H7111

	2014 -- H 7111
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	LC003218
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	STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014
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	A N A C T
	RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES

	Introduced By: Representatives Ucci, Fellela, Carnevale, Palumbo, and DeSimone
	Date Introduced: January 15, 2014
	Referred To: House Municipal Government
	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
1	SECTION 1. Section 28-54-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 28-54 entitled "Municipal
2	Employees" is hereby amended to read as follows:
3	28-54-1. Medicare enrollment. -- (a) Every municipality, participating or
4	nonparticipating in the municipal employees' retirement system, may require its retirees, as a
5	condition of receiving or continuing to receive retirement payments and health benefits, to enroll
6	in Medicare as soon as he or she is eligible, notwithstanding the provisions of any other statute,
7	ordinance, interest arbitration award, or collective bargaining agreement to the contrary.
8	Municipalities that require said enrollment shall have the right to negotiate any Medicare
9	supplement or gap coverage for Medicare-eligible retirees, but shall not be required to provide
10	any other healthcare benefits to any Medicare-eligible retiree or his or her spouse who has
11	reached sixty-five (65) years of age, notwithstanding the provisions of any other statute,
12	ordinance, interest arbitration award, or collective bargaining agreement to the contrary.
13	Municipality provided benefits that are provided to Medicare-eligible individuals shall be
14	secondary to Medicare benefits. Nothing contained herein shall impair collectively bargained
15	Medicare Supplement Insurance.
16	(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any collective bargaining agreement to the
17	contrary, every municipality that requires a retiree, as a condition of receiving or continuing to
18	receive retirement payments and health benefits, to enroll in Medicare as soon as he or she is
19	eligible, shall reimburse such retiree for any costs associated with enrolling or maintaining

1	enrollment in Medicare.
2	SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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	EXPLANATION
	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
	OF
	A N A C T
	RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS -- MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES
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1	This act would provide that any municipality that requires a retiree to enroll in Medicare
2	as a condition of receiving or continuing to receive retirement payments and health benefits,
3	reimburse such retiree for any costs associated with enrolling or maintaining enrollment in
4	Medicare.
5	This act would take effect upon passage.
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