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An Act To Tie the Percentage of Health Insurance Benefits for Retired Teachers to That of Retired Legislators
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §285, sub-§7,  as amended by PL 2001, c. 439, Pt. XX, §5 and PL 2003, c. 20, Pt. OO, §2 and as affected by §4, is further amended to read:
 
7. Payment by State.   Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the State, through the commission, shall pay 100% of only the employee's share of the individual premium for the standard plan identified and offered by the commission and available to the employee as authorized by the commission, except for Legislators, for whom the State shall pay 50% of the health plan premium for dependent coverage. For any person appointed to a position after November 1, 1981 who is employed less than full time, the State shall pay a share of the employee's share reduced pro rata to reflect the reduced number of work hours. The State may not pay any portion of the health plan premium for a blind person eligible for the group health plan under subsection 1, paragraph H or for a licensed foster parent eligible for the group health plan under subsection 1, paragraph I.
 
For persons who were first employed before July 1, 1991, the State shall pay 100% of only the retiree's share of the premiums for the standard plan identified and offered by the commission and available to the retiree, as authorized by the commission for persons who were previously eligible for this health plan pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph A and who have subsequently become eligible pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph G.
 
For persons who were first employed by the State after July 1, 1991, the State shall pay a pro rata share portion of only the retiree's share of the premiums for the standard plan identified and offered by the commission and available to the retiree, as authorized by the commission for persons who were previously eligible for this health plan pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph A and who have subsequently become eligible pursuant to subsection 1, paragraph G based on the total number of years of participation in the group health plan prior to retirement as follows:

Years of Participation	State Portion	
10 or more years	100% group health plan premium	
9 but less than 10 years	90% group health plan premium	
8 but less than 9 years	80% group health plan premium	
7 but less than 8 years	70% group health plan premium	
6 but less than 7 years	60% group health plan premium	
5 but less than 6 years	50% group health plan premium	
Less than 5 years	No contribution	

The State shall pay a percentage of only a retired teacher’s share of the premiums for the teachers’ group accident and sickness and health insurance plan pursuant to Title 20-A, section 13451, subsection 3, but in no event may that percentage be less than the percentage of the share of only a retired Legislator with 10 or more years of participation in the group health plan prior to retirement paid by the State pursuant to this subsection.
 
Pursuant to Title 20-A, section 12722, subsection 5, this subsection applies to participants in the defined contribution plan offered by the Maine Community College System Board of Trustees under Title 20-A, section 12722.
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §13451, sub-§3,  as amended by PL 2005, c. 457, Pt. TT, §§1 and 2, is further amended to read:
 
3. Payment by State.   The State shall pay a percentage of the retired teacher members' share of this insurance according to the following schedule:
 
A.  Thirty percent until July 1, 2002;
 
B.  Thirty-five percent from July 1, 2002 to July 31, 2003;
 
C.  Forty percent from August 1, 2003 to December 31, 2005; and
 
D.  Forty-five percent after December 31, 2005.
 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the percentage of the retired teacher members’ share of this insurance paid by the State may not be less than the percentage of the share of a retired Legislator with 10 or more years of participation in the group health insurance plan prior to retirement paid by the State pursuant to Title 5, section 285, subsection 7.
 
SUMMARY
This bill provides that the percentage of a retired teacher’s share of the premiums for the teachers’ group accident and sickness and health insurance plan paid by the State may not be less than the percentage of the share of premiums of a retired Legislator with 10 or more years of participation in the standard group health insurance plan paid by the State.