An Act To Correct Inequities for Certain Maine Community College System Employees in the Maine Public Employees Retirement System
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1219
Committee Amendment CA_A_S183 (Senate)
Amends: 5 MRSA §18058, 20-A MRSA §12722

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A. " to S.P. 452, L.D. 1219, Bill, "An Act To 
Correct Inequities for Certain Maine Community College System Employees in the 
Maine Public Employees Retirement System" 
Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the enacting clause the 
following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, it is necessary that this legislation be enacted as soon as possible in order 
to avoid undue financial hardship for the employees of the Maine Community College 
System who were denied group life insurance through the Maine Public Employees 
Retirement System; 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,' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §18058, sub-§l, as amended by PL 1993, c. 386, §3, is further 
amended to read: 
1. Employees automatically insured. AI-l Except as provided in Title 20-A, section 
12722, subsection 8, paragraph D, all employees eligible for basic insurance under this 
subchapter are automatically insured for the amounts of basic coverage applicable under 
this subchapter, beginning on the first day of the month following one month of 
employment after the employee becomes eligible. 
Each employee shall complete an 
application for insurance coverage within 31 days of becoming eligible. 
A. The employee shall indicate the types of coverage elected. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITIEE AMENDMENT "A .. to S.P. 452, L.D. 1219 
B. If an application is completed in a timely manner, any coverage in addition to 
basic becomes effective on the first day of the month following one month of 
employment after the employee becomes eligible. 
C. If an application is not completed within 31 days of the employee's first becoming 
eligible, the employee may subsequently apply for supplemental and dependent 
insurance but must produce evidence of insurability at the employee's own expense 
and in accordance with the requirements of the insurance underwriter. 
Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §18058, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2007, c. 17, § 1 and affected 
by §3, is further amended to read: 
2. Employees not wanting to be insured. AHy Except as provided in Title 20-A, 
section 12722, subsection 8, paragraph D, any employee not wanting to be insured under 
this subchapter, at the time the employee first becomes eligible, shall, on the application 
form, give written notice to the employee's employing officer and to the retirement 
system that the employee does not want to be insured. 
A. If after being insured, the employee wishes to cancel or reduce coverage, written 
notice must be given by the employee to the employee's employing officer and to the 
retirement system. 
B. The employee's insurance coverage must cease or be reduced at the end of the 
month in which the notice is received by the employing office. 
C. 
Any employee who does not want to be insured or who cancels insurance 
coverage may subsequently apply for insurance, but must produce evidence of 
insurability at the employee's own expense and in accordance with the requirements 
of the insurance underwriter. 
D. Any employee who, during a period of unpaid military leave of absence, does not 
continue coverage while on unpaid military leave must be reinstated to the levels of 
coverage in effect immediately prior to the unpaid military leave. A request for 
reinstatement by the employee must be made within 31 days of the employee's return 
to work following unpaid military leave. An employee who wants to be reinstated 
and who does not apply for reinstatement within 31 days of the employee's return to 
work from unpaid military leave must produce evidence of insurability at the 
employee's own expense and in accordance with the requirements of the insurance 
underwriter. 
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §12722, sub-§8, 'TID is enacted to read: 
D. 
A person who participated in the defined contribution plan described in 
subsection 1 and subsequently resumed participation or commenced participation in 
the defined benefit plan administered by the Maine Public Employees Retirement 
System pursuant to paragraph A or B is eligible for coverage under the group life 
insurance program as of the date of resumption or commencement of participation in 
the defined benefit plan. 
A person who elects to participate in the group life 
insurance program as of the date of resumption or commencement of participation in 
the defined benefit plan does not need to provide evidence of insurability in order to 
receive coverage under the group life insurance program provided to employees of 
the Maine Community College System. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMIITEE AMENDMENT" A" to S.P. 452, L.D. 1219 
Sec. 4. Application. A confidential employee of the Maine Community College 
System who joins or rejoins the defined benefit plan administered by the Maine Public 
Employees Retirement System under the provisions of Public Law 2003, chapter 261 on 
or before January 1,2010 is eligible for coverage under the group life insurance program 
as of the date of commencement or resumption of participation in the defined benefit 
plan. A person who elects to participate in the group life insurance program as of the date 
of commencement or resumption of participation in the defined benefit plan pursuant to 
this section does not need to provide evidence of insurability in order to receive coverage 
under the group life insurance program. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
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legislation takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment corrects an oversight in Public Law 2001, chapter 545 and Public 
Law 2003, chapter 261 whereby the intent was for Maine Community College System 
employees to be able to return to membership in the Maine Public Employees Retirement 
System, including participation in the group life insurance· program. The amendment also 
establishes a time frame during which certain confidential employees of the Maine 
Community College System may establish group life insurance coverage with the Maine 
Public Employees Retirement System. 
FISCAL :\OTE HEQljlRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/1 3/09 frac... 
LD 1219 
LR 1483(02) 
An Act To Correct Inequities for Certain Maine Community College System Employees in the Maine 
Public Employees Retirement System 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,A" 
Committee: Labor 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Current biennium cost increase - Maine Community College System 
This legislation permits certain employees of the Maine Community College System who join or rejoin the defined 
benefit plan administered by. the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS) under the provisions of 
Public Law 2003, chapter 261, on or before January 1, 2010, to obtain coverage in the group life insurance plan 
administered by the MainePERS as of the date of commencement or resumption of participation in the defined benefit 
plan without the need to provide evidence of insurability. Allowing for an open enrollment into a life insurance plan 
may bring the risk of adverse selection which could increase program costs. However, because this legislation 
provides for a very limited number of individuals to participate, it is not anticipated to have a significant impact. 
Information from MainePERS indicates that approximately 30 Maine Community College System employees would 
be eligible. 
LRI483(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of I 
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