Sec. 1. PL 2001, c. 442, §5 is amended to read:

Sec.* 5. Status of employees who have retired and returned to covered employment under the Maine State Retirement System. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 17651, and, except as provided in Title 5, section 17857, subsection 2, recipients of a service retirement benefit from the Maine State Retirement System who have returned to covered employment under the retirement system in a position that would otherwise be covered by the retirement plan for state employees and teachers may not contribute to the retirement system, do not earn creditable service for their employment after retirement and do not earn any additional retirement benefits as a result of that employment. They may participate in other retirement options available to similar employees, including the state program of tax-deferred arrangements under Title 5, chapter 67, at the discretion of their employer. For purposes of participation in the state employee health insurance program pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 285 or in dental health insurance coverage offered by the State, recipients of a service retirement benefit under the Maine State Retirement System who are retired state employees and who are reemployed as state employees must be treated as retirees under section 285, subsection 1-A for purposes of eligibility for coverage under the group plan. For purposes of participation in the group accident and sickness or health insurance for retired teachers pursuant to Title 20-A, section 13451, a recipient of a service retirement benefit under the Maine State Retirement System who is a retired teacher who returns to work under this Act is eligible upon ceasing work to return to coverage under the group health insurance plan in effect for active teachers in the school unit from which the teacher originally retired, including state payment of a percentage of the premium cost under section 13451.

SUMMARY

This bill clarifies that a retired teacher who returns to work under Public Law 2001, chapter 442 is eligible upon ceasing work to return to coverage under the group health insurance plan in effect for active teachers in the school unit from which the teacher originally retired, including state payment of a percentage of the premium cost under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, section 13451.