PART A

Sec. A-1. 24-A MRSA §4301, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1997, c. 604, Pt. A, §1, is further amended to read:

1. Carrier. "Carrier" means an insurance company licensed in accordance with this Title, a health maintenance organization licensed pursuant to chapter 56, a preferred provider organization licensed pursuant to chapter 32, a fraternal benefit society, as defined by section 4101, or a nonprofit hospital or medical service organization or health plan licensed pursuant to Title 24 or a multiple-employer welfare arrangement licensed pursuant to chapter 81. An employer exempted from the applicability of this chapter under the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 United States Code, Sections 1001 to 1461 (1988) is not considered a carrier.

PART B

Sec. B-1. 24-A MRSA §2834-B, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 445, §19 and affected by §32, is amended to read:

3. Requirement. If a policy makes coverage available with respect to dependents of certificate holders, the policy must provide for a dependent special enrollment period when a person becomes a dependent of an eligible individual through marriage, birth or adoption or placement for adoption or if a court order is issued changing custody of a child. During this period, the new dependent may be enrolled under the plan as a dependent of the eligible individual and, in the case of the birth or adoption of a child, the spouse of the eligible individual may be enrolled as a dependent if otherwise eligible for coverage. If the eligible individual is not already enrolled, the individual may enroll during this period.

Sec. B-2. 24-A MRSA §2834-B, sub-§4, ¶B, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 445, §19 and affected by §32, is amended to read:

B. The date of the marriage, birth or adoption or placement for adoption or the date of the court order.

Sec. B-3. 24-A MRSA §2834-B, sub-§5, ¶¶B and C, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 445, §19 and affected by §32, are amended to read:

B. In the case of a dependent's birth, as of the date of the birth; or