Sec. 1. PL 1991, c. 887, §20, 3rd ¶ is repealed.

Sec. 2. Maine State Retirement System to review exercise of option under Public Law 1991, chapter 887, section 20. The Maine State Retirement System, with assistance from the appropriate departments, agencies, offices and individuals within the executive branch, the judicial department, the Legislature, school administrative units and units of local government participating in the Maine State Retirement System, shall review the results of the election process under Public Law 1991, chapter 887, section 20 by which members of the retirement system could elect to be covered under the retirement system disability plan as amended to meet the requirements of the federal Older Workers Benefit Protection Act and shall contact, by registered mail, return receipt requested, each eligible member who has failed to exercise the option. Each eligible member shall respond in writing by exercising the option provided in that Act or specifically requesting to continue to be covered by the disability plan without the amendments. The Maine State Retirement System shall report the results of this contact to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor by December 15, 1999.

Sec. 3. Effective date. Section 1 of this Act takes effect July 1, 2000.

SUMMARY

This bill requires the Maine State Retirement System to contact members of the system who were eligible but failed to respond to the request to exercise the option to be covered by the system's disability plan as amended to meet the requirement of the federal Older Workers Benefits Protection Act or to remain covered by the previous disability plan. The Maine State Retirement System must get a written response from each member who previously failed to exercise the option and report to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor on the results of its activities.