insurance paid by the State may not be less than the percentage of 
the share of a retired Legislator with 10 or more years of participation in the group health 
insurance plan prior to retirement paid by the State pursuant to Title 5, section 285, 
subsection 7. 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides that the percentage of a retired teacher's share of the premiums for 
the teachers' group accident and sickness and health insurance plan paid by the State may 
not be less than the percentage of the share of premiums of a retired Legislator with 10 or 
more years of participation in the standard group health insurance plan paid by the State.