Under the plan now supported by both the House and Senate, the state’s Group Insurance Commission is instructed to hire a consultant to design a retiree plan to be implemented July 1, 2001. The law will require the GIC to report back to the Legislature by this October with their initial findings. Specific details regarding rates and plan coverage should become known at that point.

Originally filed by Governor Paul Cellucci in January, the dental proposal is expected to receive the Governor’s full endorsement when it reaches his desk. After the funding for a study was added by the House, Senator Brian Joyce (D-Milton) was successful in his efforts to add a local option provision. This will allow municipalities to adopt the same type of plan at the local level, with retirees paying, if needed, the full group rate for dental coverage.