ARTICLE 34 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

RELATING TO LABOR AND LABOR RELATIONS

SECTION 1. Chapter 28-7 of the General Laws entitled "Labor Relations Act" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

28-7-49. No limitation on health care benefit providers. – No collective bargaining agreement covering any group or groups of state employees, public school teachers or employees of any city or town, ratified after August 1, 2008, shall specify that an employer must procure a health care benefit plan from a specific provider of such plans. The technical qualifications of the health care benefit plan, to be contracted for, shall not be framed or constructed in a manner designed to identify an exclusive provider of said health care services.

SECTION 2. This article shall take effect upon passage.