An Act to Increase the State's Share of the Cost of Health Insurance for Retired Teachers
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1773
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: COLLINGS, FAULKINGHAM
Amends: 20-A MRSA §13451

Legislative Document
No. 1773
H.P. 1136
House of Representatives, April 25, 2023
An Act to Increase the State's Share of the Cost of Health Insurance 
for Retired Teachers
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative COLLINGS of Portland.
Cosponsored by Representative: FAULKINGHAM of Winter Harbor.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, this legislation needs to take effect before the expiration of the 90-day 
period in order to provide an increase in the State's share of the cost of health insurance for 
retired teachers at the beginning of the next fiscal year; 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.  20-A MRSA §13451, sub-§3, ¶D, as amended by PL 2021, c. 483, Pt. NN, 
§1, is further amended to read:
D.  Forty-five percent from January 1, 2006 to June 30, 2021; and
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §13451, sub-§3, ¶E, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 483, Pt. NN, 
§1, is amended to read:
E.  Fifty-five percent after June 30 from July 1, 2021. to June 30, 2023; 
Sec. 3.  20-A MRSA §13451, sub-§3, ¶F is enacted to read:
F.  Sixty percent from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024; and
Sec. 4.  20-A MRSA §13451, sub-§3, ¶G is enacted to read:
G.  Sixty-five percent after June 30, 2024.
Sec. 5. Additional amount for fiscal year 2023-24. Notwithstanding the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 1536 and Title 20-A, section 13451, subsection 3, 
paragraphs F and G, after the transfers pursuant to Title 5, sections 1507, 1511 and 1519, 
the State Controller shall transfer at the close of fiscal year 2022-23 an amount equal to 
10% of the amount available from the unappropriated surplus of the General Fund after all 
required deductions of appropriations, budgeted financial commitments and adjustments 
considered necessary by the State Controller have been made, for the purpose of increasing 
the percentage of a retired teacher's share of the premium for group accident and sickness 
or health insurance that the State is required to pay.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the State to pay 60% of a retired teacher's share of the premium for 
group accident and sickness or health insurance from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 and 
65% after June 30, 2024. It also requires that 10% of the amount available from the 
unappropriated surplus of the General Fund at the close of fiscal year 2022-23, after certain 
transfers, be used to increase the percentage of a retired teacher's share of the premium for 
group accident and sickness or health insurance that the State is required to pay.