Ch. 736

1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

reemployment would result in more than 2% of the retirees who retired under this Act
being reemployed in a temporary or contractual position with the State; and

(5) The Department of Budget and Management shall review the
applications for reemployment as contractual or temporary employees under this Act and
shall advise the Board of Public Works if the reemployment of an individual will cause the
2% limit under paragraph (3) of this section of this Act to be exceeded.

SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, in accordance with §
2-1312 of the State Government Article on or before January 1, 1998, the State
Retirement Agency shall report to the General Assembly on the total number of State
employees who retire under this Act.

SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, in recognition of the
additional administrative burden that may result under this Act, the State Retirement
Agency may take an additional 60 days to process applications for retirement that are
filed for retirement under this Act. Except to the extent of a delay in the receipt of a
benefit, a delay in processing an application may not affect an applicant's right to a
benefit.

SECTION 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That for those employees who
have been separated from employment because they were laid off as a result of the
closure of a State facility at any time after December 31, 1995 and before July 1, 1997,
and who did not retire on or before June 30, 1997 and do not retire under this Act, the
State shall pay the entire cost of health insurance premiums for those employees to
receive the same health insurance coverage the employees received while employed by
the State, for a period of not more than 12 months after filing an application for health
insurance coverage but not later than June 30, 1998, or until those former employees are
covered by another employer subsidized health insurance plan through another employer,
whichever comes first.

SECTION 7. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Department of Budget
and Management shall determine those former State employees who were laid off as a
result of a closure of a State facility during the period after December 31, 1995 and before
July 1, 1997 and shall notify those farmer State employees that they may be eligible for
health insurance or retirement benefits under this Act.

SECTION 8. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1997.

Approved May 22, 1997.

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