Sec. 4. 5 MRSA §285, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1991, c. 780, Pt. Y, §23, is further amended to read:

2. Coverage. Each state employee or child care provider to whom this section applies is eligible for a group health plan as provided in Title 24-A, sections 2802 to 2812, including major medical benefits or through a self-funded alternative. The provisions of the group insurance policy or policies or the self- funded alternative must be determined, insofar as the provisions are not inconsistent with terms and conditions contained in collective bargaining agreements negotiated pursuant to Title 26, chapter 9-B, by the State Employee Health Commission as provided in section 285-A. The master policy for the group health plan must be held by the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial Services.

Sec. 5. 5 MRSA §285, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1987, c. 731, §3, is further amended to read:

3. Enrollment. Any employee eligible under this section may join within the first 60 days of employment or during a declared open enrollment period. A person eligible under subsection 1, paragraph I may join while providing the child care described in that paragraph. The filing of necessary applications shall be is the responsibility of the employer. Effective dates under this section shall be are at the discretion of the commission.

Sec. 6. 5 MRSA §285, sub-§7, as repealed and replaced by PL 1997, c. 763, §1 and affected by §7, is amended to read: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.

For persons who were first employed before July 1, 1991, the State shall pay 100% of only the retiree's share of the premiums