Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §17953, sub-§12 is enacted to read:

12. Health insurance premium reimbursement.__The board shall reimburse a surviving spouse of a member of the Maine State Retirement System for health insurance premiums paid by the surviving spouse to the extent that those premium payments exceed 40% of the surviving spouse's benefits received under this section.__The board may adopt rules to implement this subsection.__ Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §18003, sub-§5 is enacted to read:

5. Health insurance premium reimbursement.__The board shall reimburse the surviving spouse of a member of the Maine State Retirement System for health insurance premiums paid by the surviving spouse to the extent that those premium payments exceed 40% of the surviving spouse's benefits received under this section.__The board may adopt rules to implement this subsection.__ Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

SUMMARY

This bill directs the Board of Trustees of the Maine State Retirement System to reimburse the surviving spouse of a Maine State Retirement System member for any health insurance premiums paid by the surviving spouse that exceed 40% of the retirement benefits received. The bill authorizes the board to adopt routine technical rules for implementation.