122nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1021		LR 0263(18)
	An Act To Implement Task Force Recommendations Relating to Parity and Portability of Benefits for Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters
	Fiscal Note for House Amendment "   " to Committee Amendment "   "
	Sponsor: Rep. Rines
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
					Projections	Projections
			2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$0	$0	($3,413,255)	($3,810,148)
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$0	$0	($3,413,255)	($3,810,148)
	Other Funds		$0	($81,000)	($109,392)	($111,894)
Revenue
	Other Funds		$0	$282,750	$592,644	$621,091
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	The numbers above represent the incremental differences between this amendment and the majority report.  The amendment requires participants in the newly created Retired County and Municipal Law Enforcement Officers and Municipal Firefighters Health Insurance Program to make contributions for 5 years in order to be eligible for coverage under the program, but allows individuals who retire before January 1, 2012, but who as of January 1, 2007, were employed and had at least 20 years of service, to buy into the program upon retirement by paying the equivalent of five years of contributions.  The amendment establishes the contribution, effective January 1, 2007, equal to 2.0% of gross wages.
	For the purposes of this fiscal note, it is assumed that all of the estimated 2,900 active law enforcement officers and firefighters would be required to participate, paying the 2.0% assessment on an average salary of $30,000. The amendment's premium subsidy payments toward the cost of health insurance for eligible, pre-Medicare, retired law enforcement officers and firefighters would not take effect until January 1, 2012, and would be self-funded by employee contributions made to the program.