Whereas, unless this legislation is enacted before the expiration of the 90-day period with a retroactivity date of January 1, 2001, pilot projects providing comprehensive health care benefits to certain Maine workers are in jeopardy;

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Sec. 1. 39-A MRSA §403, sub-§2, ¶D, as amended by PL 1995, c. 36, §1 and c. 277, §1, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

D.__Unless continued or modified by law, this subsection is repealed January 1, 2005.

Sec. 2. Retroactivity. This Act applies retroactively to January 1, 2001.

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

SUMMARY

This bill continues authorization for workers' compensation health benefits pilot projects for 4 additional years. The bill applies retroactively to January 1, 2001, the date on which the statute authorizing the pilot projects is repealed.