PART A

Sec. A-1. 5 MRSA c. 13, sub-c. 3 is enacted to read:

SUBCHAPTER 3

HEALTH INSURANCE SUBSIDY FOR RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT

OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS

§286-M.__Subsidy

1.__Eligibility.__The State shall pay a subsidy toward the cost of health insurance for eligible retired law enforcement officers and firefighters. A law enforcement officer or firefighter is eligible for the subsidy if that person is:

A.__Retired from a position as a county or municipal law enforcement officer or municipal firefighter; and

B.__Receiving a retirement benefit from a special plan administered by the Maine State Retirement System, as long as that plan allows for retirement after no more than 25 years of service, with a benefit of at least 50% of average final compensation, with no reduction for early retirement and with a cost-of-living adjustment, or from a special plan that does not provide a cost-of-living adjustment but that requires fewer than 25 years of service to retire or that provides a benefit of more than 50% of average final compensation after 25 years of service.

2.__Health insurance coverage; amount of subsidy.__Subject to the limitations provided in this subsection, the State shall pay 100% of the retiree portion of the health insurance premium for eligible law enforcement officers and firefighters.

A.__If the retiree is eligible to participate in the health insurance plan of the retiree's former employer, the subsidy is based on the retiree portion of premium for that plan.__ If the retiree is not eligible to participate in the former employer's plan, the subsidy is based on the premium paid by the retiree for a comparable health insurance policy.

B. The subsidy paid under this section for an individual retiree may not exceed: