An Act To Amend the Laws Relating to the Maine Public Employees Retirement System
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1524
Committee: Appropriations and Financial Affairs
Sponsors: ROSEN, FLOOD
Amends: 5 MRSA §17057, 5 MRSA §17652, 5 MRSA §17705-A, 5 MRSA §17706-A, 5 MRSA §17952, 5 MRSA §18058, 5 MRSA §18251, 5 MRSA §18252, 5 MRSA §18252-A, 5 MRSA §18253, 5 MRSA §18306-A, 5 MRSA §18307-A, 5 MRSA §18552, 5 MRSA §18658

Legislative Document 
No. 1524 
S.P. 485 
In Senate, April 28, 2011 
An Act To Amend the Laws Relating to the Maine Public Employees 
Retirement System 
Submitted by the Maine Public Employees Retirement System pursuant to Joint Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
JOSEPH G. CARLETON, JR. 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator ROSEN of Hancock. 
Cosponsored by Representative FLOOD of Winthrop. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §17057, sub-§4, as corrected by RR 2009, c. 2, §3, is amended 
to read: 
4.  Investment activity information.  Disclosure of private market investment 
activity of the retirement system, pursuant to the innovation finance program, is governed 
by this subsection. 
A.  Documentary material, data or information in the possession of the retirement 
system that consists of trade secrets or commercial or financial information that 
relates to the investments actual or potential private market investments of the 
retirement system pursuant to the innovation finance program under Title 10, section 
1026-T is confidential and not open to public inspection and does not constitute 
"public records" as defined in Title 1, section 402, subsection 3 if, in the sole 
discretion of the retirement system, the disclosure of the material, data or information 
may: 
(1)  Impair the retirement system's ability to obtain such material, data or 
information in the future; or 
(2)  Cause substantial harm to the competitive position of the retirement system 
or of the person or entity from whom the information was obtained.; or 
(3)  Result in the potential violation of state and federal laws and regulations 
relating to insider trading. 
B.  The following information concerning any venture capital fund in which the 
retirement system is invested pursuant to the innovation finance program under Title 
10, section 1026-T is not exempt from disclosure: 
(1)  The retirement system's total commitment to the venture capital fund; 
(2)  The date of the commitment to the venture capital fund; 
(3)  Contributions and distributions made to or received from an innovation 
finance program the fund; 
(4)  The market value of the investment; 
(5)  The name of the venture capital fund; and 
(6)  The interim internal rate of return of the venture capital fund. 
C.  For purposes of this subsection, "private market investment" means: 
(1)  Direct investments in land, timber, mineral rights, private company equity or 
private company debt; 
(2)  Indirect investments in limited partnerships, limited liability corporations or 
other entities that may invest in the investments described in subparagraph (1); 
(3)  Investments in unregistered securities or funds offered under exemptions 
provided in Section 144(A) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or Section 
3(c)1 or 3(c)7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; or 
(4)  Investments or potential investments of the retirement system pursuant to the 
state innovation finance program authorized under Title 10, section 1026-T. 
Sec. 2.  5 MRSA §17057, sub-§5 is enacted to read: 
5.  Personnel records of Maine Public Employees Retirement System staff.  The 
following records are confidential and not open to public inspection and are not public 
records as defined in Title 1, section 402, subsection 3: 
A.  Papers relating to applications, examinations or evaluations of applicants.  Except 
as provided in this subsection, applications, resumes, letters and notes of reference, 
working papers, research materials, records, examinations and any other documents 
or records and the information they contain, solicited or prepared either by the 
applicant or the retirement system for use in the examination or evaluation of 
applicants for positions as retirement system employees, are confidential. 
(1)  Notwithstanding any confidentiality provision to the contrary, applications, 
resumes and letters and notes of reference, other than those letters and notes of 
reference expressly submitted in confidence, pertaining to the applicant hired are 
public records after the applicant is hired, except that personal contact 
information is not a public record as provided in Title 1, section 402, subsection 
3, paragraph O. 
(2)  Telephone numbers are not public records if they are designated as "unlisted" 
or "unpublished" in an application, resume or letter or note of reference. 
(3)  This paragraph does not preclude a union representative from access to 
personnel records, consistent with paragraph D, that may be necessary for the 
bargaining agent to carry out collective bargaining responsibilities.  Any records 
available to union representatives that are otherwise covered by this paragraph 
remain confidential and are not open to public inspection; 
B.  Personal information.  Records containing the following information are 
confidential, except that the records may be examined by the employee to whom they 
relate when the examination is permitted or required by law: 
(1)  Medical information of any kind, including information pertaining to 
diagnosis or treatment of mental or emotional disorders; 
(2)  Performance evaluations and personal references submitted in confidence; 
(3)  Information pertaining to the creditworthiness of a named employee; 
(4)  Information pertaining to the personal history, general character or conduct 
of members of the employee's immediate family; 
(5)  Personal information pertaining to the employee's race, color, religion, sex, 
national origin, ancestry, age, physical disability, mental disability, marital status 
and sexual orientation; social security number; personal contact information as 
provided in Title 1, section 402, subsection 3, paragraph O; and personal 
employment choices pertaining to elected payroll deductions, deferred 
compensation, savings plans, pension plans, health insurance and life insurance; 
and 
(6)  Complaints, charges or accusations of misconduct, replies to those 
complaints, charges or accusations and any other information or materials that 
may result in disciplinary action. If disciplinary action is taken, the final written 
decision relating to that action is no longer confidential after the decision is 
completed if it imposes or upholds discipline. If an arbitrator completely 
overturns or removes disciplinary action from an employee personnel file, the 
final written decision is public except that the employee's name must be deleted 
from the final written decision and kept confidential. If the employee whose 
name was deleted from the final written decision discloses that the employee is 
the person who is the subject of the final written decision, the entire final written 
decision, with regard to that employee, is public. 
For purposes of this subparagraph, "final written decision" means: 
(a)  The final written administrative decision that is not appealed pursuant to 
a grievance arbitration procedure; or 
(b)  If the final written administrative decision is appealed to arbitration, the 
final written decision of a neutral arbitrator. 
A final written administrative decision that is appealed to arbitration is no longer 
confidential 120 days after a written request for the decision is made to the 
employer if the final written decision of the neutral arbitrator is not issued and 
released before the expiration of the 120 days. 
This paragraph does not preclude a union representative from having access to 
personnel records that are necessary for the bargaining agent to carry out collective 
bargaining responsibilities. Any records available to union representatives that are 
otherwise covered by this paragraph remain confidential and are not open for public 
inspection; 
C.  Other information to which access by the general public is prohibited by law; and 
D.  Certain information for grievance and other proceedings.  The retirement system 
may release specific information designated confidential by this paragraph to be used 
in negotiations, mediation, fact finding, arbitration, grievance proceedings and other 
proceedings in which the retirement system is a party. For the purpose of this 
paragraph, "other proceedings" means unemployment compensation proceedings, 
workers' compensation proceedings, human rights proceedings and labor relations 
proceedings. 
6.  Treatment of confidential information.  Confidential information provided 
under subsection 5 is governed by the following. 
A.  Only the information that is necessary and directly related to the proceeding may 
be released. 
B.  The proceeding for which the confidential information is provided must be private 
and not open to the public if possible.  If the proceeding is open to the public, the 
confidential information may not be disclosed except exclusively in the presence of 
the fact finder, the parties and counsel of record and the employee who is the subject 
of the proceeding and provisions are made to ensure that there is no public access to 
the confidential information. 
C.  The retirement system may use this confidential information in proceedings and 
provide copies to an employee organization if that organization is a party to the 
proceedings and the information is directly related to those proceedings as defined by 
the applicable collective bargaining agreement. Confidential personnel records in the 
possession of the retirement system are not open to public inspection and are not 
public records. 
Sec. 3.  5 MRSA §17652, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2009, c. 474, §15, is further 
amended to read: 
1.  Elected and appointed officials.  Membership in the State Employee and Teacher 
Retirement Program is optional for elected officials or officials appointed for a fixed 
term.  A person must make an election at the time of initial hire whether to be a member 
of the program.  Once an election is made under this subsection, the election is 
irrevocable with respect to all subsequent employment with the same employer when 
membership in the program is not mandatory. 
Sec. 4.  5 MRSA §17652, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2009, c. 474, §15, is further 
amended to read: 
3.  Certain employees of the Maine Community College System.  Notwithstanding 
section 17651, membership in the State Employee and Teacher Retirement Program is 
optional for employees of the Maine Community College System who are eligible to 
participate in a retirement plan pursuant to Title 20-A, section 12722.  A person must 
make an election at the time of initial hire whether to be a member of the program.  Once 
an election is made under this subsection, the election is irrevocable with respect to all 
subsequent employment with the same employer when membership in the program is not 
mandatory. 
Sec. 5.  5 MRSA §17652, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2009, c. 474, §15, is further 
amended to read: 
4.  Limitation on election to join State Employee and Teacher Retirement 
Program.  Notwithstanding any other law, confidential employees of the Maine 
Community College System who are not represented in a collective bargaining unit may 
join the State Employee and Teacher Retirement Program under this section only upon 
the written authorization of the Board of Trustees of the Maine Community College 
System.  The board of trustees shall authorize the person to join the State Employee and 
Teacher Retirement Program when the Maine Community College System Office or 
other Maine Community College System entity that employs the individual seeking to 
join has identified and designated the funds necessary to pay for the cost of that person's 
joining the program.  A person must make an election at the time of initial hire whether to 
be a member of the program.  Once an election is made under this subsection, the election 
is irrevocable with respect to all subsequent employment with the same employer when 
membership in the program is not mandatory. 
Sec. 6.  5 MRSA §17652, sub-§6, as amended by PL 2009, c. 474, §15, is further 
amended to read: 
6.  Substitute teachers.  Notwithstanding section 17651, membership in the State 
Employee and Teacher Retirement Program is optional for substitute teachers.   A person 
must make an election at the time of initial hire whether to be a member of the program.  
Once an election is made under this subsection, the election is irrevocable with respect to 
all subsequent employment with the same employer when membership in the program is 
not mandatory. 
Sec. 7.  5 MRSA §17705-A, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 491, §112, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Conditions for refund.  If the service of any member has terminated, except by 
death or by retirement under this Part, or if an optional member withdraws from a 
retirement program of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System, the member must 
be paid the amount of the member's accumulated contributions under the following 
conditions: 
A.  The member must have properly applied for a refund of accumulated 
contributions; 
B.  Payment must be made after termination of service and not less than 22 days nor 
more than 60 days after receipt of the application and receipt of the last payroll upon 
which the name of the member appears; 
C.  An application for refund is void if the member filing the application returns to 
membership in any retirement program administered by the retirement system before 
issuance of the payment; 
D.  Except when inclusion of a portion of employer contributions is required by 
paragraph E, only accumulated contributions made by the member or picked up by 
the employer may be refunded to that member under this subsection; and 
E.  The amount of the refund of accumulated contributions related to a member's 
compensation for service rendered as a part-time, seasonal or temporary employee 
after December 31, 1991 must be at least equal to 7.5% of the member's 
compensation for that service plus interest as provided by section 17156. 
Sec. 8.  5 MRSA §17706-A, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2009, c. 474, §20, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Conditions for refund.  The retirement system may make an automatic refund of 
contributions to a member who has not properly applied for a refund as provided in 
section 17705-A and who has terminated service, except by death or by retirement under 
this Part, or who as an optional member has withdrawn from a retirement program of the 
Maine Public Employees Retirement System, and who has not met the minimum 
creditable service requirement for eligibility to receive a service retirement benefit at the 
applicable age under the following conditions: 
A.  The member account has been inactive for 3 or more years; 
B.  Except when inclusion of a portion of employer contributions is required by this 
subsection, only accumulated contributions made by the member or picked up by the 
employer may be refunded to that member under this subsection; 
C.  The amount of the refund of accumulated contributions related to a member’s 
compensation for service rendered as a part-time, seasonal or temporary employee 
after December 31, 1991 must be at least equal to 7.5% of the member’s 
compensation for that service plus interest as provided by section 17156; and 
D.  A member who receives an automatic refund under this subsection may, within 
days of the issuance of the refund, return the full refunded amount to the 
retirement system.  Upon receipt, the retirement system shall restore the accumulated 
contributions to the member’s credit. 
Pursuant to the Code, Section 401(a)(31)(B), the amount of an automatic refund under 
this section for a member who has not reached normal retirement age may not exceed 
$1,000. 
Sec. 9.  5 MRSA §17952, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 801, §§5 and 7, is 
amended to read: 
A qualifying member may designate a beneficiary to receive benefits upon the 
qualifying member's death by filing a written designation of beneficiary with the 
executive director.  The last designation of any beneficiary revokes all previous 
designations.  In order to be in effect, the written designation must be received by the 
retirement system office or be postmarked before the qualifying member's death. 
Sec. 10.  5 MRSA §18058, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2009, c. 474, §24, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Employees insured.  All employees Each employee shall complete an application 
for insurance coverage within 31 days of becoming eligible.  Each employee who 
completes an application and is found eligible for basic insurance under this subchapter 
are automatically is insured for the amounts amount 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. 
B.  If an application is completed in a timely manner, any the employee elects 
coverage within 31 days of the employee's first becoming eligible and elects coverage 
in addition to basic, that additional coverage 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 the employee does not elect coverage within 31 
days of the employee's first becoming eligible, the employee may subsequently apply 
for supplemental and dependent insurance coverage but must produce evidence of 
insurability at the employee's own expense and in accordance with the requirements 
of the insurance underwriter. 
Sec. 11.  5 MRSA §18058, sub-§2, ¶D, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 17, §1 and 
affected by §3, is repealed. 
Sec. 12.  5 MRSA §18058, sub-§5 is enacted to read: 
5.  Employee on leave of absence.  Insurance coverage for an employee on an 
authorized leave of absence is governed as follows. 
A.  An employee who, during a period of an unpaid leave of absence, continues to 
pay premiums due for the period of the leave continues to be covered.  Coverage for 
an employee who, during the period of the leave, does not pay the premiums due 
ceases at the end of the period covered by the last premium paid. 
B.  Notwithstanding paragraph A, an 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. 13.  5 MRSA §18251, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2009, c. 474, §28, is 
further amended to read: 
3.  Optional membership.  Membership in the Participating Local District 
Retirement Program is optional for the following employees of a participating local 
district: 
A.  A person in the service of a participating local district on the date of 
establishment for that participating local district.  Once such a person joins the 
Participating Local District Retirement Program, membership ceases to be optional 
for that person under this paragraph; 
B.  An elected official or an official appointed for a fixed term.  Special provisions 
apply to certain officials as follows: 
(1) Membership of trustees of a water district is governed by Title 35-A, section 
6410, subsection 8; 
(2) Membership of trustees of a sanitary district is governed by Title 38, section 
1104; and 
(3) Membership of  trustees of a sewer district is governed by Title 38, section 
1252; 
C.  A chief administrative officer of a participating local district, whether appointed 
for a fixed term or appointed with tenure; and 
D.  A person whose membership is optional under section 18252, 18252-A or 18801. 
A person must make an election at the time of initial hire, or on the date of first eligibility 
to participate, whichever occurs earlier, whether to be a member of the program.  Once an 
election is made under this subsection, the election is irrevocable with respect to all 
subsequent employment with the same employer when membership in the program is not 
mandatory. 
Sec. 14.  5 MRSA §18252, first ¶, as amended by PL 2009, c. 474, §31, is further 
amended to read: 
A person who is or would be covered by the United States Social Security Act as a 
result of employment by a participating local district with Social Security coverage may 
elect to be a member in the Participating Local District Retirement Program.  A person 
must make an election at the time of initial hire or on the date of first eligibility to 
participate, whichever occurs earlier, whether to be a member of the program.  Once an 
election is made under this section, the election is irrevocable with respect to all 
subsequent employment with the same employer when membership in the program is not 
mandatory. 
Sec. 15.  5 MRSA §18252-A, sub-§1, ¶A, as amended by PL 2009, c. 474, §32, 
is further amended to read: 
A.  A person hired by a participating local district, or rehired following a break in 
service, after the date on which the employer provides a plan under section 18252-B 
must elect at the time of initial hiring or rehiring whether to be a member under the 
Participating Local District Retirement Program or to be covered under a plan 
provided by the employer under section 18252-B.  Once an election is made under 
this paragraph, the election is irrevocable with respect to all subsequent employment 
with the same employer when membership in the program is not mandatory. 
Sec. 16.  5 MRSA §18253, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 801, §§5 and 7, is 
amended to read: 
2.  Purchase of previously rendered creditable service.  A Notwithstanding any 
law to the contrary, a member of a participating local district who has served in any 
participating local district or in any local district, and who did not make an election to 
decline membership while employed with that district, may purchase, by mutual 
agreement between the participating local district and the person concerned, service credit 
for the service previously rendered, upon proper certification that:  
A.    The service had been rendered; and 
B.    The current employer will assume the liability incurred by the granting of the 
service credit for the previous time served. 
Sec. 17.  5 MRSA §18253, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2007, c. 491, §202, is 
further amended to read: 
3.  Former employee.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, a participating 
local district may grant service credit for creditable service to any former employee who 
is currently a member of the Participating Local District Retirement Program, as long as 
the former employee did not make an election to decline membership while employed 
with that district. The entire actuarial cost of granting the service credit must be fully 
funded by the district granting the service credit. 
Sec. 18.  5 MRSA §18306-A, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 491, §218 and 
c. 695, Pt. A, §9, is further amended to read: 
1.  Conditions for refund.  If the service of any member has terminated, except by 
death or by retirement under this Part, or if an optional member withdraws from the 
Participating Local District Retirement Program, or if an employee of a district that 
withdraws from participation under section 18203 wishes to have accumulated 
contributions refunded, the member or employee must be paid the amount of the 
member's accumulated contributions under the following conditions: 
A.  The member must have properly applied for a refund of accumulated 
contributions; 
B.  Payment must be made after termination of service and not less than 22 days nor 
more than 60 days after receipt of the application and receipt of the last payroll upon 
which the name of the member appears; 
C.  An application for refund is void if the member filing the application returns to 
membership in any retirement program administered by the retirement system before 
issuance of the payment; 
D.  Except when inclusion of a portion of employer contributions is required by 
paragraph E, only accumulated contributions made by the member or picked up by 
the employer may be refunded to that member under this section; and 
E.  The amount of the refund of accumulated contributions related to a member's 
compensation for service rendered as a part-time, seasonal or temporary employee 
after December 31, 1991 must be at least equal to 7.5% of the member's 
compensation for that service plus interest as provided by section 17156. 
Sec. 19.  5 MRSA §18307-A, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2009, c. 474, §40, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Conditions for refund.  The retirement system may make an automatic refund of 
contributions to a member who has not properly applied for a refund as provided in 
section 18306-A and who has terminated service, except by death or by retirement under 
this Part, or who as an optional member has withdrawn from a retirement program of the 
Maine Public Employees Retirement System, and who has not met the minimum 
creditable service requirement for eligibility to receive a service retirement benefit at the 
applicable age under the following conditions: 
A.  The member account has been inactive for 3 or more years; 
B.  Except when inclusion of a portion of employer contributions is required by this 
subsection, only accumulated contributions made by the member or picked up by the 
employer may be refunded to that member under this subsection; 
C.  The amount of the refund of accumulated contributions related to a member’s 
compensation for service rendered as a part-time, seasonal or temporary employee 
after December 31, 1991 must be at least equal to 7.5% of the member’s 
compensation for that service plus interest as provided by section 17156; and 
D.  A member who receives an automatic refund under this subsection may, within 
days of the issuance of the refund, return the full refunded amount to the 
retirement system.  Upon receipt, the retirement system shall restore the accumulated 
contributions to the member’s credit. 
Pursuant to the Code, Section 401(a)(31)(B), the amount of an automatic refund under 
this subsection for a member who has not reached normal retirement age may not exceed 
$1,000. 
Sec. 20.  5 MRSA §18552, first ¶, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 801, §§5 and 7, is 
amended to read: 
A qualifying member may designate a beneficiary to receive benefits upon the 
qualifying member's death by filing a written designation of beneficiary with the 
executive director. The last designation of any beneficiary revokes all previous 
designations.  In order to be in effect, the written designation must be received by the 
retirement system office or be postmarked before the qualifying member's death. 
Sec. 21.  5 MRSA §18658, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1993, c. 386, §5, is further 
amended to read: 
1.  Employees insured. All employees Each employee shall complete an application 
for insurance coverage within 31 days of becoming eligible.  Each employee who 
completes an application and is found eligible for basic insurance under this subchapter 
are automatically is insured for the amounts amount 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. 
B.  If an application is completed in a timely manner the employee elects coverage 
within 31 days of the employee's first becoming eligible, any and elects coverage in 
addition to basic, that additional coverage 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 the employee does not elect coverage within 31 
days of the employee's first becoming eligible, the employee may subsequently apply 
for supplemental and dependent insurance coverage but must produce evidence of 
insurability at the employee's own expense and in accordance with the requirements 
of the insurance underwriter. 
Sec. 22.  5 MRSA §18658, sub-§2, ¶D, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 17, §2 and 
affected by §3, is repealed. 
Sec. 23.  5 MRSA §18658, sub-§5 is enacted to read: 
5.  Employee on leave of absence.  Insurance coverage for an employee on an 
authorized leave of absence is governed as follows. 
A.  An employee who, during a period of an unpaid leave of absence, continues to 
pay premiums due for the period of the leave continues to be covered.  Coverage for 
an employee who, during the period of the leave, does not pay the premiums due 
ceases at the end of the period covered by the last premium paid. 
B.  Notwithstanding paragraph A, an 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. 
SUMMARY 
This bill: 
1.  Further expands the investment-related activity of the Maine Public Employees 
Retirement System that is considered confidential; 
2.  Makes personnel records of retirement system staff confidential in a manner 
consistent with how similar records of other groups of public employees are treated; 
3.  Provides further clarification as to the conditions of membership for optional 
members, consistent with federal law; 
4.  Corrects the automatic refund provision of accumulated contributions to be 
consistent with federal law; 
5.  Makes the effectiveness of a beneficiary designation consistent as between the 
defined benefit and group life insurance programs; 
6.  Clarifies how employees make coverage elections under the group life insurance 
program; and 
7.  Clarifies how coverage under the group life insurance program is treated during an 
authorized leave of absence.