2002 Signature 2002 Veto 2002 No Action 2001 Veto 2001 No Action 2000 Signature 2000 Veto 2000 No Action 1999 Signature 1999 Veto 1998 Signature 1998 Veto 1998 No Action 1997 Signature 1997 Veto 1996 Signature 1996 Veto 1995 Signature 1995 Veto 1995 No Action		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