Header, the Administration of the Honorable Lincoln C. Almond
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  2002 Signature
2002 Veto
2002 No Action

2001 Veto
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2000 Signature
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1999 Signature
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1998 Veto
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July 3, 1998

TO THE HONORABLE, THE SENATE:

I am transmitting herewith, without my signature, 98-S 3102, Substitute A, As Amended, "An Act Relating to Public Officers and Employees."

I take no action on this legislation as it merely clarifies the current law regarding the State's obligations concerning health care insurance coverage for retired employees. The bill performs three housekeeping functions.

First, it enumerates the State's current practice of allowing non-medicare eligible retired employees, including retired teachers who reach the age of 65, to continue to purchase group health care insurance benefits in the same manner as those provided to state retirees below the age of 65. Medicare is mandatory for state retirees 65 or older but is unavailable to a small class of individuals who are not eligible due to the terms of their employment.

Second, the Act removes a technical ambiguity concerning the provision which addressed retirement before and after July 1, 1989. This left unclear the status of those who, may have retired on July 1, 1989 and who were intended to be covered. The changes to Section (a) eliminate this uncertainty.

Third, the bill unequivocally restricts the cost-sharing schedule in Section (b) to state employees who retire subsequent to July 1, 1989.

These ministerial measures express the status quo regarding state health care coverage for retirees and will pass into law without my signature.


Sincerely,

Lincoln Almond
Governor