Whereas, Dwight Parsons performed valuable service as a state employee for 30 years; and

Whereas, when he retired from employment with the State, Dwight Parsons did not timely file for health insurance with the State Employee Health Insurance Program; and

Whereas, for the past 20 years Dwight Parsons has been paying for his own health insurance under a private insurer; and

Whereas, these payments have grown to become an immediate and ongoing economic burden for Dwight Parsons; 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. Health insurance benefits to Dwight Parsons. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 13, subchapter II, the Executive Director of Health Insurance shall provide health insurance benefits to Dwight Parsons under the State Employee Health Insurance Program. These benefits must be at least equivalent to the benefits Mr. Parsons would have received had he timely filed for health insurance with the State Employee Health Insurance Program.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill provides health insurance benefits under the State Employee Health Insurance Program to Dwight Parsons, a 30-year state employee who did not apply for the health benefits in time.