Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

APPROVED                 CHAPTER
                                                                JUNE 21, 2021                 312
                                                               BY GOVERNOR              PUBLIC LAW
                                 STATE OF MAINE
                                          _____
                           IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
                       TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-ONE
                                          _____
                                 H.P. 967 - L.D. 1311
           An Act Regarding the State Employee Health Commission
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
    Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §285, sub-§1-A, ¶D, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 652, §2 and
affected by §4 and amended by PL 2007, c. 58, §3, is further amended to read:
    D. If terminating employment but not retiring at that time, have 25 years of creditable
    service under chapter 423, subchapter IV 4 and remain a member of the Maine Public
    Employees Retirement System, make a one-time election to continue coverage from
    the date of termination until retirement and pay the cost of the coverage plus the cost
    incurred by the Division Office of State Employee Health Insurance and Wellness in
    administering coverage under the plan. If a terminated employee who elects coverage
    under this paragraph fails to pay the cost of coverage and any administrative costs in
    the amount and manner determined by the division office, the coverage may be
    cancelled in accordance with the requirements of Title 24 and Title 24‑A. Regardless
    of election of coverage or cancellation of coverage under this paragraph, an employee
    terminating employment as provided in this paragraph may elect coverage upon
    retirement under paragraph E; or
    Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §285-A, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1991, c. 780, Pt. Y, §25, is
further amended to read:
    1. Establishment. The State Employee Health Commission is established to serve as
trustee of the group health plan in this subchapter and to advise provide counsel to the
Executive Director of Employee Health Insurance and Wellness and the Director of the
Bureau of Human Resources on health and dental insurance issues, the state living
resources program and the Director of the Bureau of Human Resources on other issues
concerning employee health and wellness and the State Employee Assistance Program.
    Sec. 3. 5 MRSA §285-A, sub-§2, ¶F, as amended by PL 1995, c. 97, §1, is further
amended to read:
    F. The Executive Director of Employee Health Insurance and Wellness, ex officio;
    Sec. 4. 5 MRSA §286, first ¶, as amended by PL 1991, c. 780, Pt. Y, §26, is further
amended to read:
                                   Page 1 - 130LR1087(03)
     The Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services has responsibility for the
state employee health insurance program through the Division Office of State Employee
Health Insurance and Wellness that is established as part of the organization of the Bureau
of Human Resources. The division office is headed by the Executive Director of Employee
Health Insurance and Wellness. The executive director has responsibility for the daily
operation of this program and for the development and maintenance of programs that
promote the health and safety of the state employees. Program services must be
administered through offices, systems, consultants and staff necessary to provide cost-
effective, accessible and responsive services to eligible employees and retirees.
Administration of the program must be consistent with rules adopted by the State Employee
Health Commission. The executive director and the staff of the state employee health
insurance program are appointed in accordance with the Civil Service Law.
    Sec. 5. 5 MRSA §286, 6th ¶, as amended by PL 1991, c. 780, Pt. Y, §27, is further
amended to read:
    A reserve fund, administered by the Executive Director of Employee Health Insurance
and Wellness and the Director of the Bureau of Human Resources with approval of the
Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services, is created to protect the program
from unexpected losses and self-insured losses and related expenses incurred in the
provision of health and dental benefits for the eligible participants. The fund is a continuing
fund and may not lapse. The Treasurer of State shall invest the fund. All proceeds of these
investments accrue to the fund.
    Sec. 6. 5 MRSA §286-M, sub-§2, ¶C, as enacted by PL 2005, c. 636, Pt. A, §3, is
amended to read:
    C. "Division" means the Department of Administrative and Financial Services,
    Division Office of State Employee Health Insurance and Wellness.
    Sec. 7. 20-A MRSA §13451, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2013, c. 368, Pt. H, §3, is
further amended by amending the last blocked paragraph to read:
For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2012, June 30, 2013, June 30, 2014 and June 30, 2015,
the State's total cost for retired teachers' health insurance premiums is budgeted at the fiscal
year 2010-11 funding level adjusted for projected membership growth. The increase in the
State's total cost for retired teachers' health insurance premiums for fiscal years ending after
June 30, 2015 is budgeted at no more than any percentage increase in the Consumer Price
Index as defined in Title 5, section 17001, subsection 9 plus 3%. A provider of a health
insurance benefit plan for retired teachers must make available data related to the provider's
premium costs and any related data as requested by the Executive Director of Employee
Health Insurance and Wellness within the Department of Administrative and Financial
Services.
                                     Page 2 - 130LR1087(03)
Statutes affected: 
Bill Text LD 1311, HP 967: 5.285, 5.286, 20-A.13451
Bill Text ACTPUB , Chapter 312: 5.285, 5.286, 20-A.13451